Sports and Activities
Outdoor Adventure
Mountains are particularly enthralling for outdoor adventure activities, like trekking, mountaineering, rock-climbing, mountain biking, skiing, and hiking. Some of the best spots affording rock-climbing adventure include the Naranjo de Bulnes in the Picos de Europa and Monte Perdido in Ordesa National Park.
The Pyrenees have a huge area of 450 sq. kms featuring natural rock formations, lakes and ravines. Similarly, there are Picos de Europa, situated west of Santander, that boast of some exhilarating scenery and high peaks (the highest being 2600 m. or 8528 ft.). Spain also has some of the best native flora and fauna in the whole of Europe, which includes the Brown Bear (commonly found in Asturias), the European Grouse (aka Capercallie, commonly found in North Spain), and the Mountain Goat (aka Cabra Hispánica, commonly found in the Pyrenees and the Sierra de Gredos).
Horse riding is another outdoor activity you’d love to indulge in, particularly with the presence of vast mountain trails, river alleys and wide plains (aka Meseta).
Water Adventure
You are in for a gala time if you are an aquatic sports enthusiast. Almost every seaside resort in Spain offers water-based sporting activities like swimming, water-skiing, and windsurfing. Tarifa, one of the world famous resorts on the Straits of Gibraltar, also played host to the Windsurfing World Championship.
Some inland rivers in Castilla and Extremadura regions also offer excellent facilities for windsurfing. The Northern region of the country is popular for whitewater rafting and canoeing.
Sailing also ranks high on the list of To Do’s in the country. With over 4000 km of coastline, there are over 100 Sailing Clubs along the Mediterranean Coast. If you are an extreme adventurist, perhaps, Diving is just the right calling for your eagerness in Spain. The Anglers have special reason to smile.
The rivers and streams along the mountains of Pyrenees and Picos de Europa offer some excellent freshwater game fishing opportunities. Similarly, the Asturias has abundant Salmons to offer. Throughout Spain, you can find abundant barbel, tench, perch, and pike to keep you occupied for days. Do check out for permits from regional authorities for adventure activities, like diving and fishing.
Golf
Spain offers some of the leading golfing resorts in the world, in the form of Costa del Sol and La Manga. The country already has over 200 golf resorts spread across the length and breadth of the country, including the ones designed by famous players like Jack Nicklaus, Severiano Ballesteros, Robert Trent Jones, and Jose María Olazabal.
Polaris World Golf Resorts in Murcia offer some of the finest golf resorts in the whole of Spain with signature golf courses by Jack Nicklaus and the Best Bear courses.
The Valderrama Golf Course is known as a gracious host to the annual Volvo European Masters PGA Tournament. You won’t find any difficulty in hiring or purchasing golfing equipment anywhere in the country.
Winter Sports
Spain comprises of five main skiing regions: the Pyrenean Range, the Iberian Chain, the Penibetic Chain, the Cantabrian Range, and the Central Chain.
These regions offer just the right kind of natural features and atmosphere to indulge in winter sports, such as skiing and mountaineering. With some well-equipped winter resorts, Spain is definitely among the top echelons of winter sporting regions.
Spectator Sports
Spain is also known for its spectator sports, like Pelota Vasca (Jai-Alai) and Spanish Bullfighting. The facilities for such sports are well spread across in the cities, which play proud host to these sports. Football (Soccer) is particularly popular, the country being home to world famous clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona. Horseracing in San Sebastián and motor racing in Barcelona and Cadiz are also well-known spectator sports in the country.
Language Courses
If you really want to enjoy the activities in Spain, learn Spanish. You can do so by either joining a language course or living as an au pair or via paid internship. The courses may range from 1-month to 1-year.
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