Senderismo: Spanish Healthy Lifestyle

Spaniards love to walk whenever they have the chance, maybe that’s the reason why they are always fit and healthy. Senderismo can be considered to be the major element of healthy life style in Spain besides Mediterranean Diet.

Senderismo or hiking made its appearance in 1970’s after the proposal of Association of Pedestrian Tourism to extend the route from France to Iberian Peninsula. It is ideal not only for nature lovers also who seek tranquility and inner peace. With every step you can realize the beauty of life, feel the strength and the energy inside bit by bit. It is a non-competitive activity following the authorized routes and be amazed by the preserved scenery. It does not require much talent or equipment except you are not good at reading maps. Just have a pair of good hiking boots, get enough water and food (depends on the length of the path) and you can go with or without a company in any season. Senderismo might be the secret key for a healthier life or maybe that’s the reason why Spanish people are relaxed and easygoing all the time.

Right now there is a network of more than 60.000 km authorized senderismo paths which spread to all Spain from the up north region to Mediterranean coast, from Andalusia to the center of the country. Among them the most famous route must be El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James ) which is the pilgrimage route that ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. There are many routes in fact any route that goes to Santiago can be accepted yet the most preferred ones are Via Regia and the one starting from the Pyrenees.

To enjoy the Verde España (Green Spain), there are many must follow paths in Asturias, Navarre, Basque Country and Galicia. To name a few, it will be worthwhile experience to walk around the mountainous areas in  Ruta del Cares (Asturias) which is the best time to go there is either in October or in May. The peaks of Europe (Picos de Europa) are high mountains located between Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and Leon.  In the south east between Granada and Almeria, Sierra Nevada National Park welcomes visitors to see one of the conserved natural habitat of species and landscape. It lies through the Sierra Nevada Mountain and available to hiking, skiing and bird watching. In the Spanish regions Castile & Leon and Extremadura you can see flat meadows, wine yards especially in autumn the combination of brown and green makes you feel in an ageless place. Don’t forget to stop by in Castile-La Mancha - the home of Don Quijote- whether you can get same feelings as he had during his journey.

Senderismo helps you to keep a balanced life for sure and Spain may be the right path on the way to have a healthier life. Discover the hiking in Spain!