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Returning to the UK from Spain - official guidance
Returning to the UK from Spain, information Updated 18th March 2022
18th March travel to England changes - You do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or quarantine on arrival in England, irrespective of your vaccination status.
This page tells you what you must do before you travel to England and after you arrive.
Applies to England
When you travel to England from abroad you:
- do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
- do not need to fill in a UK passenger locator form
- do not need to quarantine when you arrive
This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.
It includes people who are transiting through England.
You should follow any rules that your travel provider tells you to follow.
Other countries may have rules about what you need to do to leave the country to travel to England. You should check travel advice for the country you are travelling from.
Red list countries and territories
There are currently no red list restrictions in place for travel to England.
Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, ROI
Guidance for Wales - The coronavirus related rules in place for international travel on arrival into Wales have been removed.
Guidance for Scotland - Scotland’s travel rules for people arriving from abroad ended at 4am on Friday 18 March. If you’re arriving in Scotland after this time, no COVID-19 travel rules apply.
Guidance for Northern Ireland - Since 4.00 am on Friday 18 March, travellers coming to Northern Ireland do not need to: Complete a passenger locator form. Show proof of vaccination status. Take any pre-departure or post arrival tests. This applies to all travellers, whether you’re fully vaccinated or not.
Guidance for ROI - From Sunday 6th March 2022, travellers to Ireland are not required to show proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative PCR test result upon arrival. There are no post-arrival testing or quarantine requirements for travellers to Ireland.
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The information above has been provided by the Gov.uk - Last updated 18th March 2022
On The Beach pause sales until September
On The Beach announce that they are pausing holiday bookings until September, this also includes holidays to countries included on the UKs GREEN list.
On The Beach, one of the UKs biggest online travel agents, said it won't be selling any holidays for June, July or August due to "continuing uncertainty around international leisure travel".
Simon Cooper the firm´s chief executive said: "There's nothing we want more than to be able to send customers on holiday, but with the current number of unknowns, we don't think that now is the right time for customers to book new holidays departing in the next few months."
Mr Cooper from On The Beach also stated that the company would not be offering foreign holidays to "green list" countries because "it is very likely that we will see regular fluctuations in destinations' traffic light classifications".
"Given this, there is too much uncertainty for us to take new bookings with confidence that they will go ahead, or for us to know the potential inconvenience or incremental costs that customers might experience or incur," he said.
"Unlike many of our competitors, we have no interest in selling holidays that are unlikely to happen, as our business model enables us to put customers first, rather than needing to get cash in the door to contribute to high fixed costs, and offering refunds in the form of a voucher when holidays get cancelled."
This is a very different stance to some other companies such as EasyJet who have said it would let people "make up their own mind about their holidays" and Tui who will begin offering holidays to countries classified as amber, despite government advice remaining not to travel for leisure.
Last September On The Beach and LoveHolidays made the headlines when they announced their resignation from ABTA, in a move to avoid paying full refunds to some customers hit by coronavirus cancellations, this decision had an impact on people chasing refunds for package holidays which they themselves had to cancelled due to the Foreign Office advising against non-essential travel to certain destinations, such as Spain, yet the firm itself had not cancelled the holiday. On the Beach and Sunshine Holidays did however reassure customers that package holidays booked with Loveholidays remain financially protected by the 'gold standard' Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) scheme.
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Holiday Credit Vouchers - check the expiry dates
Holiday Credit Vouchers Where you issued a credit note or voucher last year by your airline or travel agent during the early stages of Covid19 travel restrictions? If so please check them as millions of these vouchers will be nearing their expiry dates and may shortly not be valid.
If in doubt contact your airline or travel agent for advice.
Keep up to date with the latest entry requirements into Spain from the UK here
EasyJet is amongst airlines extending credit notes as a result of the ongoing travel ban - vouchers normally carry a 12 month use-by date, all those due to end on or after June 30th will be extended for six months.
“Due to the ongoing uncertainty, we understand that customers may need additional time to use their vouchers so have decided to extend the length of time vouchers expiring within the next few months are valid for, in order to give customers more time to make a future booking,”
Holiday credit Vouchers
Jet2.com - all vouchers had a six month expiry, although the company – including Jet2Holdiays has not issued any credit notes since October 2020 as refunds were offered instead of vouchers
If you were issued a Jet2 voucher that has expired, contact the airline for a full refund. Those who were handed credit notes in September, before it changed its policy, these vouchers will be expiring shortly.
British Airways - all vouchers are valid until April 2023 - vouchers issued by BA under their ‘Book with Confidence’ policy will remain valid for travel until April 2023
Ryanair - vouchers generally are valid for 12 months, but all credit note validity has been extended until December 31st.
TUI UK state that customers who do not use their credit note by September 30th for holidays between May 17th, 2021 and October 31st, 2022 will be issued a full refund. Tui will not be issuing credit notes from March 31st 2021
Check the expiry dates on your credit notes or vouchers NOW and if in doubt contact your airline or tour operator.
Keep up to date with all the latest travel news HERE
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LoveHolidays to refund £18m for cancelled holidays
LoveHolidays has agreed to refund over £18m to 44,000 customers who had holidays cancelled over coronavirus. It follows action by the Competition and Markets Authority, which received hundreds of complaints.
The regulator said that LoveHolidays had told customers asking for a refund on flights that they would only receive it when the firm received money back from the airlines.
LoveHolidays has now committed to refund £18m for cancelled holidays in full by March 2021.
The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) said it would allow the company that time in order for it to manage its financial position.
But it warned LoveHolidays: "If the firm fails to repay customers by these dates, the CMA is prepared to take the company to court."
In order for customers to receive their money back as quickly as possible, refunds will be made in two parts, for example:
Refunds for the cost of hotel accommodation and transfers:
-
by 31 December 2020: customers will receive refunds for holidays cancelled before 1 November 2020
-
cancellations from 1 January 2021: customers will receive refunds within 14 days of the holiday being cancelled
Refunds for the cost of flights:
-
by 28 February 2021: customers will receive refunds for holidays cancelled before 24 August 2020
-
by 31 March 2021: customers will receive refunds for holidays cancelled between 24 August and 31 October 2020
Further details of the relevant payment dates can be found on the CMA’s package travel webpage.
So far, £7m has been refunded to 20,000 of the 44,000 customers identified by the CMA.
Apologies
LoveHolidays to refund £18m for cancelled holidays to 44,000 customers who had holidays cancelled over coronavirus. LoveHoldays told the BBC it had been "working tirelessly since March to do everything we can to ensure our customers receive their money".
It said it had refunded more than £205m owed to more than 180,000 customers, which, it added, was the equivalent of 10 years' worth of refunds in eight months. It apologised it had taken much longer than normal to process refunds.
Under the Package Travel Regulations, online travel agents are legally bound to refund customers for package holidays cancelled due to coronavirus, regardless of whether or not the agent has received money back from suppliers, for example airlines.
Summer holidays - or lack of them - feel like a lifetime ago for most people. But for those still waiting for a refund, the financial pinch will undoubtedly be felt at this expensive time of year. They will be frustrated that LoveHolidays has been given nearly four more months to pay up in full. The rules state they should have been refunded within 14 days. They are suffering from the tension within the industry, with under-pressure package holiday firms having to pay refunds, but they - in turn - have been waiting for money back from the airlines for cancelled flights.
The summer break proved to be more of a summer breakdown for everyone involved. Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: "Travel agents have a legal responsibility to make prompt refunds to customers whose holidays have been cancelled due to coronavirus. "We are continuing to investigate package travel firms and where we find evidence that businesses are breaching consumer law, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action to protect consumers."
It marks the latest action taken by the CMA against holiday firms over failed refunds for trips cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.
The CMA has already secured refund commitments from Lastminute.com, Virgin Holidays, Tui's UK business, Sykes Cottages and Vacation Rentals.
It has also written to more than 100 package holiday firms to remind them of the consumer protection laws.
This follows on the announcement earlier this year that LoveHolidays had resigned from ABTA. Read the details HERE
Entry Requirements into Spain from UK
Entry Requirements into Spain from UK - Updated 23rd May. This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.
British travellers who are resident in Spain should be prepared to show Spanish border authorities proof of residency on arrival.
International Travel from Wales
International Travel from Scotland
Travel advice and guidance - Northern Ireland
Travel advice from Ireland - Passengers entering Spain who have travelled from countries within the EU or Schengen Area are not required to present a COVID certificate or the Spain Travel Health form.
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place for travel to Spain from Ireland. There is no requirement to present certificates of vaccination/testing for COVID-19.
All travellers
If you are traveling to Spain you must show valid proof of one of the following on entry:
-
being fully vaccinated. Your vaccination status must meet the Spanish authorities’ validity period requirements. See ‘If you’re fully vaccinated’.
-
a negative COVID-19 test: either a PCR taken within 72 hours prior to departure, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure. See ‘If you’re not fully vaccinated’.
-
having recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months. You can use a medical certificate or recovery record to prove your COVID-19 status on entry to Spain. See ‘If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year’.
These requirements do not apply to children under 12 years old. See ‘Children and young people’
Travellers from the UK who can either show proof of being fully vaccinated, or of having recovered from prior COVID-19 infection in the last 6 months, or who are aged under 12 years old, do not need to complete Spain’s Travel Health Control form. Everyone else must complete Spain’s Travel Health Control form no more than 48 hours before travel to Spain. See Spain’s Ministry of Health travel pages for more detail.
You may also be subject to additional checks at the point of entry including a temperature check, visual health assessment, or testing on arrival. Passengers may also be contacted and required to undertake a COVID-19 nucleic acid amplification test - NAAT (PCR or similar) at any point up to 48 hours after their arrival in Spain. More information can be found on the Spanish government’s Border Health Controls webpage.
Spain’s land borders are open, but there may be travel restrictions, border controls and testing requirements depending on the country you are travelling from. For further details see If you’re transiting through Spain.
All travellers should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect themselves and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus. See the Coronavirus section for further information.
Plan ahead in case you present symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 during your stay in Spain, see Be prepared for your plans to change and Developing symptoms of COVID-19 or testing positive for COVID-19 in Spain.
Entry Requirements into Spain from UK
If you’re fully vaccinated
If you’re fully vaccinated and travelling from the UK, you can enter Spain. Your vaccination status must meet the Spanish authorities’ validity period requirements.
If you have received a booster, you are considered fully vaccinated for entry into Spain. As soon as you receive your booster, you are considered fully vaccinated with immediate effect. There is currently no expiry date for booster jabs.
If you are aged 18 or over and have not received a booster, but have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine approved for use by Spain, then at least 14 days and no more than 270 days must have passed since your last dose, to qualify as fully vaccinated.
If you are aged 12 to 17 and have not received the booster, but have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine approved for use by Spain, then at least 14 days must have passed since your last dose, to qualify as fully vaccinated. You continue to qualify as fully vaccinated more than 270 days after your last dose and do not need to show proof of having received a booster to travel.
Children under the age of 12 years old do not need to show proof of being fully vaccinated on entry to Spain – see Children and young people
Only vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency or by the World Health Organisation are accepted. Date(s) of vaccination must be specified.
Proof of vaccination status
Spain will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 vaccination record and proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued in the Crown Dependencies.
Your date(s) of vaccination must be specified and you need to have had a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency or by the World Health Organisation.
Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.
Documents can be in either English, Spanish, French or German and in paper or electronic format. They must specify your name and surname. See ‘Entry requirements for entry in Spain from third countries’ section ‘k.’ on the Spanish Ministry of Health Travel and COVID-19 page for further information on proof of vaccination for travelling to Spain from the UK.
Entry Requirements into Spain from UK
If you’re not fully vaccinated
If you’re not fully vaccinated, you can enter Spain presenting one of the following documents:
- documentation certifying that you have undertaken a diagnostic test and tested negative within 72 hours of entering Spain if using a COVID-19 nucleic acid amplification test - NAAT (PCR or similar), or 24 hours if using an antigen test.
- proof of having recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months. You can also use a medical certificate or recovery record to prove your COVID-19 status on entry to Spain. See ‘If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year’.
Travellers from the UK who can either show proof of being fully vaccinated, or of having recovered from prior COVID-19 infection in the last 6 months, or who are aged under 12 years old, do not need to complete Spain’s Travel Health Control form. Everyone else must complete Spain’s Travel Health Control form no more than 48 hours before travel to Spain. See Spain’s Ministry of Health travel pages for more detail.
If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year
If you’re travelling to Spain for tourism purposes and have recovered from prior COVID-19 infection in the last 6 months, you can use the UK proof of COVID-19 recovery record or a recovery certificate issued by a relevant health authority or medical service to certify your COVID-19 status.
At least 11 days must have passed since your first positive COVID-19 nucleic acid amplification test - NAAT (PCR or similar) or rapid antigen test. The recovery record or certificate will be valid for 180 days from the date of the positive test and must include the following information:
- your full name
- the date you first tested positive for COVID-19
- the type of test administered (e.g. COVID-19 nucleic acid amplification test - NAAT (PCR or similar) or rapid antigen test)
- the name of the country issuing the recovery record or certificate
- documentary proof of the diagnostic test from which the Recovery Certificate is derived
Exemptions - There are no exemptions to Spain’s entry requirements.
Entry Requirements into Spain from UK
Children and young people
Children under the age of 12 years old do not need to:
- complete an online Health Control Form before travel
- show proof of being fully vaccinated on entry to Spain
- take diagnostic tests prior to arrival
- show proof of having recovered from prior COVID-19 infection in the last 6 months
For travellers aged 12 to 17, see the sections above for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.
Entry Requirements into Spain from UK
If you’re transiting through Spain - (This section also covers travelling overland to Spain.)
If you are transiting Spain by air from the UK on the way to your final destination you are not subject to testing requirements nor do you need to complete a Travel Health Control form, provided your transit is under 24 hours and you are not leaving the international zone of the airport. If you are leaving the airport, documentation requirements set out in ‘All travellers’ apply. See Spain’s Ministry of Health travel pages for more detail. You should check with your travel operator and the authorities at your final destination if a negative test is required on entry.
Spain’s land borders are open. While testing requirements do not apply to overland travellers, you should consult travel advice for any countries you are traveling through at the links below:
- FCDO travel advice for France,
- FCDO travel advice for Portugal
- FCDO travel advice for Andorra
- FCDO travel advice for Gibraltar
Travel to the Balearic and Canary Islands from mainland Spain
For specific information on travel to the Balearic Islands see the Balearic Islands Tourism board.
See the Canary Island tourist board website for details.
Entry Requirements into Spain from UK
Check your passport and travel documents before you travel
Passport validity
If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.
Your passport must be:
- issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1st October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
Visas
Use this page to check you do not over stay your 90 days
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.
If you are travelling to Spain and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.
To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, you will need to meet the Spanish government’s entry requirements. You should check with the Spanish consulate in the UK prior to travel regarding what type of visa and/or work permit you may need.
If you are travelling to Spain for work, read the guidance on visas and permits.
If you are unable to return to the UK before the expiry of your visa/permit or visa-free limit due to C-19 restrictions, you should contact your local immigration office (Extranjería) for advice. You can also call 060 from a Spanish phone line.
If you are visiting Spain and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency, you must apply to the immigration authorities (Extranjería) to do so.
If you stay in Spain with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.
Entry Requirements into Spain from UK
Passport stamping
Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Spain as a visitor.
Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.
You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.
E-gates
You can use the staffed immigration booths or, if you are aged 18 and over, and are instructed to do so by airport staff, you may be able to use the e-gates, if these are in operation.
Hand your passport to the border officer for stamping after you have passed through the e-gate
Additional documents required by tourists
At Spanish border control, you may need to:
- show a return or onward ticket
- show you have enough money for your stay
- show proof of accommodation for your stay, for example, a hotel booking confirmation, proof of address if visiting your own property (e.g. second home), or an invitation from your host or proof of their address if staying with a third party, friends or family. The Spanish government has clarified that the “carta de invitation” is one of the options available to prove that you have accommodation if staying with friends or family. More information is available from the Spanish Ministry of Interior.
Residents of Spain
If you are resident in Spain your passport should not be stamped. Read our Living in Spain guide for passport stamping information.
You should proactively show your proof of residence - such as the ‘TIE’ (la tarjeta de identidad de extranjero) - as well as your valid passport at Spanish border control. For further information, see our Living in Spain guide.
Travel between Spain and Gibraltar
Spanish border checks can cause delays when crossing between Spain and Gibraltar. If you are travelling to Spain via Gibraltar, check the latest entry requirements and FCDO travel advice for Gibraltar. Entry requirements and testing requirements are currently in force for travel into Spain.
There is no charge to enter or leave Gibraltar. You should not hand over money if you’re approached by anyone claiming that there is a charge.
UK Emergency Travel Documents
UK ETDs are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Spain. Lost or Stolen passport, What to do.
Returning to the UK
Bringing meat and dairy products into the EU
You cannot take the following with you into the EU: Meat or products containing meat. Milk or dairy products
There are some exceptions, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons.
Check the rules about taking meat and milk products into the EU on the European Commission website.
Bringing fruits, vegetables, plants and plant products into the EU
You cannot take the following into the EU unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’: Fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians). Vegetables. Plants. Plant products
Check the rules about taking fruit, vegetables and other plants or plant products into the EU on the European Commission website.
The information above is official information provided by UK Gov.
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Spanish Road Trip 2022
Spanish Road Trip 2022
Spanish Road Trip 2022 - Please note this page is under construction.
When you live in Benidorm a question you often get asked is where do you go on holiday? Well we enjoy discovering Spain and this will be our 4th road trip.
The idea of these road trips is to discover the real Spain, therefore, we always set the Sat Nav to avoid ALL Motorways and Toll Roads, by doing this you never quite know what you are going to come across and we have found so many wonderful...
Spanish Road Trip 2022
Spanish Road Trip 2022 - Please note this page is under construction.
When you live in Benidorm a question you often get asked is where do you go on holiday? Well we enjoy discovering Spain and this will be our 4th road trip.
The idea of these road trips is to discover the real Spain, therefore, we always set the Sat Nav to avoid ALL Motorways and Toll Roads, by doing this you never quite know what you are going to come across and we have found so many wonderful surprises on our previous journeys.
Road Trip 2019, Spain, France and Andorra.
Road Trip 2020, Spain and Portugal
Only our first nights accommodation is booked before hand, after that, decisions are made on where the next stop will be, decided by price of accommodation and driving distance, one of the joys of this type of holiday is you are never sure where you will end up, which makes ever day the start of a new holiday.
This year we travelled a total of 2299km and stayed in 10 different places.
Total Diesel cost - in the region of 200€
Let the journey begin....
*Note maps posted here are just a guide, km quoted are the distances actually travelled.
Day 1 - 25th July Benidorm to Murcia. Journey time 2hrs 30 mins 144km
Leaving Benidorm behind, where the temperature was a hot 32ºc we headed towards Murcia and the temperature began to steadily rise until reaching a whopping 46.5ºc, now it is hard to explain just how hot that feels but imagine stepping into a furnace, that just about sums it up, you can almost feel yourself sizzle.
Feeling peckish we stopped for a bite to eat at what must be one of the most expensive service stations in Spain (Cafestore), normally we enjoy the road side cafes and service stations as they are good value, but this was the exception to the rule, 2 cans of drink, one Russian salad, 1 tomato and cheese salad and 1 Flamenquín (which is an is an Andalusian dish made with slices of serrano jamon wrapped in pieces of pork loin, coated in batter, and deep-fried) which was served with a few potatoes cost 31€, in Benidorm we could have had a gourmet meal for that.
Murcia is a city situated in the South East of Spain and has been the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community in the Region of Murcia since 1833, the city itself dates back to 825AD Having lived in Benidorm for quite a few years and visited many places in this region, we have never actually visited the city itself.
The main things to see here seem to be the Cathedral de Santa Maria, the medieval bridge and the bull ring, although it was really too hot to wander around to much, we did manage to visit all of the above, but I am sure there is a lot more places to visit.
Venturing out in the evening, it was surprising how quiet everywhere was and even at 20.00, many places still seemed to be closed, we are not sure if this is normal or just that most sensible people choose not to venture out in the heat.
Cathedral de Santa Maria - Construction for this Baroque style cathedral began in 1394 over the remains of an old Arabic mosque. The construction of the tower was started in 1511 and continued until 1793, this is divided into five parts and stands 93 meters high and has twenty-five church bells all having their own names. The cathedral was declared a National Monument in in 1931.
Los Peligros Medieval Bridge - The first stone laid for this bridge was in 1718, and this is an important part of the city and is still used by many even after construction of the new iron bridge, its a great spot to enjoy views of the city and the famous "La Sardina"
La Sardina
Accommodation - Pacoche Murcia 3 star, 57.34€ including breakfast for 2, parking was available at the hotel for 12.50€
This hotel was described as a modern hotel, and it did look that from the outside, but once inside I am not quite sure what they class as modern, but the room was far from that, although it did have all we needed for our one night stay, and most importantly good working air conditioning. The accommodation was situated 100 m from the Floridablanca Gardens and Just 5 minutes’ walk from the city’s old bridge over the River Segura and the Cathedral was about 10 minutes’ walk away, so a good location to see the local sights.
Back to the heat Murcia made Spanish news headlines for "topping the list for the hottest place in Spain on Monday 25th July, with official weather stations registered 46ºc, although some official recordings registered temperatures in excess of 50ºc, the rear windscreen wiper on our car warped in the heat.
Dereks' Input: Wow, what heat. To use a Northern Ireland expression. "Me shorts were sticking to the shucks of me arse"
Spanish Road Trip 2022
Day 2 - 26th July Murcia to Riopar, 208km
Travelling across country to our next destination, Riopar, we spotted a sign for a sanctuary which looked quite interesting, not knowing just how beautiful and well known this place was, we were surprised to find the wonderful Santurario de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Sanctuary of the Virgin of Hope).
The sanctuary is located in a cave carved into the rock 6 km from Calasparra, and dates from the seventeenth century.
The sanctuary houses two images of the Virgin of Hope known as La Pequeñica and La Grande. The small image is said to have been found by a shepherd who kept his cattle in the cave eroded by the water of the Segura River, neighbours of the town tried to move it to the municipality of Calasparra but due to its weight they understood that the Virgin wanted to remain in the grotto and new rooms and were added.
The Sanctuary is among the top five in Spain, with about one million visitors a year, although it was very quiet when we visited.
The surrounding area is very picturesque with the Segura River nearby, and there are plenty of walks signposted, picnic areas and a lovely restaurant with stunning views.
Riopar
Riópar is a municipality located in the province of Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, in the region of the Sierra de Alcaraz. It is located 118 km from the provincial capital, Albacete.
The main tourist attractions here are the mountain landscapes in the natural park of the Calares del Río Mundo and the Sima.
There are quite a few bars and restaurants in the town itself and a good municipal swimming pool. We had a wonderful mixed meat platter in one of the local restaurants which included, red and black sausages, chicken, pork, lamb chops with chips, bread and two drinks for 25€ which was great value for money.
Night 2 - Accommodation Hotel Riopar Spa , 3 star, 50€ including Breakfast and FREE parking
With views of the Segura and Alcaraz Mountains from the balcony, this air-conditioned room had simple, traditional décor, adequate for our one night stay, the only strange thing was that there was no tourist information available and the two vending machines remained empty, which was annoying when you required a bottle of water once the restaurant had closed and all the reception staff had left for the night.
Day 3, July 27th - Riopar, Mundo River
We visited the source of the Mundo River which was a pleasant, uphill walk through pretty forest paths, until reaching the waterfall, which at certain times of year "bursts" (El Chorro) in a spectacular jet, unfortunately for us at this time of year, water is scarce so the jet was nowhere to be seen, just the pretty waterfall.
As much as we enjoyed our visit, this was slightly disappointing and not a patch on our own Algar Falls as there were no swimming areas, but it was quiet busy and obviously a popular tourist attraction.
Would we visit again? No doubtful.
Day 3 Journey from Riopar to Jaén - 189km
A very pleasant journey across mountains and through acres and acres of olive groves.
We stopped for lunch in a lovely town called Baeza, enjoying some of their traditional tapas, and this town certainly looked a good place to stay on another road trip.
Jaén - Pronounced Xa´en, this is the urban capital city of the province of Jaén, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The city is also known as the World Capital of Olive Oil, because it is the biggest producer of the oil, known by locals as liquid gold.
To be honest there did not seem to be a great deal here other than the famous cathedral which is considered one of the most important Renaissance-style cathedrals in Spain. Construction began in 1570 and was completed in 1802, due to the lengthy construction, different artistic styles could be see, the most prominent being Renaissance, the cathedral is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
We were lucky enough to have a small square right outside our hotel, and we enjoyed some time soaking up the atmosphere and listing to the live music provided, no idea what they were singing, but the crowd seemed to be enjoying it.
There were plenty of steep, narrow streets, in the historical centre, which made finding our accommodation slightly stressful.
Night 3 accommodation - Hotel Xauen, 3 Star, 75.00€ including breakfast, parking could be organised by the hotel but we found a nearby car park which coast 17.25€ and was easier than trying to find the hotel car park.
The hotel was situated in Jaén's historic and commercial centre, the added bonus was the rooftop sun terrace with loungers, and panoramic views of the cathedral, old town and mountains, unfortunately during our stay this was never staffed.
The hotel was in a good location with the cathedral just 300m away and quite a few bars and restaurants nearby.
Unfortunately this was one of our more expensive overnight stays and although the hotel looked great upon arrival, the air conditioning unit did not work properly and I was up and down all night trying to get it to stay on, but on the plus with it being my birthday they did upgrade us to a room with a king size bed. The plumbing also seemed to have some problems with a nasty smell every time the toilet was flushed.
Would we stay here again? probably not.
Day 4, July 28th - Jaen to Antequera, 153km
The original plan was to head to Seville which we love, but with it being known as the "Frying Pan of Europe" and the temperature in Jaen holding steady at around 38ºc, the thought of going to somewhere ven hotter was not appealing, so plans were changed and we decided to visit Antequera.
On our journey we found the wonderful town of Iznájar (Cordoba) with its Moorish Castle and Church which sit high above the reservoir (Embalse de Iznájar) which is the largest reservoir in the whole of Andalucía. Entrance into the castle was only 1€ and it was well worth the visit for the views alone.
The village itself is situated on top of a huge rocky outcrop 539 metres above sea level. The whole village was very picturesque with many colourful courtyards to explore and we found a wonderful cafe, 1 coke, 1 water and 2 tapas was only 3€, one tip on a road trip is always eat where they locals do.
Antequera (anteˈkeɾa) is a city and municipality located in the north of the province of Málaga, part of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia, and is known as "the heart of Andalusia" (el corazón de Andalucía) because of its central location to Málaga.
There is a lot to see here, but obviously with only one day here we just enjoyed our time in the town itself.
As with most places in Spain (Benidorm being the exception to the rule) it can be difficult to find places to eat when you are hungry, most restaurants do not even open until 21.00, but we did find a nice little restaurant a short walk from the hotel to enjoy an evening meal.
As it was cooling down slightly it was the perfect time to have a walk round the town and enjoy the cobbled streets which wound their way up to the castle, (Alcazaba of Antequera) which is a restored Moorish fortress, constructed over Roman ruins in the 14th century.
Arco de los Gigantes - The Arco de los Gigantes (arch of the giants), is situated at the entrance to the Alcazaba, and near the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor in Plaza Escritores beneath the fort. The Arco was built in the late 16th century to replace a Moorish gate. The Arch has a two meter thick wall, and is seven meters in height
Church of San Sebastian - Building on the church began in the mid 16th century, and it was not completed until the 18th century, resulting in a combination of artistic styles.
Night 4 - Accommodation Coso Viejo, 3 star, 41.40€
The Coso Viejo hotel was a typical 18th-century Andalusian house, situated in the historic centre of Antequera, situated opposite one of the towns squares with bars and restaurants nearby.
The hotel did offer parking at an additional cost, but we were lucky to find a parking space right outside.
The room was quite small and the furniture old fashioned, but that did fit in with the house itself and we had a pleasant stay.
Breakfast was not included but we found a wonderful coffee shop for our morning Tostada con Tomate, orange juice and coffee.
Would we stay here again? Yes if in the area.
Day 5 29th July - Antequera to Guadex 236km
I have always wanted to stay in a cave house, and now was my chance as Guadix is a well know area for them.
On our journey from Antequera I spotted a sign for Pinar Castle and Caves, the only problem with these signs is it never states how far away they are, they could be just round the corner, or in this instance over 50km off our route, but that is just part of the enjoyment of our road trip, the never quite knowing what you will discover along the way, and this was worth the detour, even though the cueva de las Ventanas were closed.
Moorish Castle of Píñar (Granada) - Situated just outside the town of Pinar, through many twisting and narrow streets, 1121 meters above sea level on a limestone outcrop sits the remains of this once imposing castle, from the Nasrid period (XIII-XV centuries) which was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1931.
Compared to some places we have visited, access was quite easy, as the first section was a track suitable for vehicles, which lead us to a parking lot at the base of the fortress, from there the climb to the interior of the castle was done on foot along a dirt track, not easy when it was 38ºc, but as we were the only people there it was well worth the effort for the piece and quiet and amazing views.
Guadix - The name Guadix itself from the Arabic Wadi Ash, which means ‘river of life’.
Barrio de Santiago or Barrio de las Cuevas and is situated in the province of Granada and is one of the oldest know human settlements in Spain, this area is famous for its troglodyte houses (cave houses) carved in the rocks. At present there are around 2000 caves, inhabited by around 3000 people, making it the largest cave complex in Europe, so crossing another item of my bucket list, staying in a cave house was looking very promising.
The reason there are many cave houses in this area is believed to be due to the taking of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492 when the Moors fled the city to the mountains, where they dug into the clay of the hills, building the cave houses, many of which can be seen today.
The best views of the area are from the Mirador Cerro de la Bala.
The town of Guadix sits at an altitude of 913 metres, a high plain at the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada and was once famous for its cutlery, but today is more well known for its earthenware, hemp goods, and hats.
The main sights to see in the town itself are the Guadix Cathedral (16th-18th centuries), which was built over a Moorish mosque in Gothic-Renaissance style, with its in Baroque style, and the Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress commanding the town, but after a lot of driving and the heat we just fancied a quiet night, and for a change opted for a kebab whilst it was available.
The town itself was very busy and seemed a popular location, and one we may return to on a future road trip.
Night 5 - Cueva El Jaraiz, 3 Star 54.00€
This was a 3 bedroom (2 double, 1 twin) cave house, with a fully fitted kitchen, bathroom, great Wifi signal and, its own private patio with BBQ. This was a wonderful place and I loved it, although the lounge area was still quite hot, the bedrooms were a comfortable temperature as they stay at a constant temperature of between 18-20ºc all year round, and were pitch black once the lights were out, making for a great nights sleep. For me just the experience and being able to say I have at last stayed overnight in a cave house was enough to keep me happy.
Unfortunately the only downside which did slightly ruin the experience for us was the very, VERY, VERY, persistent flies in the area, I blame these flies for Derek only wanting to stay one night.
Would we return? That would be a BIG yes from me.
Day 6 - July 30th - Guadix to El Ejido 106km
To be continued......
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Spanish Road Trip 2022 Day 2 Riopar
SPANISH ROAD TRIP 2022 - DAY 2 MURCIA TO RIOPAR
Day 2 - 26th July Murcia to Riopar, 208km
Travelling across country to our next destination, Riopar, we spotted a sign for a sanctuary which looked quite interesting, not knowing just how beautiful and well known this place was, we were surprised to find the wonderful Santurario de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Sanctuary of the Virgin of Hope).
The sanctuary is located in a cave carved into the rock 6 km from Calasparra, and dates from...
SPANISH ROAD TRIP 2022 - DAY 2 MURCIA TO RIOPAR
Day 2 - 26th July Murcia to Riopar, 208km
Travelling across country to our next destination, Riopar, we spotted a sign for a sanctuary which looked quite interesting, not knowing just how beautiful and well known this place was, we were surprised to find the wonderful Santurario de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Sanctuary of the Virgin of Hope).
The sanctuary is located in a cave carved into the rock 6 km from Calasparra, and dates from the seventeenth century.
The sanctuary houses two images of the Virgin of Hope known as La Pequeñica and La Grande. The small image is said to have been found by a shepherd who kept his cattle in the cave eroded by the water of the Segura River, neighbours of the town tried to move it to the municipality of Calasparra but due to its weight they understood that the Virgin wanted to remain in the grotto and new rooms and were added.
The Sanctuary is among the top five in Spain, with about one million visitors a year, although it was very quiet when we visited.
The surrounding area is very picturesque with the Segura River nearby, and there are plenty of walks signposted, picnic areas and a lovely restaurant with stunning views.
Riopar
Riópar is a municipality located in the province of Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, in the region of the Sierra de Alcaraz. It is located 118 km from the provincial capital, Albacete.
The main tourist attractions here are the mountain landscapes in the natural park of the Calares del Río Mundo and the Sima.
There are quite a few bars and restaurants in the town itself and a good municipal swimming pool. We had a wonderful mixed meat platter in one of the local restaurants which included, red and black sausages, chicken, pork, lamb chops with chips, bread and two drinks for 25€ which was great value for money.
Night 2 - Accommodation Hotel Riopar Spa , 3 star, 50€ including Breakfast and FREE parking
With views of the Segura and Alcaraz Mountains from the balcony, this air-conditioned room had simple, traditional décor, adequate for our one night stay, the only strange thing was that there was no tourist information available and the two vending machines remained empty, which was annoying when you required a bottle of water once the restaurant had closed and all the reception staff had left for the night.
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