Astrotourism is on the rise. More and more travellers are searching for a special nature experience. As nowadays clear skies cannot be taken for granted anymore, destinations with less light pollution are highly popular. Spain is one of the best countries for all Star seekers, due to the climate, which guarantees many clear night skies and big areas without air and light pollution. We at Across Spain searched for the top 5 areas in Spain, where you have the possibility to “look back in time” while watching up at the luminous stars.

Canary Islands
As also mentioned in our latest news, the Canary Islands are considered as the world’s stargazing paradise because of their clear, almost transparent sky, as well as for their low rainfall rates. The clean and unpolluted, quiet atmosphere combined with the high mountains make travellers feel a little closer to the universe. Next to La Palma, which was the first destination that has been designated as a Starlight reserve by the UNESCO, the Teide in Tenerife is also a hotspot for stargazers. On the mountain, which is the third highest volcanic structure in the world, travellers can glance at the Milky Way that stretches from horizon to horizon.

Sierra Sur district
The Sierra Sur district is the mountain range of Sierra Sur de Jaén in Andalusia, southern Spain. This is a landscape abounding in mountains and canyons, where you can find clean air and a glare-free atmosphere, isolated and distant from urban development. Perfect for observing the southern Spanish Sky.

Montsec
Low humidity and almost no clouds turns the Montsec area in Catalonia in a great location for stargazing. The area has also been recognised and certified as a Starlight Tourist Destination and Reserve by the UNESCO. These are the reasons why the Parc Astronòmic Montsec (PAM) was built here. The Park has a museum and small outdoor fields with two telescopes for stargazing. The museum offers you a permanent exhibition which allows you to “travel” through the history of the universe—from its origin to the creation of our solar system.

Valles del Jubera, Leza, Cidacos and Alhama Biosphere Reserve.
Thinking of the beautiful countryside of La Rioja, northern part of inland Spain, several activities have been organised there in recent years, such as talks about the sounds of nature, tours to spot nocturnal birds, explanations of the links between the Celtiberian culture and the stars, bathing under the stars in thermal springs, learning about the constellations, and more. La Rioja has two stargazing parks, in Laguna de Cameros and Cervera del Río Alhama.

Extremadura
Extremadura has two territories that have been granted the Starlight Destination certificate: the Monfragüe Biosphere Reserve and the Gran Lago de Alqueva area. Monfragüe was, in early 2017, the first place in Extremadura to receive this recognition. Gran Lago del Alqueva area received the region’s second Starlight Destination certificate in April 2018.

If you are now eager to visit one of these natural unique destinations to look up in the sky and experience its wonders, write us a message and ask about our stargazing programs.