Two-minute guide to ‘undiscovered’ Spain

Unfailingly popular with tourists, it would be easy to assume that Spain has nothing left hidden for travellers to discover. Yet away from the popular destinations on the Costas, there are a wealth of unknown hamlets, whitewashed Moorish villages, towering mountains, secluded coves and markets serving up famously delicious food.

Spain may be the country we all think we know, but it can still surprise and delight even the most regular of visitors.

Responsibletravel.com’s two-minute guide lifts the lid on some of its most underrated experiences.

Tucked in the north-east, jutting up into the Spanish Pyrenees is autonomous Catalonia. Its main draw may be beautiful Barcelona, but step out of the city and tourists will discover why Picasso, Gaudi and Dali were so inspired.

Rural Catalonia is one of Spain’s lesser-trodden tourist paths, but its isolated southern coastline is unknown even to most Catalans. Here there are coastal walks along secluded beaches, mountains with soaring vultures and real, fresh

Catalan food inspired by mar i mutanya  – sea and mountains. The latter make Catalonia one of the best mountain biking destinations in the world, but cycling here is not just for the hardened adrenaline-seeker. Paved, disused railway lines known as ‘vias verdes’ criss-cross the region, taking families through local villages and markets, ravines, crystal clear rivers and some of Spain’s most inspiring scenery.

Whether on two wheels or two feet, slowing down is one of the best ways to explore a Spain away from the tourist hordes, but you don’t have to travel far.

Spain’s southern-most region of Andalucia may be more famous for its coastal resorts; Marbella and Torremolinos are just two, but head just  a short distance inland and high-rise hotels give way to a walker’s paradise of white washed Moorish villages and mountain trails.

Las Alpujarras boasts the imposing backdrop of the Sierra Nevada and pleasant temperatures, wild flowers and the stunning almond blossom make spring a particularly lovely time to walk, with easy-to-follow routes and friendly fincas offering a particularly warm Anadalucian welcome. Many of these guesthouses produce their own deliciously fresh olive oil, wine and fruit, so food miles here are more often measured in metres. 

And the proximity to the coast means tourists who crave some sand with their sun can still dip their toes in the Mediterranean before heading home.

With one of the best climates in Europe it’s hardly surprising that Spain’s beaches have become synonymous with holiday relaxation. However, travel to Spain is not all about sun-loungers, sangria and a suntan, the Spanish sunshine offers the perfect setting for outdoor adventures for all ages. From walking in Andalucia, or trekking in the little-visited Picos de Europa Mountains, to horse-riding through the Altiplano de Granada and white water rafting in the Pyrenees, getting active in Spain gives travellers a chance to discover places tucked away behind the tourist trails.

And to sample local wines, to test and perfect their Spanish language skills and to get to know the real and vibrant local life.

Dig deeper beneath the surface of Spain with more underrated, local experiences in responsibletravel.com’s two-minute travel guide: http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/spain.