Spain’s geographically diverse landscape, home to snow-capped mountains, dense woodland, rocky shores and sandy beaches makes it an ideal destination for sports enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Boasting 12 National Parks, and more than 200 nature reserves protecting delicate eco-systems, it’s easy to have an active, but eco-friendly holiday in Spain. But with an epic 194,900 square miles of unspoilt scenery on the mainland, and two sets of islands – where do you start? First of all, whether you fancy hiking or hang-gliding, make sure you take out travel insurance, with good cover that includes a range of sports and activities. Each park has its own distinct character and scenery, so whether you are searching for thrill seeking sports, outdoor pursuits or just an alternative to a beach break, here’s a guide to Spain’s National Parks

Home to mountain ranges and rocky gorges split by clear rivers, and an impressive array of indigenous wildlife.
Try the Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa, Europe’s biggest National Park straddling the regions of Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y Leon. Take a hike and enjoy the surrounding flora and fauna, try your hand at rock climbing up the Picos mountains, or take a cable car from Fuente De to a plateau studded with craters. The Parque Nacional de Donana in Andalusia covers 123,000 acres of sand dunes and marshes, and is home to hundreds of endemic species. This is the ideal destination for wildlife lovers, as visitors to the park’s interior are strictly limited to officially guided tours, where you could spot fallow deer, eagles, pink flamingos, and even a Lynx, Europe’s rarest mammal

Santa Ponsa ( Santa Ponça ) is a thriving holiday resort, situated on the southwest coast of Mallorca, of Spain’s Balearic Islands, just under 20 minutes from the capital of Mallorca, Palma. The locals in Santa Ponsa are extremely friendly people, who speak a range of languages including English, German, French and of course Spanish. It´s no wonder there is such a diverse range of tourists. The beach offers activities and attractions along its 1300m of white sands. The resort has lots hotels for you to choose from, all at reasonable prices.

The Parque Nacional de Cabaneros in the northwest of Spain, in Castilla La Mancha, is home to a vast area of dense woodland and lush green pastures, dotted with sheep and “chozos” conical homes for Shepard families. Hike through the wooded hills, or take the four-hour guided trips in a Landrover to spot the wildlife.

Take your pick from three diverse national parks for a taste of the Canary Island’s volcanic scenery.
Caldera de Taburiente on La Palma is a vast volcanic crater, bordered by woodland, perfect for a scenic drive. Mount Teide in Tenerife is a wilderness of ash beds, dried up lava streams and rare wild flowers. Flower spotters should visit in May and June, otherwise take a cable car to the volcano’s summit, and follow the marked paths for a hike around this surreal landscape. Timanfaya on Lanzarote, is peppered with a series of volcanoes, some of which are still dormant. Take a camel ride up the volcanic slopes, or drive past the haunting craters to the rough coastline and emerald coloured lagoon at El Golfo, for a spot of swimming.

Puerto Del Carmen, Costa Teguise, Arrecife, Playa Blanca, Puerto Calero, Matagorda, Los Pocillos, La Santa

Punta de Mujeres, Haria, Tias, Yaiza, Caleta de Famara, Playa Quemada, San Bartolome, La Villa de Teguise