What a ride it was through Spain. Never would I have imagined that Spain would capture my camper heart in the course of 4 weeks. But it has! I am so glad we used the quiet winter time to explore the beauty of this Mediterranean paradise cause boy, Spain gets busy during summer. Wild camping was actually a breeze for us and it was much more hassle free than we thought. So for everyone that wants to see Spain from a wild side, I have listed all of our Favorite Wild Camp Spots.
No cost, no services
Just a couple of things to keep in mind when considering to stay at one of wild camp spots we recommend here. We have stayed at every single one of them for at least 2 nights. All are free, meaning there is no charge for parking but there are also no facilities like water or electricity. Since we visited all those places in winter, your experience might be very different in summer when tourist and camper numbers soar. Police seem also slightly stricter during high season.
Trash is a serious issue
The trash issue is really close to my heart. Trashing natural camp spots does major harm to natural habitats and it full well makes sure that free camping will not be tolerated by local authorities in the future. So as a courtesy to nature and other campers, please, whenever you encounter some trash at one of your camp spots, fill a big bag and take it to the next bin. I always see it as a thank you that I did spend the night there free of charge. Give back to nature!
My Top 8 Favorite Wild Camp Spots in Spain
Before I start getting into details, just a little head’s up: reaching some of the camp spots might require a bit of rule bending. Of course, I am not telling you to break the law. But to gain access to some of the spots (Cadaques or Xabia for example) we did pass signs stating that the access was only for residents of the area. But I will leave that to you to make that decision if you want to enter those spots or not.
Cadaques, Costa Brava
Cadaques was the first stunning camp spots at the edge of the ocean. Access can be difficult if your camper is wider than 2,50m. You will have to go through the little town of Cadaques and the roads leading to this spot are pretty narrow. It is beautifully located just steps way from the water front. You have beautiful ocean views but the city itself is so close that you can walk into town easily to have a drink or buy groceries. And white washed pretty Cadaques is really worth a visit in itself. Mind you, it is crazy crowded in summer and I wouldn’t recommend it during peak season. We stayed at this spot for 2 quiet nights but were notified by the friendly local police on day three that we could not sleep here and it was just for parking. But I would still give it a try ion I were you!
Find the exact location here.
Cala D’Aiguafreda, Begur
My absolute favorite camp spot during our Spain road trip. I could stay here for weeks. This stunning little bay is surrounded by exclusive villas and holiday houses which are all empty in winter. There is a little even parking space which we had all to ourselves for the 3 nights that we stayed. The spot comes with sweeping ocean views and even a little stairwell that leads down to a tiny secluded swimming beach. You can climb the cliffs around the parking spot which offer amazing sunset view. These view points were amazing spots for some yoga or meditation sessions.
Find the exact location here.
Cala Aiguafreda, Puig Rodo
This spot is only a couple of kilometers away from the prior one but it sits high on the top of the hill and offers literally 360 degree ocean views. If you are lucky you can even see the snowcapped Pyrenees mountains on the horizon in winter. There is no beach access and it can get a little windy sometimes. But the views will compensate for a little wind!
Find the exact location here.
Cala Llevado, Costa Brava (camp ground)
We stayed here over Christmas and it is a place that might not be open anymore or might be made into something else now. We found this places a camp ground but in winter no one was there and the gates were not closed. So we parked here for 3 nights. Local residents that we talked to were also not sure if the camp ground still operated. So we made the decision to stay there for 3 nights. The parking is on a hill top in a pine forest. The camp ground has exclusive access to 3 to die for coves with turquoise waters and a tiny waterfront.
Find the exact location here.
Tabernas Desert, Andalusia
The Tabernas desert is an out of this world area in Spain. It is a very special experience in itself. But we found a spot that is close to a pretor station (you can use their toilets) but still gave the feel of camping right in the desert. There is no light pollution so the clear skies and the stars are s delight at night.
Find the exact location here.
Sierra Nevada, Stausee
this is for all, the mountain people out there. The Sierra Nevada is a hikers paradise and you will pass it on your way to Granada. We found a lonely spot with views onto a blue lake right between the pine trees. It can get a bit noisy from the motorway which is not far away. If you are lucky you get a visit by the wild mountain goats during the day.
Find the exact location here.
Nerja, Costa Tropical
Located high on the cliffs, this camp spot has it all. Crazy beautiful sunsets and ocean views plus access to at least 2 pebble beaches. Some of them are nude beaches too. There are 3 coves all along the coastal road so you can choose from several parking spots. And indeed, are they beautiful. But even in winter you have a lot of company from other campervans, so this spot is definitely no secret anymore but nonetheless we loved it here. It also gets a lot of day visitors from locals during the weekend.
Find the exact location here.
Xabia, Cala La Granadella, Costa Brava
another one of those very exclusive spots and definitely on top of our Favorite Wild Camp Spots in Spain. The spot is close to a residential area, a collection of expensive holiday homes with sweeping costal views. And during winter, they are fairly empty. This spots comes with a little warning though because there were signs definitely stating that the access was only for residents. The local police passed our camper van but they didn’t say anything so we stayed for 2 nights here. The bay has insane views over the ocean and the village. Access for very wide vehicle scan be tricky too.
Find the exact location here.
For more travel advise and inspiration, make sure to check out my 9 Reasons why you should Roadtrip Southern Europe in Winter, my cozy Campervan transformation on a budget, and why you should add Montenegro to your travel list!