Europe’s most exciting adventures await in Spain

If you’ve ever been to Alto Aragón or High Aragón, you will know that it has to be declared Europe's leading adventure tourism destination by the World Travel Awards. However, a single province beating whole countries such as Austria, Italy, Norway, and Iceland deserves great credit. Hueca’s landscapes are scattered throughout the foothills of the Pyrenees, crossed by plenty of rivers. They are different from one another, but they all create the perfect setting to an endless list of possible adventures surrounded by nature. The great work of the tourism sector is decisive too, taking care of every detail.

Huesca has proved to Europe that it is a paradise for hiking, climbing, and water sports lovers and for everyone who seeks adrenaline, under the motto “The magic of the adventure.” In addition, it has a majestic historic heritage of Romanesque architecture and beautiful villages. There is no doubt that Huesca is a true gem for all types of tourists. Let’s look at the main adventure tourism attractions of this area, a large offer that should be on every explorer’s bucket list.

The mountains are calling

There is nothing like reaching the top of a mountain after a long climb. And if said mountain is more than 3,000 metres tall, we are talking about a huge achievement that most people can’t accomplish. Many of the highest mountains in the central Pyrenees are located in Huesca. The Aneto is the most renowned of them, a peak that attracts every climbing lover with its sights and glaciers.

However, there are many other areas of the province where you can enjoy the formidable closeness to the mountains, like Valles Occidentales, on the frontier with Navarra, or the impressive location of Posets-Maladeta. In the last one, you will find numerous wonders, such as the Forau de Aigualluts, a sinkhole and a waterfall in the heart of a landscape you will never forget. Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido lies between these examples and charms every visitor with corners as unique as Gargantas de Escuaín. Huesca’s Pyrenean area is full of possibilities for going on memorable routes of all degrees of difficulty.

To test the water

There is always water by a mountain. Alto Aragón has a large offer of aquatic spaces to perform every possible type of water sport. This is the main attraction for many people who want to have the best time of their lives, especially in the summer. Rafting is one of the most popular choices, and the Cinca and Ésera Rivers are perfect for it. Kayak is another favourite and allows a more relaxing experience (if that’s what you’re looking for) in magical environments such as Congost de Mont-Rebei, Noguera Ribagorzana, and Pantano de Mediano, where the old bell tower of a sunken village sticks out of the water.

But there is so much more to do in Huesca. For instance, you could go canyoning, which is the best way to explore canyons and ponds, and the occasional waterfalls and subterranean galleries. Or you might prefer hydrospeed, an exciting descent down wild waters on a board that you can do in localities like Campo, near Biescas.

A bird's-eye view of Huesca

As you can see, there is a lot to do in this area, both on earth and in water. But let's talk about air. The alternatives include a large range of activities, such as paragliding, parachuting, gliding, and hot air ballooning. They are perfect for enjoying breathtaking views from the sky. You can enjoy this experience in Santa Cilia, Jaca, thanks to its airfield and the astonishing landscape between the Pyrenees and Parque Nacional de San Juan de la Peña y Monte Oroel. Castejón de Sos in Benasque Valley is a great choice as well, where paragliding is extremely popular.

But if you’re seeking even more adrenaline, you should try bungee jumping and enjoy the landscapes of one of the most beautiful towns in the area, Hoya de Huesca, even if it’s just for a moment. Bungee jumping is also available in Ayerbe and the Gállego River, on the frontier with Zaragoza.

Almost unlimited possibilities

More adventure awaits in Huesca. This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning snow sports. Besides every skiing modality, plenty of new experiences have appeared in the Pyrenean area of Aragón. Ice karting is a singular type of karting performed on an iced circuit. You can do it in the Formigal area. Paintball on the snow, building an igloo, and sliding down a snow circuit on a snow tube or tubing are great plans too.

Huesca offers more fun and exciting activities, like adventure parks, which are venues where you will find a large variety of the favourite activities among adrenaline lovers. They are scattered throughout the western region of the Pyrenees; the zip-lines of Bosque de Oza and the specialised parks of Biescas and Ordesa are just a few of them. To the south, in Sodeto, you can practice paintball and your orientation skills. With this large number of possible adventures, you will find the one for you, whether you prefer a quiet evening riding a horse or the risk of more extreme experiences. You will find all of this and much more in Huesca. After all, it was declared Europe's leading adventure tourism destination!