As Spain’s vast landscape transitions from placid rolling hills to its mountainous border region with France — marked clearly by the naturally occurring barrier of the Pyrenees — the diversity of the nation’s terrain is unmistakable. The northeastern corner of Iberia is an immense playground, sought after by travelers across the globe for its majestic vistas and enchanting culture. This region of Spain is also one of the finest destinations for a family vacation that can be found anywhere in the world.
Those seeking the ultimate family experience look for variety, ensuring everyone’s desires from a holiday are met. From the relaxing to the more uptempo, travelers can do no wrong in the provinces of Huesca, Navarra and the Aragon Pyrenees.
Similarly, modern travelers — particularly families — are looking to travel differently. Parents are more conscious about the impact of travel, looking to take steps to explore in a sustainable low-impact way.
Holidays are also seen as an opportunity for education, in addition to relaxation and the making of memories. The magic of a family holiday really occurs when all these aspects are wrapped up into one. The beauty of this charming lesser-traveled part of Spain is that it can tick all these boxes, year-round.
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Family
The true art of a family vacation is ensuring everyone’s happy and a family trip to Spain is no different. Perhaps someone’s looking to decompress, switch off from work life and relax with a good book beside a crystal blue pool or tranquil lake. Maybe someone’s heading to Spain in search of adventure, hiking to the top of peaks or perhaps dipping their toe in some of this country’s world-beating rock climbing. Or perhaps it’s the food and drink, as they look to enjoy locally grown wines and sample regional delicacies.
The regions of Aragon and Navarre have more than enough to go around. The mountainous Pyrenean area is ideal for those seeking adventure. In the winter, the landscape is transformed into a snowsports paradise with skiers and snowboarders alike heading for the immensely popular resorts of Candanchú and Formigal to get their fix. A ski trip poses as the ideal family-focused trip, as everyone gets involved in learning a new skill.
For something a little slower, but still unquestionably mountainous, head to the tranquil Ibones de Anayet. Here, a series of glacial lakes reside high up in the Pyrenees, under the watchful gaze of two volcanic peaks. It will take several hours of hiking uphill to get there, but when it comes to adventure, the journey is always half the fun.
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Nature
This northeastern region of Spain is home to some of this country’s most diverse ecosystems in which the natural environment thrives, it’s the perfect atmosphere for a family vacation.
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is a fine example of how the geographical conditions in this area create a truly special place. Here, different ecosystems combine across four valleys to form a natural paradise that has been designated both a Unesco biosphere reserve and a World Heritage Site as the cross-border Pyrenees – Mont Perdu.
Over in the region of Navarra, travelers will discover the enchanting Irati Forest, which is described as one of the most environmentally rich and best-preserved forests in Europe. Comprised mostly of beech and fir trees, this natural wonder surrounds the source of the Irati River and can be found between the valleys of Aezkoa and Salazar. Aside from being an impressive sight in its own right, the forest makes the ideal spot for a quick hike or mountain biking trip. During the winter months, it transforms into a cross-country skiing paradise.
For families, these ecological wonders pose as the ideal destination to immerse children in the natural world, getting them away from screens and allowing them to learn in an organic way.
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Sustainability
As a region that possesses such a rich natural environment, for the locals sustainable practices and working closely with the natural world is a way of life.
Nowhere is this more visible than in the region’s vineyards, which while not as famous as those in Rioja, carry just as much history and possess true reverence for a fine bottle. Take Bodegas Osca for example, a winery that knows a thing or two about longevity as one of Spain’s oldest operating wineries.
Positioned in Somontano in the picturesque Pyrenean foothills, this winery possesses vineyards that stretch over 30 hectares of carefully managed limestone soil and a wine cellar that dates back to the year 1480, a time when knights and feudal lords roamed the Iberian Peninsula.
For those looking to explore one of Spain’s lesser-known regions, Aragon and Navarra possess a landscape that’s brimming with variety, ideally suited to a family vacation that’s bursting with adventure and discovery of the natural world.
For more information, visit spain.info
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