At the beginning of August and you still don't know where to travel this vacation? The truth is that at this point it is not easy to find accommodation or transport tickets at reduced prices. According to the Report on Habits and Behaviors of the National Observatory of Outbound Tourism, an organization promoted by private initiative that analyzes the behavior of the sector, 85% of Spaniards plan to travel this summer. The study coincides with the World Tourism Organization (ILO), which estimates that, despite not reaching initial expectations, the figures for this summer will generally be higher than those of 2022.
But not all destinations evolve the same. Tourist establishments in Central Catalonia claim to register lower occupancy levels than last year, and other associations such as the AEHM, which brings together Madrid hoteliers, hope to increase clientele thanks to last-minute reservations, something that can already give us destination ideas available.
In any case, there are a thousand and one places you can still travel to. It is about being consistent and thinking about the possibilities of each one. If you are looking for inspiration, take note; We propose nine destinations for this month of August; nine ideas that will make you leave home.
It is not the first time that we propose this town for a summer getaway. And it is that this picturesque town located in the province of Cádiz, in the heart of the Sierra de Grazalema natural park, is the rainiest in Spain (the average annual rainfall is close to 2,000 mm), which makes it a perfect getaway in full dry season. In addition, its beauty is beyond doubt.
It is part of the route of the White Towns and boasts architecture, with a historic center of narrow streets with an Arab pattern, houses with pots of carnations and geraniums, gabled roofs, and monumental buildings. The area is excellent for trekking, with numerous well-signposted trails. It also has a remarkable offer of rural accommodation and a succulent gastronomy, with soups, stews and cheeses as protagonists and wines as the ideal accompaniment.
Corsica is much more than an island of white sand beaches and transparent waters; It is a destination of contrasts between the sea and the mountains, ideal for discovering it on the back of a bicycle. The GT20 (La Grande Traversée) is a 600-kilometre cycle route that crosses the French island from north to south, saving a drop of 9,500 meters. Adapted to all types of cyclists, it is done in 12 stages, but the most experienced complete it in less time. This is the case of Pol Tarrés, Mireia Simó and Suzie Marache who completed it in just five.
The tour starts in Bastia, the second largest city in Corsica, and ends in Bonifacio, a town known for its beauty and its medieval heritage. In its path are fishing villages, inland villages, cliffs, forests and landscapes that seem from another world. Its gastronomy, typically Mediterranean, deserves a separate comment. There are flights from Spain to Bastia at reasonable prices.
The province of Burgos does not lack attractions: the Ebro canyon, the Nervión waterfall, Covarrubias, Frías... Deciding on one of them is not an easy task. However, on this occasion we propose Peñalba de Castro as a destination, a tiny town with less than a hundred inhabitants and a unique treasure: the Clunia Sulpicia site, once one of the most important cities in the North of Hispania. Among its Roman ruins, which are in a good state of conservation, the old theater, the forum, the baths and their magnificent mosaics stand out.
It is precisely in the theatre, which once held 10,000 spectators, where the already traditional Clunia Theater Festival takes place from August 11 to 19, reaching its sixteenth edition this year. Its programming includes works such as The Odyssey of Magellan and Elcano, El avaro, by Molière or La tumba de Antígona, a reinterpretation by María Zambrano of the Sophocles classic. Traveling to the town at this time is an excellent opportunity to discover another side of the Ribera del Duero, an area of vineyards renowned worldwide for its excellent wines.
It is not surprising that it frequently appears among the most spectacular corners not yet colonized by tourists. And it is that the High Tatra National Park surprises since its beauty is simply impressive. The highest area of the Carpathian mountain range is a true paradise for nature lovers, eager to explore almost virgin landscapes.
It is ideal for multiple outdoor activities also in summer, such as rafting, tours of underground caves, thermal baths or trekking. In the latter case, routes such as the Tatranská Magistral stand out, a 45-kilometre route that is usually completed in three days, which overcomes a good part of the mountain range at an altitude of between 1,200 and 1,500 meters. It is best to fly to Bratislava or Krakow, from where you can rent a car.
Not everything is beach and sun in the largest of the Pitiusas. There is an Eivissa for calm souls, with pleasant landscapes scented with pine, olive and fig trees; a rural Eivissa in which to get lost away from the hustle and bustle, the beaches full of bathers and the carefree nightlife, which is becoming increasingly popular. In its hotels and rural houses, small apartments and rental houses it is possible to disconnect also in summer.
One of these establishments is Can Lluc, in the Sant Rafel valley, a delicious rural hotel with traditional Ibizan architecture surrounded by ten hectares of vegetation whose estate and its main farmhouse are more than three centuries old. It has around twenty rooms with views of the gardens, fields and vineyards and an outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi, surrounded by hammocks, Balinese beds and a rustic cabin from which spectacular sunsets can be seen.
Located in the Tena Valley, at 1,305 meters above sea level, Sallent de Gállego looks like a town out of a fairy tale. On the banks of the Lanuza reservoir and the Aguas Limpias river, under the rock La Foratata treasures a beautiful historic center full of typical houses with large stone walls and dark roofs with chimneys of capricious shapes, the high summer temperatures are contemplated with a certain distance .
Sallent de Gállego is a hiking paradise, with routes for all tastes and degrees of difficulty. From the simple walk to Salto, suitable for families, to a circular route to Ibones del Anayet, of medium difficulty, to the ascent to Pacino, for experienced hikers. Those who wish to visit a historic enclave in the Huesca Pyrenees can travel to Canfranc, an hour away by car, to visit the monumental station, today converted into a luxury hotel.
Less popular than other regions of the country such as the Algarve, famous for its spectacular beaches, the Alentejo is a delicious enclave still unknown to a large part of Spanish tourists. Located in the southern center of Portugal and bathed by the Atlantic, it can boast of more than 250 kilometers of almost virgin beaches, with beautiful villas such as Vila Nova de Milfontes, a delicious town of whitewashed houses with a long stretch of wild sand.
Other coastal towns such as Melides, Sines or Vila Nova do Santo André are worth a visit. It requires a separate mention Zambujeira do Mar, in the heart of the natural park, surrounded by cliffs and captivating beaches such as dos Alterinhos. The unbeatable waves of the town attract surfers from all over the world willing to try its wild waters. In summer it hosts the Festa do Sudoeste, one of the most important music festivals in the country, which brings together groups and performers of different tendencies. This year's edition, which will feature musicians like Bizarrap, will take place between August 9 and 12.
The colored houses on the banks of the Onyar River are, without a doubt, one of the most emblematic images of a city that surprises and falls in love in equal measure. Small -barely more than one hundred thousand inhabitants- and with a privileged location -it is located half an hour from the mountains and the sea-, Girona has an interesting heritage, cultural and gastronomic offer. First-time visitors may feel familiar with certain corners of the extraordinary old town. And it is that the Call -the Jewish quarter-, the stairs of the cathedral or the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants were one more character from Game of Thrones.
Strolling through the Devesa park or walking along the path of the wall are good excuses to work up an appetite and try its gastronomy. The restaurant proposal is excellent, with kilometer 0 establishments that cohabit with star establishments such as Massana or Celler de can Roca. The proximity to the Costa Brava adds opens the door to a getaway to dive into some of the most beautiful beaches and coves on the Catalan coast.
The old Mogador is a most attractive alternative for those who wish to travel to Morocco in summer without suffering the high temperatures of emblematic cities such as Marrakech. And it is that Essaouira, a town bathed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, receives the caress of the trade winds. Declared a World Heritage Site, its old medina of white and blue houses and its souk is a real treasure.
Essaouira is known for a walk between sandy walls facing a sea that is always present in the lives of its inhabitants who, on the docks, build small fishing boats by hand, along with the blue boats with which the catches are carried out. Fresh fish is one of the pillars of a gastronomy in which there is no shortage of the traditional tajine or the delicious typical sweets. Those looking for a beach will not be disappointed, it has numerous sandy beaches that delight the most demanding travelers. Flights from Spain require a stopover.
