Ten adrenaline-fuelled adventures for thrill-seekers in Spain in 2016
Whether you like your thrills in the air, sea or with your feet firmly planted on the ground, Spain has a lot to offer if you're into extreme sports. The Local takes a look at the best options for adrenaline junkies in Spain.
A cross-border time-travelling zip wire
Photo: limitezero.com
Take an 80km/hour zip wire across the River Guadiana from Spain to Portugal with this heart-in-the-mouth experience. As well as flying across the border, you will actually fly through time – Portugal is one hour behind Spain.
LimiteZero Zip Line is based in Sanlúcar de Guadiana. http://www.limitezero.com/en/la-tirolina/
Caminito del Rey
Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP
Spain’s most terrifying mountain path recently re-opened to the public after being closed following a series of deaths in 1999 and 2000. It may now boast more safety features but the path, snaking along the side of a gorge in El Chorro in Malaga, is still not one for the faint hearted! It was voted one of the best new attractions for 2015 by Lonely Planet.
You can book your visit online http://www.caminitodelrey.info/en/
Kite surfing off Tarifa
Photo: Francisco Manuel Esteban/Flickr
Tarifa in Cádiz, southern Spain is a mecca for kite surfers and the busiest kite surfing destination in the world (with huge beaches that cope nicely with so many kiters). With that honour comes dozens of brilliant kite surfing schools and some of the best teachers on the planet.
http://www.kiteworldmag.com/travel/tarifa-spain/
Surfing along Spain's northern coast
Photo: surfglassy/Flickr
The Basque Country, the straddles the northern Spanish border with France, is home to some of the best waves in Spain and surfers from around the world flock to its beaches every year. If you’re after something really memorable, try out the world famous wave that rolls in from the Bay of Biscay towards the village of Mundaka, which has hosted the surfing world championships several times.
Paragliding in Tenerife
Photo: Neil Hall/Flickr
Get a bird's eye view of Tenerife's other-worldly Volcanic landscape by strapping yourself under a parachute and jumping off a cliff. You can choose to jump in tandem with an experienced instructor or, if you're a dab hand at paragliding, take a solo flight and enjoy the ultimate "me time" while marvelling at the breathtaking scenery.
Rock climbing in the Picos de Europa
Photo: Eduardo/Flickr
The Picos de Europa, in northern Spain, are a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to rock climbing, so if you want to get your thrills while beating the crowds, this magnificent mountain range could be just what you're after.
Caving in Andalusia
The caves in Nerja, Malaga. Photo: Min Zhou/Flickr
Spain is home to some of the largest caves in Europe so why not explore a prehistoric world as you scramble through the underground tunnels? TeamXtreme in Andalusia offers guided caving trips.
Heliskiing in the Pyrenees
Photo: Alex Grechman/Flickr
If regular old skiing and snowboarding are too tame for you, why not try your hand at something a little bit more extreme - heliskiing.
Spain is one of the few European countries where you can legally heliski - that is, throw yourself out of a helicopter and into some serious off-piste skiing. There are various companies that run out of the Baqueira resort in the heart of the Pyrenees in northern Spain.
Mountain biking in Granada
Photo: Stefan/Flickr
Head to the mountain village of Castril for some unforgettable rides among some of the finest scenery in Europe. Here you can find anything from relatively easy rides around the Castril valley to leg-burning adventures that tackle mountain passes and summits.
Scuba diving in the Mediterranean
Photo: Arnaud Abadle/Flickr
The Medes islands, a rocky outcrop off northeastern Spain are a protected marine reserve and as well as enjoying some of the clearest waters off Spain's coast, have an abundance of interesting marine life. It is considered one of the Mediterranean's top dive sites.
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A cross-border time-travelling zip wire
Photo: limitezero.com
Take an 80km/hour zip wire across the River Guadiana from Spain to Portugal with this heart-in-the-mouth experience. As well as flying across the border, you will actually fly through time – Portugal is one hour behind Spain.
LimiteZero Zip Line is based in Sanlúcar de Guadiana. http://www.limitezero.com/en/la-tirolina/
Caminito del Rey
Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP
Spain’s most terrifying mountain path recently re-opened to the public after being closed following a series of deaths in 1999 and 2000. It may now boast more safety features but the path, snaking along the side of a gorge in El Chorro in Malaga, is still not one for the faint hearted! It was voted one of the best new attractions for 2015 by Lonely Planet.
You can book your visit online http://www.caminitodelrey.info/en/
Kite surfing off Tarifa
Photo: Francisco Manuel Esteban/Flickr
Tarifa in Cádiz, southern Spain is a mecca for kite surfers and the busiest kite surfing destination in the world (with huge beaches that cope nicely with so many kiters). With that honour comes dozens of brilliant kite surfing schools and some of the best teachers on the planet.
http://www.kiteworldmag.com/travel/tarifa-spain/
Surfing along Spain's northern coast
Photo: surfglassy/Flickr
The Basque Country, the straddles the northern Spanish border with France, is home to some of the best waves in Spain and surfers from around the world flock to its beaches every year. If you’re after something really memorable, try out the world famous wave that rolls in from the Bay of Biscay towards the village of Mundaka, which has hosted the surfing world championships several times.
Paragliding in Tenerife
Photo: Neil Hall/Flickr
Get a bird's eye view of Tenerife's other-worldly Volcanic landscape by strapping yourself under a parachute and jumping off a cliff. You can choose to jump in tandem with an experienced instructor or, if you're a dab hand at paragliding, take a solo flight and enjoy the ultimate "me time" while marvelling at the breathtaking scenery.
Rock climbing in the Picos de Europa
Photo: Eduardo/Flickr
The Picos de Europa, in northern Spain, are a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to rock climbing, so if you want to get your thrills while beating the crowds, this magnificent mountain range could be just what you're after.
Caving in Andalusia
The caves in Nerja, Malaga. Photo: Min Zhou/Flickr
Spain is home to some of the largest caves in Europe so why not explore a prehistoric world as you scramble through the underground tunnels? TeamXtreme in Andalusia offers guided caving trips.
Heliskiing in the Pyrenees
Photo: Alex Grechman/Flickr
If regular old skiing and snowboarding are too tame for you, why not try your hand at something a little bit more extreme - heliskiing.
Spain is one of the few European countries where you can legally heliski - that is, throw yourself out of a helicopter and into some serious off-piste skiing. There are various companies that run out of the Baqueira resort in the heart of the Pyrenees in northern Spain.
Mountain biking in Granada
Photo: Stefan/Flickr
Head to the mountain village of Castril for some unforgettable rides among some of the finest scenery in Europe. Here you can find anything from relatively easy rides around the Castril valley to leg-burning adventures that tackle mountain passes and summits.
Scuba diving in the Mediterranean
Photo: Arnaud Abadle/Flickr
The Medes islands, a rocky outcrop off northeastern Spain are a protected marine reserve and as well as enjoying some of the clearest waters off Spain's coast, have an abundance of interesting marine life. It is considered one of the Mediterranean's top dive sites.
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