Moments for local tourism. – Discovering the territory

The current situation caused by the Covidi-19 pandemic continues to drag us into a series of both restrictive and health security measures to avoid the spread of the virus as much as possible. The lack of mobility means that the need to travel to acquire new cultural, artistic and gastronomic knowledge or simply to carry out activities both in an urban environment and close to nature must be done close to the place of residence or in the local area. This situation has forced us to reinvent proposals and activities that can be carried out individually or with the same group.

The tourist destination of Catalonia offers a wide and varied range of proposals distributed throughout the territory and within the reach of both residents and locals. Located in the south of Europe, and bathed by the Mediterranean, Catalonia offers all its natural resources. The good climate and the quality of the offer in active tourism and in a natural environment, complemented by a wide and diverse offer in gastronomy and accommodation, as well as the artistic and cultural heritage, play in favour of the territory of Catalonia, which has a millenary history and its own culture and language that have given it a very defined personality.

Catalonia offers a large number of areas that are ideal for active tourism and nature tourism, while enjoying the diversity of its landscapes, which range from the highest peaks of the Pyrenees to the most hidden coves of the Mediterranean, the plains of inland Catalonia and the natural landscapes of the Ebro Delta and the Lands of Lleida. There are so many interesting cultural examples that it is difficult to single out any one of them above the others. All places, localities and natural spaces have their own attractions which, in some cases, have yet to be discovered and thanks to local activities have helped to make them better known in their immediate surroundings. Large cities have some options and small towns or natural spaces and parks have others that are totally different, which, in a normal situation of tourism and mobility, can complement each other perfectly. Now, with the restrictions, we can enjoy what is close to us. To give some examples, it is advisable to go and see or visit dream buildings in Barcelona, the capital of modernism, where the Sagrada Familia or the Palau de la Música Catalana stand out, or take a route around the sites declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco,

such as the archaeological site of Tarraco, the Monastery of Poblet in Tarragona or the churches of the Vall de Boí in Lleida, which are within easy reach of the inhabitants of each of the towns where they are located.

The inland counties of Barcelona hide many other places where you can live in harmony with nature. A land that invites you to discover hermitages, castles and historical remains from different periods. The coastline is also the starting point of a territory where you can enjoy very intense sensations.

With a unique modernist heritage, you can also discover impressive natural spaces and a deep-rooted tradition of wine tourism. And nature lovers will find a captivating landscape of spectacular mountains and a territory rich in legends. A good way to discover it is through rural life, gastronomic pleasures and activities in the heart of nature.

Nature in Catalonia is lived and experienced with activities, trails and attractions all twelve months of the year. Catalonia is a country that offers all the necessary conditions for enjoyable hiking, with a network of some five thousand kilometres of long-distance tracks and some four thousand kilometres in short walks and local paths.

Fauna in its natural habitat
In Catalonia, there are mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and lots of other kinds of animals and plants to discover and study. See the animals free, in their natural habitat Step into the territory accompanied by an expert and observe their fascinating routine.

Sea and mountains … A wide array of nature in Catalonia
Nature can be found all around Catalonia: in the mountain chains, posidònia beds, the wetlands and the beach forests… And just minutes from the main cities are authentic natural gems, some of which are registered as Natural Parks.

18 Natural Parks
Catalonia is a must-see stop for lovers of natural Parks, including Catalonia’s only national park, the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. It has a rich and diverse flora and fauna, inhabited by more than 5,000 different species, with more than 200 lakes and some magnificent cliffs.

Enjoy the snow as a family
One of the best ways to experience the tranquillity of wintry nature is to put on some skis and cross the natural Catalan areas at your own pace, accompanied by your family. Catalonia as a snow destination goes beyond the ski slopes. In the Catalan Pyrenees, you will find lots of possibilities to enjoy the snow without skis on.

Cycle tourism and mountain biking (BTT)

Enjoy the country in two wheels. The variety of landscapes and the mild climate of Catalonia are an enticement to enjoy cycle tourism and mountain biking the whole year round.

Four treasures for bird enthusiasts

If you like birds, four of the largest areas in Europe for bird watching are in Catalonia. They are the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, the Delta de l’Ebre, the Delta del Llobregat natural areas and the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà. They have everything you need to watch birds: lookouts, observatories, accessible walkways and more Since three of the places are on the coast, they are stopping points on the bird’s migration routes, and it is at this time when many species can be seen.

Respect for nature

Sustainability and nature are two concepts that go hand-in-hand. Nature tourism or ecotourism invites you to enjoy, see and learn about the values and resources of these natural spaces in a responsible way. It is a respectful closeness to your surroundings and the environment.

Nature awaits you in Catalonia

– Ornithological Tourism

– Climbing

– Equestrian Tourism

– Underwater Activities

During the weeks of confinement or mobility restrictions, whether municipal or regional, some of the activities are not available to everyone, but the Catalan Tourism Agency has promoted different tourism programmes so that visitors can enjoy a wide range of tourist activities and contact with nature.

Tourism has become an everyday part of our lives. Over the last 25 years, the growth in the number of people travelling around the world has experienced a profound and constant growth that has come to a screeching halt this past year 2020. This situation has brought to our attention the wide range of business activities linked to the tourism sector that have had a very difficult time or have even been forced to close their business because they could not survive on the market or local activity alone.

Among the proposals for the reactivation of tourist destinations for 2021, Barcelona has positioned itself as one of the most important cities in the world in terms of the number of visitors. And not only Barcelona, but Catalonia and Spain are also leading destinations in the tourism market and, therefore, have already drawn up action plans to promote the recovery of the sector.

With more than 50 years of experience in the coach passenger transport sector in Barcelona, Avant Grup is a comprehensive platform for the intelligent management of logistics linked to the mobility of people.

Our management systems offer efficient and effective solutions designed to meet the demands of mobility needs and which have been intensively adapted to the requirements of health safety or decreed preventive measures. However, the certifications obtained in the exhaustive controls that are carried out are proof of this.