The Alava people have a great connection with nature. The inhabitants of this province love to go out to the mountain; whether it's hiking, biking or picking mushrooms. It is not surprising if we consider the beauty of this environment, really well taken care of; because more than half of the territory of Álava is a protected area.

 

If, like a good Alava (even if it is borrowed), you also want to dedicate yourself to doing nature activities in Álava, you should take a few notes. In Álava, the relief is divided mainly between the mountainous areas of the north and the plains of the south of the province.

 

In the first, there are Natural Parks such as Gorbeia and Aizkorri-Aratz. They are those that offer more possibilities for adventure tourism: canyoning, climbing, caving, hiking or mountain biking are some examples.

 

For these last two, Álava has created a Network of Green Itineraries that covers almost a thousand kilometers of rehabilitated roads. They are the best option to know the biodiversity and the natural heritage of the region. Some of these roads are the Vía Verde del Vasco-Navarro, the Camino Real de las Postas or the GR-38, known as the "route of the fish wine".

In addition to walking or cycling, you can also do many of these trails on horseback. Horse riding is widespread among the activities in nature in Álava, and you will find many offers to practice it, especially in the Llanada Alavesa area.

 

Going south, near the capital, there are large reservoirs, where it is possible to practice various water activities such as sailing or diving. Although the Ullibarri-Gamboa reservoir is best known for housing some very interesting species of birds, such as the gray heron, the great grebe and the coot.

 

To make birding, however, the best space in Álava is the Natural Park of the Sierra de Izki. In its forests, mountains or ravines you can see species such as the golden eagle or the griffon vulture. Other active tourism activities can also be done there, such as mountain biking or mountaineering routes up to La Muela peak.

 

It is clear, whether you are an adventurer, a hiker or an ecotourist, Álava surely offers some option for you.