After experiencing one of the hottest summers in history, our desire for autumn (and some cool weather) increases compared to previous years. You already know: take the blanket out of the attic, watch the rain through the window while we read a good book, but also, change the sarong for the mid-season jacket, before immersing yourself in new destinations. We get lost in the best places in Spain to welcome autumn.
Starting at the end of September, a most peculiar sound reverberates through the forests of the largest protected area in our country. This is the deer's 'tout', a sound that males emit to attract females and thus complete the mating ritual. The Cazorla rut is a spectacle of nature to be complemented with the best rural stay in the small town of Jaen, a route through the mountains and a visit to the source of the Guadalquivir River, among other experiences.
With the first rains of autumn, the soils of many of the Spanish forests take on a life of their own in the form of different fungi and mushrooms. If you still didn't know about so-called mycological tourism, in Spain there are many places where you can try it: from the Asturian Muniellos to the Sierra de Gredos, passing through the slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama, ideal for a weekend getaway from Madrid. Likewise, it is worth mentioning some indications: check the local regulations regarding the collection of mushrooms, do not consume them instantly and, if you get hold of them, cut them instead of plucking them.
The arrival of autumn always inspires a visit to charming medieval towns like Pals, in the heart of the Baix Empordà region. A historic town of only 2,500 inhabitants where the great pleasure is getting lost among its stone streets, fairy-tale arches and gardens where plants and flowers of all colors sprout. A tour that also includes a visit to monuments such as the church of Sant Pere, rebuilt in 1478 on the remains of the old castle; vertical icons such as its Hores tower, 15 meters high, and even the presence of Platja de Pals, located 6 kilometers away.
Less than two hours from Madrid we find one of those magical places where you can succumb to autumn: the Hoces del Duratón natural park. It is a micro-universe of medieval towns; hiking trails; temples of good eating; Romanesque hermitages such as that of San Brutos; caves inhabited in the Bronze Age and viewpoints from which to appreciate the beauty of a Duratón River “fitted” in a canyon that has little to envy that of the Colorado.
Autumn is forest, red berries, rural houses but also cities. Málaga becomes the best urban option to welcome autumn, especially when Picasso Year is celebrated in 2023, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of the most universal Malaga painter. This year, the capital of the Costa del Sol premiered a program based on exhibitions, events and galleries at the Picasso Málaga Museum and the Casa Natal Foundation, in order to pay tribute to the creator of The Dream. Just an excuse to get lost in a city of Malaga that never disappoints.
The not so explored province of Castellón hides natural and historical treasures where you can feel like the first person to arrive. We find a good example in La Vall d'Uixó, a tapestry of pine trees and small towns trapped between the foothills of the Espadán mountain range and the best beaches of the Azahar coast. A set of rural oases among which the jewel in the crown cannot be missing: the geological complex of the Sant Josep coves, a feast of stalactites and stalagmites that protect the longest navigable underground river in Europe.
Every year, summer lasts longer than expected for obvious (and also unflattering) reasons. The only good news is that we can enjoy less crowded places without giving up one last dip. Or at least, that is what you will experience if you visit the Alicante island of Tabarca in the coming weeks. With the return to routine, this mirage in the middle of the Mediterranean surrounds us between white houses where the neighbors still take in the fresh air, the restaurants prepare their specialties based on fideuá and rice pot before moving back to the capital, and the coves of Posidonia invite you to take off your swimsuit completely.
Galicia is always a good place to return to at any time of the year. And taking advantage of the fact that the forests begin their chromatic transformation, there is nothing better than combining an urban adventure in A Coruña with a hiking route through the nearby Fragas do Eume, one of the best preserved Atlantic forests in all of Europe. The elves prowl among beech, oak, poplar, ash and fern trees to guide you through historic monasteries such as the Caaveiro and the best secret tavern on the way back. And in October, not only does the fall of the leaves begin, but also the season of fresh eel.
Looking at those dark trees, the carpets of red leaves and the winding rivers through the fog, it is hard to believe that Tim Burton never came to Navarra to film one of his films. The Irati Forest is not only the second largest beech-fir forest in the world, but also a set of magical postcards born from 16 trails to explore with the best mountain boots this autumn. To admire the tricolor charm of the trees, it is advisable, however, to wait until the end of October or the month of November.
There are places that seem to avoid the transition of the seasons. Fuerteventura knows this well, and both in September and January, it offers mild temperatures, equally blue beaches and the tranquility of touring an island where the silence is only interrupted by the passage of a goat crossing a lost road. From the surf towns in the north of the island - let's not forget that this is the best wave season - to the secret beaches of the Jandía peninsula, Fuerteventura fulfills the promise of making you live an eternal summer.
