The growing popularity of nature tourism in Spain is putting increasing pressure on the country’s most cherished natural spaces. While many people seek out these pristine environments to enjoy their beauty, the influx of visitors is causing serious damage.
Experts to warn that without regulation, these places could be “loved to death.” With more people heading into the great outdoors, Spain’s natural spaces are seeing more foot traffic than ever. As geologist Francisco Canosa, director of the Cabo Ortegal Geopark, points out, “No natural space can withstand thousands of footsteps every day.” The sheer number of visitors can lead to compacted soil, disrupted wildlife cycles, and the accelerated degradation of delicate ecosystems.
Popular tourist spots like the Desfiladero de la Hermida in Asturias, or the lavender fields of Brihuega in Guadalajara, are prime examples of how mass tourism can harm the very environments that draw people in.
Case studies
The situation is particularly dire along the Sella River in Asturias. Here, nearly 7,000 people and 3,500 boats descend every weekend during August for the famous canoe descent. Local businesses are divided on how to handle the crowds. Some advocate for reducing boat numbers to protect the river, while others resist any change to this booming business, which has transformed Arriondas, a small inland town in Asturias.
In Lugo, the iconic Playa de As Catedrais allows only 4,800 visitors per day to safeguard its unique rock formations. Furthermore, the nearby Banco de Loiba in Cabo Ortegal, Galicia, has seen its landscape erode under the weight of too many visitors, some of whom are unaware they are in a UNESCO Geopark.
Further examples include the Castañar de El Tiemblo in Ávila, a 1.5-square-kilometre forest. This is now on the Hispania Nostra endangered heritage list due to over 1,200 visitors per day during peak seasons. Similar issues are occurring at San Juan de Gaztelugache in the Basque Country. This peninsula saw an explosion of visitors after its appearance in Game of Thrones, prompting the introduction of a quota system to control access.
Balance needed between tourism and conservation
Experts like Javier Gómez Limón from Europarc-España stress the need for better management and regulations to prevent further damage. Implementing visitor quotas, sustainable transport options, and effective signage are key tools to protect these spaces. Successful examples can be found in the Picos de Europa, where private vehicles are banned from accessing the popular Lagos de Covadonga. Additionally, the authorities limited access to those with prior reservations.
Meanwhile, Tenerife’s Barranco de Masca in the Teno Rural Park has introduced a strict daily visitor cap and new entry and exit routes to manage the overwhelming crowds. These measures have helped to preserve the park’s unique landscape while still allowing people to enjoy its beauty.
The future of nature tourism
As Spain’s natural spaces continue to attract more visitors, the challenge will be to strike a balance between conservation and public access. With visitor numbers to national parks have increased by 77% in the past two decades. Therefore, experts are calling for careful management to ensure that future generations can enjoy these environments. As Javier Benayas from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid puts it, “Natural spaces are like museums, where the exhibits are the flora and fauna. We must manage them well so our children and grandchildren can enjoy them as we have.”