Nestled in the rolling hills of northern Spain, La Guardia is a hidden gem for outdoor enthusiasts. With its stunning landscapes, rich history, and picturesque vineyards, it offers an unforgettable hiking experience. Recently, I embarked on an solo female adventure in La Guardia that took me through the breathtaking trails of this charming town.

The Trail Begins

When I got to Spain, I rented a car. Later, I realized it probably wasn’t the best decision financially due to the insurance costs and so on, but it did make the logistics of my solo female adventure in La Guardia from point to point a lot easier than it would have been taking public transit. 

I headed down to my old hometown of La Guardia on the border of Spain and Portgual. This is where I laid to rest the ashes of my beloved dogs Jubi and Max a few years ago. It always feels so nice to pull into the beach front town where you can hear the waves and smell the sea water.

During my time there, I enjoyed some of my favorite foods I used to get from the local grocery store. I did a lot of hiking. I also reminiced about my beloved dogs and walking the paths where i had spread their ashes, and meeting up with another local friend, Paula. Since I last saw her, she now has a son and is married, so it was nice to meet her son and see her dog Jara again. I met her because our dogs became friends on a beachfront walk a few years ago. Her dog Jara remembered me right away.

Mountain, Forest, and Beach

I hiked familiar trails and new trails, spending quite a few hours hiking, wading in the ocean water, and walking along the coast. For a while, I had been wanting to explore some of those new trails for a while. Also as a surprise, when I hiked up to the church at the top of Monte Santa Tecla, the church was open. Finally! I have hiked there many times before and it’s never been open, so I had the pleasure of going inside and writing a little inscription in the prayer book. 

Some beautiful, peaceful time spent in nature, and with a slower pace of life. I hiked up to the castle, over to Camposancos, through the woods in Monte Santa Tecla, then along the coast, and even to a secret spot my dog Max and I had discovered.

Visits to La Guardia are always full of reminiscing.

Take a look at my trip to the Pyrenees to see some other solo female hiking adventures, if you liked this one!

Don’t miss out on our travel adventures and travel tips! Sign up for our free newsletter. If you have any questions about living in or traveling to Mexico, overlanding with pets, being a digital nomad, or general travel planning questions, book a consultation with me.