Walking Holidays in Spain

Macs Adventure has been running self guided walking holidays in Spain since 2008.  As soon as we walked the Camino, we knew that Spain had so much to offer hikers and we started to look for other areas to set up our style of holidays. 

From humble beginnings, we now send over 2500 hikers every year to Spain, each of them finding their own adventure. We provide the freedom to choose your route, itinerary and travel companions and to discover Spain at your own pace. 

We knew from experience how important it was to have amazing partners on the ground in Spain to deal with any issues that you might come across.  We are proud to say that our Spanish team, suppliers and baggage handlers are outstanding and should you have the slightest issue, they will fall over themselves to help you out. 

We offer a flexible, tailor-made experience that gets you in comfortable, friendly overnight accommodation in local B&Bs and guesthouses. We carry your bags to lighten your load so you can concentrate on simply putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the unique culture, food and scenery of the less-travelled parts of Spain. No hostels, no shared dorms, no heavy bags on your back, just the assurance that we have it all covered for you. 

We want to showcase our expertise, by giving you all the resources you will ever need.  In the planning stage, we have free guides, comprehensive videos and a host of staff with their own Spanish experience, waiting to answer your questions. On the route, we use high-quality digital mapping as well as the best maps and guidebooks to make sure you find your way.  

We love Spain and our main aim is to make sure that you do too.  

Beaches - there are plenty of places in Spain with beautiful and uncrowded beaches which are perfect for dipping weary feet in and our tours pass many of them! For a hidden Catalonian gem, there is the picturesque Sa Tuna cove near Begur surrounded by pine trees. In Mallorca, why not visit Cala Deia beach, a tiny shingle beach and artist's inspiration, with azure water and rock pools. It's just a short walk from Deia, on northern coast of Mallorca. And whilst most people think of whitewashed villages in beating hot sun for Andalucia, the coastline is quite spectacular. On our Walking in Costa Almeria tour, visit Monsul beach with its distinctive black sands and volcanic rocks, used as a filming location for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Food - if there is one thing Spain does well, it's food! Some favourite Spanish specialities of the Macs team include the delicious Jamón Iberico mouthwatering pork found in the Aracena region, Esqueixada, a tasty salad dish made with salt cod popular in Catalonia, Pulpo a Feira, boiled octopus sprinkled with paprika, a speciality in Galicia, and of course you can't beat nibbling on some small Tapas dishes like Gambas al ajillo (fresh shrimp with garlic and cayenne pepper) and Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce)!

Towns and Villages - away from the amazing coastline and beaches and some of the more well known cities and towns, Spain has plenty of more undiscovered towns and villages well worth exploring. Sotres, one of the highest villages in the Picos de Europa in northern Spain is a charming agricultural village where they famously mature Queso de Cabrales cheese in the limestone caves which are abundant in the local area. Another mountain village, Capileira, is well worth a visit, set high above the Poqueira Gorge and with an abundance of local handicraft shops lining its twisty, narrow streets. And near the coast, but perhaps not in a part of Mallorca so well known are the gorgeous honey-coloured Tramuntana villages of Soller, Deia and Valldemossa.

Andalucia - Andalucia on the southern coast is hot, both metaphorically and physically.  During the summer it gets unbearably hot here and definitely not the place you want to go walking in these months.  However, the rest of the year reveals a hiking paradise with trails winding through the whitewashed hilltop villages, along dramatic, untouched coastline and visiting Granada and Seville, two of Spain's great cities. 

Catalonia - Barcelona is the heart of this autonomous region of Spain, but by no means is it the only reason for visiting.  There are superb walking trails in Catalonia. The rocky coast winds its way down the Mediterranean revealing tranquil hidden coves, whitewashed villages and some outstanding seafood. Then there are the mountains, a relatively undiscovered location filled with stunning views, rustic food and friendly welcomes. Just as an aside, Cava and Priorat are created here, just in case you fancy a glass or two at the end of the day.

Basque Country – Sticking with the north we have Spanish Basque Country. While each region has its own food specialities, Basque Country is where to come for a serious gastronomic feast. San Sebastian is worth a holiday on its own, but the Camino del Norte links it with Bilbao, passing through many little fishing villages, which is a spiritual trip, with a heavy focus on food. Amazing scenery, the friendliest people, Basque Country is heavenly.

Canary Isles – So far away from Spain, but very identifiably Spanish, the Canaries sit off the coast of Africa, isolated in the Atlantic ocean.  Each island has its own charms, the botanic wonderland of La Gomera, the stark volcanic beauty of Tenerife, and each hold a wide variety of enchanting walking routes. Perfect for some winter walking as the temperature in winter is around what we would expect in the UK in summer.

Balearic Isles – The party island of Ibiza and holiday resort of Mallorca are not traditionally seen as active holiday destinations, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.  Ibiza has many secret walking trails to discover a whole other side of the White Isle. Mallorca has the famous GR221 Tramuntana Trail taking you through otherworldly mountains, or you can stay in hidden retreats and walk on coastal beauty far from the tourist crowds.