Holidays and good weather are two factors that make summer the ideal time for tourism. Many seek the sea to take refuge from the heat, but inland tourism provides interesting alternatives that cannot be done from a towel on the beach.
Here are the best summer plans to enjoy La Rioja like never before.
Outdoor activities
Lost ravine
La Rioja is already known for its palaeontological heritage and its dinosaur routes. That's why we can't fail to recommend the Barranco Perdido Paleoadventure Park.
Barranco Perdido is located in the Rioja municipality of Enciso.
Here you can enjoy numerous family activities such as climbing on the rock climbing wall on the Cretaceous beach (for children only), swimming in the pool, listening to the echoes of the saurians or simply relaxing in the sun on the solarium. But its main attraction is the visit to the Cretaceous museum where you can learn all about the Cretaceous period (third and last period of the Mesozoic era) and the world of dinosaurs.
To enjoy the palaeontological adventure from the inside, the best thing is the workshops of the Palaeontological Circuit, where you can explore the sites with the tools of real professionals, photograph your findings and then work with them in the "laboratory of time".
If you are still thirsty for adventure, nothing better than the Multiadventure Circuit, with Tibetan bridges, walkways and obstacle courses, a large slide, a zip line and super zip line, an extreme circuit or archery.
All in all, a great plan for a great family day out.
Natural parks and protected areas
Another of La Rioja's strengths is its natural heritage. If you like ecotourism, La Rioja offers a large number of nature parks and protected areas, including the Sotos de Alfaro Nature Reserve, the Hervías lagoon, the Sierra de la Demanda, the Sierra de Alcarama, the Sierra de Cantabria, the Peñas de Arnedillos, Peñalmonte, Iregua, Leza, Jubera and Peña Isasa, the Obarenes Mountains and the Alhama River .
Do you know the wonderful Sierra de Cebollera Natural Park?
We told you about it earlier and it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the community, where hiking enthusiasts can enjoy themselves. If you want to know the routes that can be done in this park we remind you of them here.
Sierra de Cebollera Natural Park. Author: Shemsu.Hor
And if instead of discovering La Rioja on foot you want to see it all from above, you can do so by going to Haro.
Water sports and activities
For those who don't want to leave sport out of their holidays, what could be better than water activities in a summer like this?
Yacht Club
The El Rastrillo sailing club is on the González Lacasa reservoir, 48 km from Logroño.
Here you can take part in various water activities such as pedal boats, canoeing, canoeing, sailing on the marshes and even if you are more adventurous and like sport, why not try windsurfing?
Windsurfers at the Club Nautico. Author: Nauticoelrasillo.com
With such a variety of activities, the sailing club is always a good idea for families and groups of friends.
Cultural tourism
The historical and cultural heritage of La Rioja is incalculable. This region is full of beautiful monuments and assets of cultural interest such as the Monastery of Santa María la Real in Nájera, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Briones, the Cathedral of Santa María in Calahorra, the co-cathedral of Santa María de La Redonda in Logroño, the Roman Bridge of Cihuri...
Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Briones. Author: Zarateman
For those who do not want to miss the opportunity to discover the historical, architectural and cultural heritage during these holidays, here are two essential routes: the Route of the Castles and the Route of the Monasteries.
Visiting all these places is an irresistible temptation, but on this occasion, with the good weather, we propose here a cultural plan exclusively for the summer to enjoy these magical seasonal nights.
Munilla Jazz Festival
This weekend the XII edition of the Munilla Jazz Festivalwill be held in Munilla.
It is organised by the Association of Friends of Munilla with the collaboration of Munilla Town Council, the Government of La Rioja and various private and public entities.
This year the festival will feature four performances:
- Iñaki Arakistain & Cristina Morales Quintet (Smooth Jazz Project) on Friday 14 August at 18:30
- Javier Rodríguez Quartet (Havana Vibes) on Friday 14 August at 11pm
- The Riojan quartet 6teps on Saturday 15 August at 18:30
- Philippe Laccarrière Quartet (Lacca's Dream'n'Bass 4) on Saturday 15 August at 23:00
Wine tourism
Vivanco
Vivanco, in Briones, offers a complete experience dedicated to wine tourism, which includes visits to its museum, the most important wine museum in the world, its winery, wine tasting courses, visits to the vineyards, its restaurant and activities for children. On their website you can easily book the experiences you most want from Vivanco.
View of Briones, Vivanco and vineyards
Rioja and the 5 senses
Very close to Vivanco, in the capital of La Rioja, "El Rioja y los 5 sentidos" is being held. From 1 to 19 September a new edition of this festival will be held in Logroño with a special programme for its 20th anniversary.
The programme is structured around activities for the five senses:
The view
This edition will be the first edition of the I International Short Film Festival on Gastronomy and Wine "Win 5 Festival". Fifteen of the 62 works submitted will be screened and will be evaluated by the audience and a professional jury. The winning short films will be screened on the 17th.
In addition, the 17th edition of the International Wine Photography Competition will be held, the best works of which will be exhibited from 1 to 26 September.
Smell
The Rioja Wine Guild will hold the famous tasting courses in Logroño. There will also be dramatised tastings at the Rioja Culture Centre.
Touch
The aim of the family activities is to bring wine culture to everyone, including children, through games such as the "Bicipicnic" (cycling through the vineyards with lunch afterwards) or the family festival with workshops, as well as children's shows and concerts.
Taste
This year's programme includes the Special Capital Session "Rioja and the 5 Senses" where tapas of Riojan food will be paired with three wines.
The ear
We will use our sense of hearing to enjoy various performances.
The first will be on 11 September, with performances by comedians of the stature of Julián López, Dani Martínez and Iñaki Urrutia.
The second will be on 19 September with concerts by Vanesa Martín, Mikel Erentxun and Amaia Montero.
Parties
The festivals of La Rioja are famous for their originality and fun. You've probably heard of the Haro Wine Battle, the Briones Medieval Festival, the San Bernabé Festival in Logroño, the Vueltas de Nájera...
Don't worry, if you missed out on these festivities, there's still plenty of summer fun to be had in La Rioja.
Today (if published on the 14th) and until the 19th, the Fiestas Mayores de Alfaro are being held, with bull running, bullfighting shows, floats, big heads and giants, concerts (Loquillo is performing tonight) and an endless number of activities that will flood the town with joy and fun.
Two of the traditional festivals still to be held this summer are the Fiesta de la Molienda (Milling Festival) and the Fiesta del Pan y Queso (Bread and Cheese Festival).
The Festivities of San Mateo in Logroño
In September, also known as the Fiestas de la Vendimia (Grape Harvest Festival ) due to the proximity of the grape harvest. They are held the week of the 21st and are the most popular in La Rioja.
Don't miss the traditional "zurracapote" offered in the "chamizos", the gastronomic tastings, the fairs and the numerous concerts, among many other activities.
The most important event is the "Ofrenda del primer mosto a la Virgen de Valvanera" (Offering of the first grape juice to the Virgin of Valvanera) when vats are filled with the first grapes of the season to be trodden and turned into grape juice.
Grape treading at the Fiestas de San Mateo. Author: EFE/ Abel Alonso
As you can see, inland tourism has nothing to envy from beach tourism, even in summer.
Do you know any other plan to enjoy La Rioja in summer?
