Volunteering in Spain and Latin America has become increasingly popular among the Dutch in recent years. More and more people and especially young people go to developing countries during their vacations to help with different projects. This can be building an orphanage, teaching in Latin America or going on a volunteer trip in Spain.

There are many organizations offering volunteer work and this number will continue to grow in the coming years. Many companies also volunteer both at home and abroad. The relative distance (distance in time, money and effort) has become smaller in recent years, making visiting developing countries more and more accessible now. Relative distance has been reduced by development of land, sea and air transportation.

You can now take a Spanish course first and then volunteer in a Spanish-speaking country, such as Mexico. At don Quijote they can arrange this for you, as it is important to have a certain level of Spanish before you can help people. The only condition don Quijote sets is that you take a Spanish course for a minimum of 4 weeks to improve your Spanish, during which you will stay with a host family to improve your Spanish even faster. The course should bring your Spanish up to a level that will allow you to become a volunteer. When you start volunteering, you can choose to stay with your host family or you can choose different accommodation, which does not have to be don Quijote.Neem hier makkelijk deel aan door je zelf in te schrijven bij don Quijote. Een ervaring voor het leven zal het worden die je nooit zult vergeten!!

All income goes directly to the volunteer project. This way you can see for yourself right away where the money is going. Nowadays you can also volunteer in Spain, put together your own trip and help the less fortunate. Helping to build orphanages and schools gives you a fulfilled feeling!

We will look for a good volunteer project for you. During your volunteer work you will be accompanied so that we can keep track of how you are doing and help you when needed. For each volunteer, don Quijote will donate a contribution to the project in question.

So have you always wanted to do something for those people who are less fortunate in their lives than you? Now you have the chance to do something for this, become a volunteer in a Spanish-speaking country in Spain or Latin America. There are many projects in Latin America that help in orphanages and schools. Improve both your Spanish and the lives of those less fortunate by volunteering!

Toledo is the capital of the Castile-La Mancha region of central Spain and is located 70 kilometers south of Madrid. Toledo is also on UNESCO's World Heritage List due to its rich history and diversity of cultures.

Toledo was the capital of Spain until 1561 and is still considered one of the most important cities of the Spanish church today. The city is also known for its many daggers and swords that you will find all over the city. Toledo is also the city of El Greco, a famous painter.

Ancient Toledo was owned by the Romans who called the city Toletum until 192 B.C. Furthermore, Toledo was also part of the Visigoths from 534 to 712 A.D. In Moorish times, 712 to 1085 A.D. the city was called Tolaitola. After this time, Toledo experienced a prosperous time through the silk and wool industry and also through arms manufacturing.

Although Toledo is not a large area, it is an important hub economically and socially. The city is rich in culture and Spanish history. Toledo can also be easily visited on foot. All sights, monuments, museums and other places of interest are close together. However, it is advisable to wear good shoes or sturdy slippers since, as in all other cities in Spain, the streets are usually lined with small stones.

Toledo is generally known as "The City of Three Cultures." This is because Christian, Muslim and hebrew cultures lived within the city walls and this has left its mark on the city. This is particularly evident in the extraordinary architecture where all three cultures come together and give it its own personality.

During the Spanish Civil War, Toledo became truly famous for the siege of the Alcázar. At the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, the siege of the Alcázar of Toledo took place, this was an important military confrontation between opponents and supporters of Francisco Franco. From July 21 to Sept. 27, 1936, the city of Toledo and particularly the Alcázar was besieged by citizens loyal to the leftist government. The Alcázar was defended by Colonel José Moscardó. On July 25, the besiegers captured Colonel Moscardó's son, Luis, and wanted to kill him if the Alcázar did not surrender within ten minutes. The colonel asked his son on the phone to address him, telling him, "Dedicate your soul to God and cry loudly Long live Christ King! Long live Spain!" The son replied, "That is something I can accomplish!" After this refusal to surrender, the son was bloody murdered a month later. On Sept. 27, after two months of siege, the Alcázar was unseated by Franco.

Toledo's rich history in particular makes it a wonderful city to visit. Transportation to Toledo is easy from Madrid. It is definitely worth visiting Toledo once if you get the chance. After all, you can really enjoy walking in this city!     

Traveling through Spain, enjoying Spanish life under the sun! Travel in general has become one of the most popular leisure activities of most people in recent years. This year, an estimated 1 billion people will go on vacation! Spain is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe.

This trend starts especially with the youth between 18-25 years old. Taking a year off to work or going on a year of travel is increasingly becoming a popular option. This is a result of reducing the relative distance between 2 places. The relative distance between two places is the time it takes to get from one place to another. This has become shorter over the years through technological advances of land, sea and air travel.

Because the distance between different places is smaller, the ability to travel is also easier. It used to be special if you went abroad for vacation. Nowadays, we don't do anything else and most families go on vacation abroad at least twice a year. Many study trips are also taken, whether it is studying abroad or learning a language abroad, nowadays anything is possible! A study trip is an experience for life, you learn from it and you meet many different people. Study trips to Barcelona, Madrid, Granada and Salamanca are the most visited study destinations.

Accessibility in a country is very important. Therefore, in Spain there are many buses and trains that can take tourists from one city to another for relatively low prices. From Madrid the trains in Spain run in all directions, Madrid is located in the middle of Spain which ensures the many directions. The roads in Spain are also good, making a car vacation to Spain easy to do as well. This allows you to see a lot of the country while being independent of any buses and/or trains. You can easily rent a car from the airport.

Did you know that the Madrid - Barcelona flight and vice versa are the most frequent flights in the world. Daily flights go from the largest city in Spain to the second largest city and back again. Because there are so many flights going every day, the airline tickets also have pleasant prices. Furthermore, many domestic flights go from the north to Andalusia and also to Catalonia. Because of this, many Spaniards also enjoy a vacation in their own country.

All in all, traveling to and through Spain is quite doable. There are many pristine spots of nature where mass tourism has not yet set its foot. It is therefore definitely worth doing a tour of Spain, especially with the pleasant climate that we Dutch are always so envious of!

Summer in Spain varies, inland it can get very hot while on the coast it can be a pleasant temperature. The weather is determined by the altitude and the surrounding sea. Spain borders three seas that determine the summer in Spain these are the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Sea and the Cantabrian Sea. These seas are important for wind flow to and from the Iberian Peninsula.

It can also rain heavily during the summer in Spain. The chance of rain is less in the south than in the north, where sometimes large showers occur. In the south an average of 10 mm falls where in the northeast sometimes hundreds of millimeters fall. The Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca are therefore very popular vacation destinations. The wettest area in summer is San Sebastian, where about 300 mm of summer rain falls. The record summer rainfall in Spain is 720 mm in Gandia in Valencia, this was on November 3, 1987.

Spring is also a perfect time to go to Spain for a vacation or to work in Spain. Some advantages are that the days get longer then, the weather is more stable and there is a gentle breeze. In spring the temperature is around 20 degrees while in summer it is around 30 degrees. On average, in summer in Spain, the sun shines 11-12 hours per day.

Summers in Spain can be very hot, this is especially true inland. Nights can also be cool inland where temperatures can fall below 10 degrees. Compared to the Netherlands, summer in Spain is warmer, but the differences between day and night are great. The temperature by the sea can sometimes stay 30 degrees all night. In the summer of Spain, daytime temperatures can run around 21 degrees on the north coast and around 33 degrees in Madrid and even 36 degrees in Cordoba. The highest temperature ever recorded in Spain is 47.8 degrees in Murcia on July 29, 1976. During summer in Spain, some places see the sun 300 to 370 hours per month. In our small country, this average is around 200 hours per month (our sunniest month). The area with the most sun in Spain and Europe is the Gulf of Cadiz in southern Spain. Here the sun shines annually over 3000 hours and the north coast, on the other hand, only 1700 hours.

Especially the east coast and the islands are crowded in the summer by both tourists and students as seasonal workers. Many students go to work in Spain during the summer vacations. These are usually temporary jobs in Spain in the hospitality industry or in the tourism sector, for example, in a hotel or at a campsite. Many families also enjoy their summer vacations in Spain.

Spain is a perfect country to enjoy your vacation or to work in the summer. Spain is one of the busiest vacation countries in Europe. Many tourists stay in Spain during the summer to enjoy the wonderful weather, among other things. I don't blame them!

Spain has an area of about 506,000 square kilometers with many natural parks scattered throughout the country. There are many natural parks in Spain that have been declared national parks. These parks in Spain are protected by the government who want to keep the flora and fauna intact with as little human interference as possible. All Spain's national parks are public. In total there are 14 national parks in Spain. There are 9 parks in the peninsula of Spain, 4 in the Canary Islands and 1 in the Balearic Islands. Below they are all briefly discussed one by one.

National Park in the Balearic Islands

The National Park del Archipiélago de Cabrera

The island of Cabrera is the only natural park in the Balearic Islands. This entire island is a national park. The peculiarity of this park is that most of it is underwater. An underwater world with beautiful corals, fish and sea turtles. 

National Parks in the Canary Islands

The Timanfaya National Park (Lanzarote)

Once in the natural park of Lanzarote, you imagine yourself in a ´moon´ landscape. The former lava allows the cultivation of special wine with a special taste. Parts of the movie Lord of the Rings were shot here. Walking through this national park is not allowed. 

The Garajonay National Park

Spain's national park called Garajonay covers an area of just under 4,000 hectares and is located on the island of La Gomera. The characteristics of this national park are its rare animal species and dense forests. There are 150 different insects alone that live only on this island.

The National Park de la Caldere de Taburiente (La Palma)

This national park is located on the island of La Palma. In this park you will find mountains, volcanoes and beautiful waterfalls and it has an area of 4,690 hectares.

The National Park del Teide (Tenerife)

The only national park created by a volcanic eruption. The island is surrounded by a volcanic landscape, and from a path among the volcanic rocks you have a beautiful view of the island.

National Parks on the Iberian Peninsula

The Picos de Europa National Park (Asturias, Castile and León and Cantabria)

Picos de Europa was Spain's first national park and is located in northern Spain. The park has long been characterized for its stunning landscapes of high mountains, deep valleys and dense forests. Since 1995, the park has expanded to 64,660 hectares and named “Picos de Europa,” this also because it is part of the Cantabrian Mountains. To this day, wild brown bears can still be found living in a unique flora and fauna.

The Coto de Doñana National Park (Andalusia)

This National Spanish Natural Park is located on the Atlantic Ocean in two provinces (Huelva and Seville) and at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River. No roads run through the natural park; the people who live here live naturally without modern amenities such as electricity. The park has an area of 50,720 hectares.

Sierra Nevada National Park (Granada)

This is the largest national park in Spain with an area of about 86,200 hectares. The name Sierra Nevada is also for the mountain range with mountains over 3,000 meters high. Because it is so southern, the flora and fauna is unique and you will find animal and plant species that are found nowhere else but in the Sierra Nevada.

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park (Lerida-Cataluña)

The national park is located in the province of Lerida in northern Spain in the Pyrenees. This natural park in Spain is characterized by its many small mountain rivers and mountain lakes.

The Monfragüe National Park

Its name comes from the Latin Mons Fragorum and means “hollow mountain.” Park Monfragüe is the only national park in the region of Extremadura with an area of about 18,120 hectares. The Monfragüe park has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 2003.

The National Park de las Islas Atlánticas de Galicia (Galicia)

This national park in Spain is the only one in the region of Galicia. It is a national park for all the islands lying off the Galician coast such as Ons, Cie, Cortegada and Sálvora. The park has a total area of about 8,500 hectares of which 1,200 are on land and 7,300 are in the sea.

Ordese y Monte Perdido National Park (Pyrenees)

This National Park in Spain has an area of 15,610 hectares. This park located in the Spanish part of the Pyrenees and has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1997. Important features of this natural park are its snowy peaks and deep valleys, the highest peak is 3350 meters (Monte Perdido).

The Tablas de Damiel National Park (La Mancha)

With its nearly 2,000 hectares, this natural park of Spain located in the La Mancha region is a protected area for 180 different species of birds that rest here before migrating to warm places. In fact, the area is characterized as wet and rainy, perfect for waterfowl.

The Cabañeros National Park (Castilla la Mancha)

The Cabañeros Natural Park is surrounded by the mountains of Toledo in the regions of Ciudad Real and Toledo. The park has a mild Mediterranean climate (summers are dry and autumn precipitation is plentiful, winter will never be cold).

There are many mountains in Spain because Spain has a mountainous landscape so there are many areas where there are many mountain massifs. The largest and most famous mountains in Spain are the Pyrenees, the Castilian Range, the Iberian Ridge Mountains, the Betic Cordillera, the Sierra Nevada and the Cantabrian Mountains. We must not forget the island of Tenerife with the highest mountain in Spain. In most Spanish mountain areas, you can practice mountain sports for both cycling and skiing.

Most Spanish mountains were created because the African Plate (Africa) collided with the Eurasian Plate (Europe). This "collision" is very slow and started more than 100 million years ago and continues until today.

Spanish Plateau

Spain consists almost of three-quarters central plateau (meseta) with an altitude between 600 and 1,000 meters. In the central plateau lies Madrid, aka the highest capital city in all of Europe. The only lowlands of Spain are in the south and are called the Andalusian lowlands.

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees are a border mountain range between France (6 French departments) and Spain (4 Spanish regions). The dwarf state of Andorra lies entirely in this border region. The highest mountain is Mount Aneto at 3404 meters altitude, located in northeastern Aragon. The mountain range has a length of about 430 kilometers and was started by a collision between the Iberian Peninsula and the European Continent some 50 million years ago until today. In the Pyrenees you can also practice many mountain sports such as hiking, cycling and skiing.

Castilian Ranges

The Castilian Divide mountain range runs some 600 km from east to west inland, along the southern border of Castile and León into Portugal. The mountain range also contains two major rivers called the Tagus and the Duero. Within the mountain range there are several smaller chains, called Sierras in Spanish. The two most famous and largest mountain ranges are the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Sierra de Gredos. The Sierra de Guadarrama is located on the border of Castile and León and Madrid. The highest mountain peak here is the Peñalara at 2430 meters. It is also a popular area for mountain sports because of relatively flat peaks. So this is ideal for hiking and biking in Spain. The Sierra de Gredos is a relatively unknown mountain range with lots of flora and fauna located west of Madrid. Here the Pico Almanzor is the highest mountain at 2592 meters.

Iberian fringe mountains

Located in the heart of Spain, the Iberian fringe mountain range runs from northwest to southeast with a length of about 450 kilometers. Like the Castilian Range, the Iberian fringe mountain range consists of smaller chains (sierras). We can divide the Iberian Border Mountains into 3 parts. First, the highest part is the Sierra de la Demanda (with the San Lorenzo as the highest mountain at 2264 meters) and the Sierra de Moncayo (with the Moncayo as the highest mountain at 2314 meters). Second, the middle section, which is a lot flatter than the highest part. To the west of the middle section begins the Castilian Divide Mountains and the Iberian Ridge Mountains. Finally the south, which is higher again. Here are the Sierra de Albarracín, the Serranía de Cuenca and many more. The mountain range ends at the coast in the region of Valencia.

Betic Cordillera

The Betian Cordillera or also called Cordillera Bética is a collective name for the mountain ranges in northern Morocco and southern Spain. The other chains (sierras) are called more by their proper names by the locals. The Cordillera is an arc that runs east to west and west to east and crosses via the Strait of Gibraltar before continuing into northern Morocco.

Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada is one of the most famous mountains in Spain in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia. The Mulhacen, the highest mountain in mainland Spain at 3482 meters, is located in this mountain range. After the Alps, the Mulhacen is the highest mountain in all of Western Europe. Here are slopes suitable for skiing at Monachil, Guejar Sierra and Dilar. One can combine a summer vacation here with skiing and other mountain sports, since they are not far from each other. Sierra Nevada means "snowy mountain range" in Spanish.

Cantabrian Mountains

The Cantabrian Mountains are located in northwestern Spain and are about 300 km long. The Torre de Cerredo is the highest mountain in this area, with 2648 meters of altitude, located in the Picos de Europa (sierra). With a small area, the Picos de Europa nevertheless has many varied landscapes from a rocky desert to fertile vineyards at the base of these snow-capped peaks. The Cantabrian Mountains are known for the many mountain sports with many climbing and hiking opportunities and even for the ski area where skiing can be done in winter in Alto Campoo, Valgrande-Pajares and Manzaneda. On the northern slopes of the Cantabrian Mountains much rain comes frontally, this creates a contrast between the green north and the dry south, since the south is shaded.

Tenerife

However, the highest mountain in Spain, Pico del Teide, is located on the island of Tenerife. The Pico del Teide is also the largest volcano on the island and is 3718 meters above sea level. The volcano's last eruption was in 1909, but it is considered "dormant." The "Parque Nacional del Teide" with nearly 19,000 hectares has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007. Also on Tenerife are the Teno Mountains to the west and the Anaga Mountains to the east.