As we saw previously, we are fortunate to live in a country with a wide variety of landscapes and ecosystems. This gives rise to numerous natural spaces that are a genuine pleasure to visit and enjoy — particularly in the case of end-of-year school trips. During primary and secondary education, end-of-year trips are an opportunity for personal development and for nurturing a love of travel and nature. Spain stands out as a tourist destination — both for school trips and for tourism in general — thanks to its kilometres of coastline, the variety of ecosystems found across its provinces, and the large number of natural parks and protected areas it boasts. With so many options, choosing a destination for a nature-based end-of-year trip can actually be quite tricky. Below, we outline the very best.
When choosing destinations for end-of-year trips for children and young people, the decision is usually between beach and mountain. This simple distinction, whilst useful for grouping different destination options, can overlook some destinations that offer both. These represent an unbeatable way to connect with nature, as the whole range of options is available to any group that chooses them. One such destination is Asturias. This province allows us to go trekking around the Lakes of Covadonga, surf on the Cantabrian coast, or take part in multi-adventure activities such as caving. A similar case is Cantabria, where visits to the museum at the Cave of Altamira can be combined with water sports at Somo and cultural visits to Santillana del Mar. In this way, contact with nature is experienced from multiple perspectives, always with a varied and well-rounded programme.
End-of-year trips in nature: beach destinations
End-of-year trips in nature often mean just one thing for boys and girls: going to the beach. This is one of the natural spaces with the greatest appeal for any primary or secondary school student. As we have already seen, the beach offers a wide range of activities as well as a natural setting that guarantees both fun and learning. There are many beach destinations suitable for end-of-year trips. Below, we look at those that are most popular year after year. The Valencian coast undoubtedly stands out as the top beach destination for school trips. Gandia, Benicàssim, and Oliva are among the coastal towns whose shorelines form the centrepiece of many school trips.
They have the advantage of balancing activities in the natural environment with the cultural offerings of the city of Valencia. In addition to visits to the Oceanogràfic aquarium and the Museum of Arts and Sciences, one must also factor in the proximity of the Albufera Natural Park. This encompasses the natural surroundings of the village of El Palmar, where visitors can explore the house museums of the area’s former workers, who made a living from their environment. Many consider this the birthplace of paella. Guided by experts, the school trip group can enjoy a traditional boat ride through this landscape of rice paddies, unique in the world. From the boats, they can observe the protected native birds that inhabit the area and the rich aquatic life of this remarkable environment.
End-of-year trips in nature: mountains and natural parks
End-of-year trips seeking a close combination of multi-adventure activities and natural spaces will naturally look to the scenic and leisure-filled guarantees of natural parks. As we have seen, Spain has 132 natural parks — more than a hundred options for school trips full of activities and nature, without leaving the country. Within this variety, several parks stand out for their outstanding offering. One of them is Doñana. This park, located in the autonomous community of Andalusia, has most of its territory in Huelva, with smaller portions in Seville and Cádiz. The combination of different ecosystems (beach, dune, forest, and marshland) makes Doñana a truly unique park. It offers off-road vehicle tours for school trip groups, as well as guided nature walks and wildlife observation.
Another of the most visited natural parks is also situated in Andalusia: the Natural Park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura, and Las Villas. Located in the province of Jaén, it offers an incomparable mountainous setting for multi-adventure activities. Ordesa and Monte Perdido, a natural park in the province of Huesca, also boasts a unique mountain landscape that never fails to impress and astonish those taking part in school trips. The sierras of Gredos and Madrid are further examples of natural spaces where end-of-year trips can take place, with a wide range of multi-adventure and sporting activities on offer. Other distinctive natural environments with great potential for end-of-year trips include the Ebro Delta and the Jerte Valley. Both are natural spaces of breathtaking beauty and centres of tourism at both national and international level.
End-of-year trips in nature
At Natuaventura Ocio y Tiempo Libre, we have been organising all kinds of end-of-year trips for more than 15 years. Drawing on our extensive experience, we offer the following articles on end-of-year trips in nature:
