The Pinar de Can Camins is one of the few Mediterranean forests in its original state, with the 30-hectare Spanish forest belonging to the Natura 2000 Network and opening for just 10 days a year
Millions of people worldwide enjoy hiking, with many taking to slopes, hills, mountains and other challenging terrains each year.
However, some trails are more popular than others, such as the Seven Sisters walk in southern England, which becomes particularly crowded when the UK transitions from winter to spring and summer.
Spain also has a thriving hiking scene, but there’s one route that sees not thousands, but merely tens of tourists annually.
In a world of overtourism, the Pinar de Can Camins is a haven of tranquillity, reportedly accessible only about 10 times a year.
According to Trendencias, the Pinar de Can Camins is one of the few Mediterranean forests that remains in its original state, with the 30-hectare forest currently part of the Natura 2000 Network, reports the Express.
The limited visitor numbers are due to the forest only opening on the first Sunday of each month, excluding July and August. Moreover, only the first 25 tourists are allowed entry.
These lucky 25 visitors are given a free guided tour of the area, starting from the Puerta del Delta at 11am. Reservations can be made via phone, in person or email.
While Spain’s Pinar de Can Camis successfully limits tourist numbers, another Spanish territory has urged tourists to reconsider visiting in 2026.
In recent years, the Canary Islands have been a hotbed of tension between tourists and locals, with residents voicing concerns about the impact of mass tourism on their communities.
Last year alone, the Canary Islands played host to approximately 7.8 million visitors, while the islands’ airports processed around 27 million passengers during the same period.
Fodor’s Travel, a renowned travel publication, has included the Canary Islands in its 2026 ‘No list’, which highlights destinations experiencing a surge in tourism that travellers might want to reconsider visiting.
The Canary Islands made the list due to the overwhelming number of people flocking to popular spots like Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Lanzarote.
Echoing this sentiment, an environmental group in Tenerife known as Asociación Tinerfeña de Amigos de la Naturaleza (ATAN) has raised the alarm that natural spaces are being “degraded”.
In a statement, they said: “Natural spaces are constantly degraded, with alarming losses in biodiversity. Overcrowding has erased peaceful places where we could once enjoy life there are no truly local spaces left.
“We are losing our identity, culture, and, ultimately, our right to exist as a community. Tourism has become unlimited, mass-oriented, and largely low-cost party tourism that doesn’t come to truly discover the islands, but to consume a fake backdrop.”
