Spain from A to Z

of the main points of interest for tourism on the Costa del Sol. With more than a dozen golf courses, Marbella is often referred to as the Golfing Capital of Spain. Greens of all types with views of the Mediterranean can be found on golf courses such as Golf Rio Real, Santa Clara Golf, Cabopino Golf, Santa María Golf & Country Club, Monte Paraíso Golf, Quinta Golf & Country Club, Marbella Golf & Country Club and Guadalmina Golf Club. Another especially popular golfing destination is the Costa Brava (Catalonia). A modern sports complex with a wide range of services, excellent hotels, golf courses designed by experts from around the world and a wide range of leisure and cultural activities attract visitors year round. Excellent golf courses are also to be found in in Gualta, Caldes de Malavella, Navata, Lloret de Mar, Puigcerdá, Peralada and Platja d’Aro. Many of the UNESCO World Heritage Cities in Spain, such as Salamanca, Segovia and Santiago de Compostela, as well as the Canary Islands, are ideal golf havens. HIKING In Spain there are more than 60,000 kilometres of approved trails. There are areas which are ideal for hiking such as the island of La Palma, the Sierra de Tramuntana (in Majorca) and the Pyrenees. Some examples of hiking tours are: the Cares Route, through a natural gorge in the middle of the Picos de

Europa. Senda del Oso (Bear Route) in Asturias, where you might even cross paths with one of these creatures. Las Médulas, a mountain range in León, formerly a Roman gold mine. The Duratón River Forge in Segovia, where the Duratón river forms a deep ravine. The Monasterio de Piedra, a landscape with waterfalls in an unusual setting in Aragón. La Garrotxa, a volcano in Catalonia. Maestrazgo, an area in Teruel, where evidence of dinosaurs can be found. Camí de Cavalls, an old horse trail that runs along the coast of Menorca. Carros de Foc, which links several shelters in the national park of Aigües Tortes and Estany de Sant Maurici. BICYCLE TOURS Enthusiasts will also find famous routes with bike paths, for example El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James). Several routes end at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia), including the French Way, the Original Way of St. James and the Silver Route. Canal of Castile: a route along

the old waterway through Castile-León, one of the most beautiful in the region. MOUNTAIN BIKING Spain is an excellent place to explore nature on mountain bike. The network of mountain bike centres is growing, with remarkable long-distance routes. Special tours of more than 100 kilometres are available through beautiful natural areas. Some of the best-known routes are the TransAndalus: an approximate 2,000-kilometre cycling tour through Andalusia. Transpirenaica: a route through the Pyrenees. Canary Islands: a tour through lava fields on islands of volcanic origin. designed for horse riding and areas where horse riding is a tradition. The most prominent example is Andalusia, which offers a variety of destinations and areas where horses are omnipresent, from the dunes of Doñana National Park to the pine forests of the Sierra Nevada. Take a trip to the highest peaks EQUESTRIAN TOURISM There are paths specially