The month of August is coming to an end, but that does not mean that summer is over, much less motorhome trips. If you are lucky enough to be able to take a vacation in September, you can continue to enjoy many destinations, both on the coast and inland, with added advantages: less influx of travelers and milder temperatures. From Autocaravan Express we propose 5 perfect destinations to enjoy a motorhome trip this September, three of them in Spain and another two in our neighbors, Portugal and France.
Almería
A coastline with 200 km of beaches, peculiar landscapes of great beauty and excellent gastronomy are just some of the things that the province of Almería offers, where we can enjoy scenarios as diverse as a Natural Park, Cabo de Gata-Níjar, or the setting for multiple films of the Werstern genre, in what is now the Oasys Minihollywood Theme Park.
In the city of Almería you can visit its imposing Alcazaba, its cathedral and even a small “Walk of Fame”, in the style of Los Angeles, where the most outstanding actors and filmmakers who have worked in the province are honored. And you cannot leave the city without visiting one of its legendary bars and restaurants, where you can taste the best tapas, such as the now mythical Casa Puga, with 150 years of history.
On the coast, you cannot miss the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, the first land-based maritime park in Andalusia, as well as some of its beaches, among which are Los Muertos, Las Negras or Playa Genoveses, as well as towns with great charm, such as Isleta del Moro.
To spend the night, there is a private area in Cabo de Gata, near the town of San José (36.815843, -2.149454) or the Camper Park Carboneras (37.003462, -1.909014). Be careful with spending the night outside of authorized areas! In the territories included in Natural Parks, overnight stays are regulated and we may face sanctions.
Estremadura
Extremadura is a nearby and very quiet destination where you can reconnect with nature and be surprised by the heritage, culture and gastronomy in all its corners.
In a “roadtrip” through Extremadura, you cannot miss the Roman complex of Mérida, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world with the Theater in front, not forgetting the Amphitheater and the Aqueduct of Miracles. The old town of Cáceres, which houses an excellent heritage legacy from the Renaissance period, is also worth a visit.
Take some time to visit the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe, a World Heritage sanctuary, and the Royal Monastery of Yuste, where Emperor Charles V spent his last days.
In terms of nature, the Monfragüe National Park is a must-see point of reference. It is a unique natural space, part of a territory declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO since 2003. There you can go to the most visited ornithological observatory: Salto del Gitano.
And, even if it doesn't have a coastline, you can always enjoy a swim in the Orellana Reservoir, which has the first inland beach in Spain with a blue flag.
Cáceres has a free motorhome area (39.480418, -6.366668) to be able to visit the city. There is also an area in Mérida ((38.919127, -6.336678), although in this case it is private. In the case of Parque de Monfragüe, the overnight area for motorhomes is located within the Campsite Monfrague and, by staying there, you can use all the facilities of the campsite itself.
The Rioja
September is an excellent time to visit La Rioja and admire its vineyards before the start of the harvest, which, as a general rule, usually starts at the end of that month. Thus, wine tourism, without forgetting gastronomy, may be the perfect excuse to travel there.
Towns such as Briones (with its Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture), Laguardia or Elciego (with the spectacular Marqués de Riscal winery, designed by Frank Gehry (author of the Guggenheim Museum building in Bilbao) are perfect settings to enjoy a few days focused on oenology, although without forgetting the beautiful architecture of these towns.
If you fancy having tapas, you can always go to the capital, Logroño, to visit its famous Calle Laurel and its many bars, each one specializing in a different pincho.
If you opt for a cultural visit, you cannot miss the Suso and Yuso Monasteries, in San Millán de la Cogolla, a World Heritage Site, and the birthplace of the first words written in Spanish.
And if you are looking for nature, you can go to the "Sierra Cebollera" Natural Park, a privileged geological enclave within the Iberian System, due to the glacial formations, the "holes", at altitudes above 2.000 meters.
To spend the night, in Logroño we have an area near the center (42.479198, -2.457220). In Elciego there is also a very well-kept motorhome area (42.514999, -2.615470). As for San Millán de la Cogolla, although there is no overnight area, you can leave the vehicle in the parking lot to make the visit (42.325001, -2.866000). Finally, for the visit of the Sierra Cebollera Natural Park, you can spend the night in the Camping Los Cameros.
The Algarve (Portugal)
If you want to leave Spain, but not go very far, our first recommendation is the Portuguese region of the Algarve, a paradise of beaches and cliffs where, in addition, we can enjoy beautiful villages and an incredible gastronomy based, of course, on the fish.
With more than 3.000 hours of sunshine a year and a low level of rainfall, we will have practically guaranteed good weather to enjoy its sandy beaches or small bays between rocks, with water with shades that will not leave you indifferent.
Among the cities, we highlight Lagos, Portimao, Tavira, Albufeira and Faro. And in terms of nature, it has three protected areas: the Costa Vicentina, the best preserved stretch of coast in Europe; Ria Formosa, a labyrinth of channels separated from the sea by a stretch of sand; and the Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António reservoir, very rich in fauna and flora.
For the night, take a look at applications such as Park4night or Caramaps, since this summer, due to Covid-19, there are some restrictions on beach parking or even some closed area, such as the one in Lagos. In Albufeira there is an area with services for motorhomes (37.098400, -8.243460) and in Faro you will find the Faro Campervan Park, a service and overnight area located in a quiet neighborhood, a few minutes from the airport and the beach (37.029428, -7.970020 ).
The Landes (France)
Finally, we move to our northern neighbor, France, to visit the Landes region, in the department of Aquitaine, where its endless sandy beaches, a paradise for surfers, its Mediterranean pine forests, its marine lakes and an endless network of bike lanes where you can safely pedal through wonderful landscapes.
It is a summer destination par excellence, thanks to its more than 100 km of fine sand beaches, although it will surely be less saturated in September than in July and August.
We recommend a visit to towns such as Capbreton, Hossegor or Vieux-Boucau, where you can enjoy maritime sports, as well as its best-known gastronomic product: oysters.
And, going up a little further north, you cannot miss the Arcachon Bay and the famous Pilat Dune, the largest in Europe, with its more than 110 meters high, its 2,9 kilometers long and 616 m Wide.
In the Landes you will find quite a few motorhome areas in the Landes area, most of them for a fee. Being a very touristy area, especially in the summer months, spending the night outside these areas is prohibited. In Capbreton, there is a fairly large area just 100 meters from a surf beach (43.636156, -1.446860). In Hossegor you can find a fairly quiet area just 15 minutes walk from the marine lake (43.672101, -1.419724). And to visit the Dune of Pilat, you can park (not spend the night) in the parking lot next to the dune although, if you have a bicycle, our recommendation is that you do it in the area "3 coccinelles", about 10 kilometers from there, since it has all the services.
In any of these five destinations you will enjoy unforgettable days of motorhome vacations this September. And, as we always tell you, if you don't have your own vehicle, you can visit our rental section and choose the model that best suits your needs to live the experience. We wait for you!
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