Escape to Huelva

Photos courtesy of Aracena Town Hall. Author: Rafael Asquith / Love The Frame

This time we are going to propose a trip to the province of Huelva, with activities for the whole family where we will visit the incredible Gruta de las Maravillas, ride an old tram in the Rio Tinto Mines and imagine that we are sailing the seas as Columbus did when he discovered the New World. A trip full of interesting activities for the youngest members of the family.

We depart from our facilities in Alhaurín el Grande towards La Rábida, an area belonging to the Huelva municipality of Palos de la Frontera and which is located 5 km from the place where Christopher Columbus set sail for America.

Here we can visit the Monastery of Santa María de la Rábida, a Franciscan monastery in Gothic-Mudejar style, built between the 14th and 15th centuries. It was declared a National Monument in 1856. It is about 2,000 square metres in size and has an irregular ground plan. Over the years it has undergone various modifications, especially as a result of the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. Christopher Columbus stayed here before leaving for the New World, when he was still preparing his project, and Martín Alonso Pinzón, who died a few days after returning from his first voyage to Columbus, is buried here.

We can leave our motorhome in a large car park which is very well located for both visits. There are no services here, but we can spend the night without any problems. These are the coordinates N 37°12’37.7964″ W -6°55’30.216″ 37.210499, -6.925060.

We continue our route towards the village of Minas de Rio Tinto, which is an hour’s drive away. If we need to empty our water, we can stop en route in Valverde del Camino, which has an AC area on the outskirts of the village with all the services.

We will go directly to the Ernest Lluch Mining Museum, the best starting point to get to know the Riotinto Mining Park. A walk through it is a journey through the history of mining in Huelva from beginning to end, from its beginnings 5,000 years ago to the current mining operations.

To finish the day we will visit the Ferrocarril Turístico Minero (Tourist Mining Railway), this 20th century railway runs along 12Km of the old tracks that transported the mineral to the city of Huelva. Its route runs parallel to the natural course of the Tinto River, the unique red water river that runs through a large part of the province of Huelva. At the end of the route and before setting off on the return journey, you can get off the train to discover the peculiarities and beauty of this river up close.

In all three places we will be able to park the motorhome without any problems. At the Mining Museum we will be provided with a map of the entire park so that we can move from one place to another.

Our last stop on this route through the province of Huelva will be in Aracena. This town has an urban castle full of monuments, declared a site of Cultural Interest. It is located at the foot of its ancient castle and the Priory Church of Nuestra Señora del Mayor Dolor. In addition to this and many other churches that make up its heritage, its most outstanding feature, and for which it is best known, is the Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders), one of the most interesting karst complexes in Spain.

The Gruta de las Maravillas is a spring of inexhaustible beauty, forged by time over nature itself, with the help of elements as simple as water and stone. The great extension of its lakes, the abundance and variety of formations, and the length of its development make this underground complex a complex of great beauty and beauty. Discovered at the end of the 19th century, it was in 1914 that it was opened to the public as the first tourist cave in Spain.

To park and spend the night if necessary, Aracena has an area without services, but very well located for visiting the town and its Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders). These are the coordinates N 37°53’20.2452″ W -6°34’14.0268″ 37.888957, -6.570563

Finally on our way back to Alhaurín el Grande we could take a more relaxed day and stop in La Puebla de Cazalla, this town in the province of Seville has a private motorhome area with all the services, it has 10 spaces and is located on the outskirts of the village with a park for the little ones right next to it. Here we leave you the coordinates N 37°13’29.9928″ W-5°18’16.92″37.224998, -5.304700

Did you like our route? If so, and you want to try the experience of taking your home wherever you go, contact us and you can rent our motorhome.

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