Our DMC partner in Spain, Destination Spain focuses on Agrotourism:
Agrotourism in Spain A country house is always an ideal place for relaxing and enjoying the natural surroundings. If you come to a country house lodge ("casa rural") in Spain, you'll also be able to enjoy experiences such as drinking cider directly from a barrel, feeding farm animals, picking local produce and cooking it yourself... Because"agrotourism" is not a strange word, but a wonderful experience that will help you get to know the local culture and will enable the children to have lots of fun. In many of the country house lodges with agrotourism you can stay with the owner and the family, while in others you can enjoy the peace and quiet of a house all to yourselves.
Why Spain
Because it offers well looked after accommodation all over the country, and because it is really easy to book. A lot of the agrotourism activities take place in stunning protected natural spaces, such as National Parks. The scenery is truly spectacular... Did you know that Spain has more Biosphere Reserves than any other country in the world? Spain boasts wonderful rural and ethnographic heritage. You'll find that each town has its own distinctive farming, cultural and linguistic traditions.
Because there are so many different places to stay. If you like rural tourism, you can choose from country house lodges, rural apartments, country hotels, hostels, holiday villas, campsites in the countryside, and educational farms for children, to name but a few. Did you know that there are even rural tourism activities in abandoned villages? In each area there are also traditional local country houses and farmhouses to stay in, such as “caseríos” in the Basque Country and Navarre, “pazos” in Galicia, Catalan “masías”, “hospederías” in Extremadura, and “casonas” in Asturias, as well as rural tourism centers in Castilla y León and agrotourism farms in the Balearic Islands. Other activities are usually available to complement agrotourism, such as art and architecture tours, walks at night to see the stars, massages, adventure sports, and many more. Thanks to Spain's excellent climate there are things to do all year round.
Most common agrotourism activities
As there are so many different places to stay, the experiences to choose from are endless.
- Farming tasks: how to feed the animals, milk the cows, collect chicken eggs, shear a sheep, be a shepherd for a day, or look after the horses, while the children can go on donkey rides.
- Looking after the crops: water the plants, pick vegetables, help with the ploughing, use organic techniques, etc. - Making wine or cider: take a look at our Wine Routes to see all the activities they offer. - Exploring the forest or the sea: learn to recognize berries and wild mushrooms, walk along paths only the locals know, dare to be a sailor for a day... - Making foods: jams, junket, yoghurt, cheese, honey... Delicious. - Handicrafts: learn how to make natural decorations or aromatic oils, experiment with pottery, etc. - Enjoy some unusual festivals: there are many connected with farming, like the wine harvest in La Rioja or the shepherds' fair in the Covadonga Lakes, including sheepdog demonstrations.
Areas You can find agrotourism activities practically anywhere in Spain, but here are a few examples: Navarre: This inland area in the north of Spain is full of possibilities. Here you'll find "Navarre Agroroutes", which are routes that go through beautiful tourist attractions, and include many leisure activities connected with agrotourism. These agroroutes will take you through stunning mountains like the Pyrenees, and will let you visit sheep farms, traditional farmhouses, visitors’ centers, cheesemakers, wineries, oil museums, truffle museums, and many other exciting places. The Basque Country: Situated on the northern coast of Spain, it is very famous for its traditional cuisine. You'll find that some of the farmhouses make their own natural cider and you can watch the process in a small group. You can also taste the delicious Idiazabal Designation of Origin cheese, after visiting the sheep that graze in the fields, and the shepherds' houses.
Asturias and Cider country: Also, in the north of Spain, this area offers the Apple and Cider Route, and workshops where you can make crafts, jewellery, leather and wood items. Galicia and marine tourism: In the northwest of Spain, you can go on a fishing boat and spend a day with the crew. Malaga, in Andalusia: In villages just off the Costa del Sol (in the south of Spain) you can go to workshops and learn how to make foods or process olives and go for a donkey ride, along picturesque streets. Why not practise sustainable agrotourism? In fact, Spain has the Ecoagroturismo Foundation, which includes more than 100 rural tourism and agrotourism initiatives that guarantee quality and respect for the environment.
Ask Destination Spain to organize a “agrotourism tours” ds@destination-spain.com or ask for details info@dominiquedebay.com or by phone us at 1-888-334-7609