A small town set in the countryside might not boast grand architectural treasures or sparkling nightlife, yet it sits within reach of nature’s greatest resource. Every year, travelers descend on rural hotels to briefly forget everyday duties. Here they discover a spectrum of hobbies, from waking before dawn to track birds to wandering lavender rows under a starry sky. They linger in places where mushrooms wait to be found and where culinary days celebrate mycology. Rural tourism broadens its activities year after year, weaving the local community’s resources into a richer visitor experience.
Armed with binoculars, water bottles and packed snacks, both local and international visitors increasingly roam Spain in search of birds. Although the trend has gained popularity recently, ornithological tourism traces back decades. The boom became evident around 2008, when foreign guests began booking multi‑day weekends in rural homes to spot specific species. At that time, profiles tended to be men aged 35 to 60 with solid purchasing power and higher education. Ten years on, surveys by SEO/BirdLife show more women taking interest, families joining the mix, and a growing share of younger travelers. Generally, national visitors favor rural stays away from city life, paying up to 50 euros per person per night. Spain hosts 598 Special Bird Protected Areas and about 450 migratory and nomadic species. More than 28 million nature tourists mark places like Monfragüe National Park, Gallocanta Lagoon, and Ebro Delta Natural Park as must‑visit stops.
“The offer centers on the birds found in the area,” explains Cristina Sánchez, tourism manager at SEO/BirdLife. A minority of visitors focus on mountain birds such as bearded vultures, or steppe species like bustards; most prefer to mix birding with hiking, cultural routes, or gastronomy. In this way, tourism benefits not only accommodations but also other local sectors. The enthusiasm for ecotourism has prompted many municipalities to maximize opportunities, though planners must understand the visitors they attract. Sánchez notes that trips should be well tailored, with kitchens available most of the day. The best birding times are from sunrise to about 9–10 a.m. and again a couple of hours before sunset. Visitors also value informative brochures that help plan travels without losing connectivity in remote areas.
Lavenders for Instagram
When lavender fields come to mind, many picture Provence, yet Spain offers fragrant splendor too. Brihuega is a premier mauve destination, drawing travelers who want to photograph the fields for social media. Known as the garden of Alcarria, this Guadalajara province region competes with San Felices, Olite, and Tiedra for lavender lovers. “Every year the visitor numbers double,” says Luz Ruiz, head of the country’s first Lavender Interpretive Center in Tiedra.
More than 3,000 people book guided tours through the fields during the summer bloom, with steady year‑round interest says Ruiz. The family operation started lavender cultivation two decades ago, and guided tours began in 2020. Beyond strolling among the lavender, the business has diversified to offer products made from the plant, including soaps and crafts, and a lavender‑themed food truck serving dishes that showcase the flavor. “This approach works for us and supports a small municipality with fewer than 300 residents,” Ruiz notes.
Under the stars
City dwellers understand how hard it is to glimpse stars through light pollution, so many opt for nights in areas with low light and low population density. “Overnight stays rose by roughly 90 percent last year,” says Antonia Varela, director of the Starlight Foundation, which certifies places with exceptional sky quality and strong protection. In Atlantic regions like the Cíes Islands, interest has grown substantially, and visits can combine with campsite experiences. Regions offer region‑specific programs that blend astronomy with geology, wine, navigation, local gastronomy, and immersive listening experiences with biodiversity.
Astrotourism stands as a rural strategy to boost economies that do not rely on architecture or other classic sights. Seasonal adjustments let small regions capture significant activity, with earnings reaching millions in some cases. The Starlight Foundation has certified about 200 sites worldwide, with roughly 70 percent in national territories such as Gúdar Javalambre, Aras de los Olmos, and Teide National Park. Spain views this as a major opportunity and is sharing it with others around the world, extending its reach to Latin America, India and Africa.
Pick mushrooms
Many who enjoy rural getaways grew up foraging for mushrooms with family and now seek short, weekend escapes to relive those memories. Mycological tourism draws many national travelers to autumn mountain trips where mushroom hunting is the main draw. Soriano hosts Mycological Tapa Week in late autumn, competing with other northern regions such as the Basque Country, Asturias, Aragon and Catalonia, led by Soriano Hotel Apolonia. This hotel, opened in 2013, offers mountain excursions and gastronomy experiences along with other activities that enrich the visit.
In Castilla y León, Rabanales de Aliste in Zamora is notable for the Mycological Museum, the only interpretive center devoted to mycological species. It promotes mushrooms and provides information on proper foraging, with cooking courses and preserves. Sarrión, at the heart of the Gúdar Javalambre region, is famed as the black truffle capital due to the annual Fitruf festival, attracting visitors who seek this coveted treasure. In some areas, the experience has become fully professionalized, offering routes from search to tasting. The Yerri Valley in Navarra features an extensive network of accommodations, guided tours, and routes beyond the truffle such as the Alloz Reservoir.