Have you ever heard about the millenary olive trees in Spain? The Iberian Peninsula is one of the best places in the Mediterranean to discover ancient olive trees. In the region of Castellon, you can even hike among these majestic plants, which are steeped in history.
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Hiking around the Millenary Olive Trees in Spain
Ancient olive trees in Spain
Spain is famous for its olive oil, a popular local food souvenir. However, nature lovers shouldn’t miss one of the most unique Spanish landscapes – the millenary olive groves. Some of these ancient trees, over 1,000 years old, are living monuments that have witnessed centuries of history. They have likely been present on the Iberian Peninsula since Roman times.
What are millenary olive trees?
Millenary olive trees (called olivos milenarios in Spanish) are olive trees that have lived for over 1,000 years. With their deeply gnarled trunks and expansive canopies, they are an impressive sight. These trees are renowned not only for their age but also for the high-quality olive oil they still produce. In fact, in some gourmet shops across Spain, you can easily find olive oil made from these ancient trees.
Where to find ancient olive trees in Spain?
Most of the olive-producing countries across the Mediterranean have ancient olive trees that serve as monuments. For instance, some olive trees in Crete are estimated to be over 3,000 years old. In Spain, the popular areas to find millenary olive trees are Castellon, Valencia, Tarragona, Jaen, and Mallorca.
Best time to explore millenary olive trees
The millenary olive trees can be visited year-round, though I would recommend avoiding summer, as there is usually little shade and the regions where olives thrive tend to be hot and dry. Popular times to explore the groves are in spring or autumn. Autumn, in particular, coincides with the olive harvest season, offering visitors the chance to see the trees being harvested and to taste freshly pressed olive oil.
The Millenary Olive Trees Hike in Castellon
The Millenary Olive Trees Route (“Ruta de los Olivos Milenarios” in Spanish) is a circular hiking trail starting in the town of Canet lo Roig, in the province of Castellón. You can easily combine a visit to these Spanish millenary olives with my Castellon road trip, make it a day trip from Benicassim, or even stop by as part of a Barcelona to Valencia road trip.
Check out this trail on Wikiloc here.
Tips for hiking the Millenary Olives Trail
Besides its historical value, the Millenary Olives hike is an amazing way to connect with nature and explore the rural landscapes and authentic Spanish lifestyle, completely off the beaten path. It’s relatively unknown, so you won’t encounter crowds of tourists. In fact, you are likely to meet very few people at all, which is a huge plus! The trail covers 5.8 km (1.5-2 hours) of nature, history, silence, and peace. Could it get any better?
Here is a link to the official town website to check the details and maps. Although the route is marked with signs, it took me a while to find the starting point (there are several different routes you can take in the area, depending on your time and level of preparation). Once you arrive in Canet lo Roig, you can usually find parking in one of the local squares. From there, head down the hill toward the fields to find the route SL-CV-58, which starts at Canal’s Fountain (“Font de la Canal“).
Even if you take the wrong direction at some point, Canet lo Roig is small, and there’s only one road around the village. You simply can’t get lost. By the way, be prepared for the locals to say “hola” to you—it’s a village where everyone knows everyone! As a city girl, it still takes me time to adjust to this [lol].
Anyway, starting at the Canal’s Fountain, the first part of the route (up to the chapel) has an asphalt road, but then it turns into a bit of a rocky trail. Many sources online state that you can do the route by bike, car, or on foot. However, I wouldn’t feel comfortable going there by bike or car, even though the locals do. The trail is circular, so you eventually end up back in the village of Canet lo Roig.
Note that the nearby villages of Traiguera and San Mateu also have their own olive tree routes. However, I liked the one in Canet lo Roig the most.
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Anna – This hike looks lovely. I like that it is undiscovered and not crowded. Plus the views are spectacular. I hope I get the chance to do it myself one day. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
Thanks Anisa! 😉
I found my way here from Travel Notes and Beyond, attracted by the title of this post. I have a fantasy about walking the Camino de Santiago which is not shared by my husband, but I think he would be happy to do this walk. We’ve done similar walking (minus the olive trees) in the English countryside. I’m pinning this for future reference. Gracias.
Thanks Suzanne! I´d love to do the Camino de Santiago one day as well, at least partially! And the English contrysides must be charming …
Beautiful photos and a real find. We have family in Portugal so I, too, have often wandered amongst ancient olive trees away from the tourist masses, and I fully agree that it is a peaceful, mind-cleansing experience. Thanks! #theweeklypostcard
Thanks Jonny! 🙂
It looks like a beautiful place, slow and non-touristic Spain is my favorite place in the world! Looks Like you had wonderful day!
It was really a wonderful day! Thanks Stacey!
Great to learn about a part of Spain I’m not familiar with. I can’t believe there are olive trees that are the old, truly incredible! Your photos are wonderful and I’m keen to explore this place myself now. #WeeklyPostcard
Thanks David! hope you´ll get a chance to see it for yourself one day!
I love the pictures of you in the flowers, what a magical place! Thank you for sharing your adventure.
History and hiking in one place — I would love it! These trees are beautiful and quite a contrast to the palms and pines I see around my home. Great photos, too!