Best campsites in Southern Spain

[mr2allotments]

Hi

We are planning to escape from work & family committments for three weeks this Christmas and tour Southern Spain in our beloved T25. We will probably head for valencia and then make our way, slowly towards the border with Portugal visiting National parks, nature reserves, coastal towns and places of interest on the way.

Can any of you suggest some particularly good campsites for us to head to (preferably picturesque, typically spanish and not too commercial) and off-the-beaten-track places we really should visit?

Cheers

Chris

[DevonAid]

This may not fit your requirements exactly as it is a large site, but we were there during May 2 years ago and had a really good stay - it's at Puerto de Santa Maria, very close to Cadiz http://www.lasdunascamping.com/08_Localizacion.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The sandy beach is just across the road, Cadiz is a cheap jetfoil away and really nice, Puerto de Santa Maria is a pleasant town (although the local tykes decided nicking the quick release bolts from our bikes was funny).
I was also amazed our van actually made it all the way from Bilbao, and the large site was pretty quiet in May but I guess it might be hotting up for the summer soon. There is a pool but that was closed when we were there so I guess it was out of season, as your trip will be I expect.
We had cracking time in Spain (4 weeks). Enjoy where ever you end up.

[mr2allotments]

Thanks DevonAid,

that site looks interesting but as you say, even though we are going over the Christmas period we hope to be able to find smaller sites with more of a local feel to them

Come on ... hasn't anyone else been travelling in Andalucia in their t25?

[Ralf85]

Unlike France, Spain and Portugal are not camping focussed. Sites are few and far between so I recommend that you buy a camp site book for Spain and check well ahead to find out if any sites are open at that time of year. Good luck

[AngeloEvs]

We found the majority of sites in the Almeria region to be open all year but noticed that in the North most closed around late September. Our site had mainly retired Brits with their Caravans who hike it over around November and spend the winter in the warmer sunny climate of Southern Spain. A campsite guide is your best bet but we had no problem finding a pitch other than the best ones were booked well in advance by the winter Brit maurauding caravanners who booked the same site same and pitch every year. Others stay on site all year (don't blame them either!) and are a great source of info. You will spot them no problem by their 2.5M sat dishes erected next to their vans.......

[andisnewsyncro]

DevonAids's recommendation in El Puerto is a great site for a base to explore or just enjoy living in a real Spanish town - great bars etc nearby; we spent a month there a couple of winters ago. Also try Camping Rio Jara just outside Tarifa.

For further East go to La Caletta in Las Negras, great site in the Cabo de Gata National Park; it's a (nearly) unspoiled typical Spanish coastal village (no ATMs, nearest in San Jose a few KM away, so take cash) It's also listed in the ACSI discounted camping card book so works out pretty cheap.

I'll look up some others over the weekend for you, if you want any tips, drop me a line - we lived in our van for 7 months in winter 2007 and loved every day of it

Andi