Camping In Andalucia: Tips, Best Campsites, Wild Camping & More!

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Sun, sea, and sand – that’s Spain‘s Andalucia region, and it’s why camping in Andalucia is becoming a popular holiday choice for many in Europe. Spain’s southern tip is also a hotbed of fantastic cuisine, great walking trails, and archeological gems in cities like Granada and Almeria. As such, this region caters for all tourists – from sunbathers to culture-seekers, as well as adventure junkies!

Thankfully, there are many campsites in Andalucia. And wild camping in Andalucia is possible too, however there are rules, and several caveats that apply to it. We cover those later in the article, so you can avoid a fine and a trip to the local Guardia Civil.

So grab your sunscreen and read on. Let’s start your camping in Andalucia adventure!

Camping In Andalucia

Camping is a very popular holiday activity in Spain so there are campsites throughout the Andalucia region covering a range of budgets. Almost all of which have spots for RVs too.

Several lie beside great hiking and cycling trails, as well popular tourist hot-spots and beaches too.

If you are planning an active holiday, then a good hiking in Andalucia book will be very helpful. We recommend this one – simply choose what route you’re doing and plan which campsite to stay at by seeing what town, or village, is nearby.

However if you’re looking for some great campsite recommendations, then below we have a few of our favorites! Some are fantastic for sun-seekers, others are perfectly located to explore the region.

The Best Campsites In Andalucia

Camping La Bella Vista

It’s Spain, so we had to start with a campsite that sits right on the beach!

Occupying a stunning beachfront location on Spain’s famous Costa Del Sol, this campsite has a great outdoor swimming pool with sea views too.

There’s also many events hosted at the site throughout the year, as well as frequent BBQs in the summer.

A great place to relax during the day, but also a place where you can have some fun in the evening at the onsite lively bar and restaurant.

Camping El Penon

Located in Andalucia’s north, Camping El Penon has unrivaled scenery in the region. Set atop the hills, this site has panoramic views of the hills and mountains stretching down towards the coast.

Along with the usual amenities you would wish for – such as an outdoor swimming pool and a bar – this site is also perfectly suited for people who want to enjoy time in nature. There’s many great walks in the surrounding area too.

Hidden Valley

For something a bit different, Hidden Valley is camping in style!

Beautifully set up bell tents with comfy beds await you at this glamping site. OK, so it’s not quite traditional camping, but we had to include it due to the stunning set up, and idyllic setting.

That setting is 25 acres of rolling olive groves surrounded by hills. This campsite is also just 40 minutes from Malaga, and is perfectly located for the Caminito del Rey, and several hiking trails.

Camping Alcornocales

This makes our list of best campsites in Andalucia as it sits right on the edge of the beautiful Los Alcornocales Natural Park. As such, it has fantastic access to a variety of walking and hiking trails.

It’s a rustic campsite, that is more suited to an outdoors-loving camper, but still has a restaurant, bar and swimming pool.

Camping Cabopino

This campsite has pitches in a shaded pine forest, which sit right in front of one of the best beaches in Marbella!

The family-friendly Camping Cabopino has designated children’s areas, has an outdoor swimming pool, and several places to eat on site. Making it the perfect base to explore the area – and enjoy the sea!

Wild Camping In Andalucia

DISCLAIMER: Below we give general advice, but we always recommend staying in an official campsite. If you choose to go wild camping/dispersed camping, then make sure you do so with someone who already knows the area where you’re planning on camping for your own safety.

The good news is that wild camping in Spain is not completely illegal, however there are many areas where it is illegal to wild camp. Unfortunately that covers much of Spain.

Wild camping in Andalucia can be complicated, as it’s illegal to wild camp in national parks, natural parks, and beaches. Furthermore, much of the land in Spain is private, therefore if you believe your ideal pitch is on private land (such as a farm), you should seek out the landowner and ask permission.

However wild camping in Andalucia is sometimes tolerated if campers respect the land, are discreet, and abide by the following set of guidelines:

You should camp in the same place for one night only, and pitch your tent discretely and in a remote place. Therefore don’t camp in or near settlements, someone’s farm or on cultivated land. If you think you’re on private land, always seek out the landowner and ask permission.

Campers should set up their tent at dusk, and take it down at dawn. A tent that is discreet and pitches quickly is best. Therefore a tent like this one would be a great investment for someone planning to wild camp in Andalucia.

If you are hiking a walking trail, make sure you choose to camp in a place that won’t be in any other hiker’s or walker’s way. You should also avoid camping in tourist areas completely.

Due to the heat and potential for wildfires, anyone wild camping in Andalucia should never make a campfire. You might want to think about bringing a storm cooker with you for cooking. They tend to be safe, and are often fine to use – but you should check local laws first. The Swedish brand Trangia make fantastic storm cookers that are virtually indestructible.

If you want to go completely fuel-less, a portable solar powered cooker like this one would work well. Plus, is there anything cooler than harnessing the power of the sun for your breakfast!

And of course, take any trash with you, and leave your camping spot the way you found it.

Below are our must-know tips for wild camping in Andalucia.

Tips For Wild (Free) Camping In Andalucia

• Thunderstorms and heavy rain can happen in Andalucia – even during the holiday season. Make sure you have a durable, rainproof tent that can survive heavy rain. A lightweight one-man hiking tent like this or similar would be perfect. For a good value tent that fits more than one person, this mosquito-proof one would work well too.
• Keep an eye out for animal poo – if there’s a lot near your perfect camping spot, you may end up being woken up by some enthusiastic sheep or something else in the middle of the night!
• There are several water sources in Andalucia, but remember to always have plenty of water on you when you’re walking and camping. A space-saving collapsible water bottle would be a good purchase.
• When going to the toilet you should do it far from water sources, such as rivers and lakes. Make sure to use a trowel (like this folding one) to bury any human waste – don’t just leave it out in the open.
• Like many rugged and wild rural areas around the world, there are flora and fauna to be aware of. So read up and make sure you know what to expect in the region or area you are planning to wild camp in.

Recommended Reading For Your Trip To Andalucia

Tempted to go camping elsewhere? Check out our guides to camping in the Algarve, French Alps, Pyrenees, Tenerife, and many others!

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