The 24 campsites in the province of Cáceres are preparing for the high season

Nemesio Vivas, manager of Camping Ciudad de Cáceres, is hopeful about the new camping season in the province: “This year is looking good,” he says. People want to go out, and there is nothing safer than this, because you are outdoors all day. The Cáceres campsite has a peculiarity that made it highly valued during the pandemic. “We have a private bathroom in each plot, and then the family that is in a plot is sure that they are the only ones who use it.” The one in Cáceres has 129 plots from 90 to 120 square meters, and 18 bungalows, of which eight have eight seats, two have four seats and eight have two seats.

Nemesio Vivas reopened the campsite in 2006, after being closed for many years. It is now open all year.

The president of the Camping Association of Extremadura, Víctor Manuel Carrón, also expects a good season. “Everything indicates that it will be like this – he indicates – although, of course, since it has not rained yet, we are somewhat afraid that the rain will appear in March and April.” He also fears the crisis that is coming with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “if prices rise, families take money away from leisure, and shorten vacation days.”

In Extremadura the campsites are linked to the province of Cáceres. Of the 28 in the entire autonomous community, four are in the province of Badajoz and 24 in Cáceres.

These facilities had their boom in the 1990s. In 1989 there were 10 in the entire region, but in 1994 there were already 22 (six less than now), of which four were in Badajoz and 18 in Cáceres. A year later, in 1995, there were already 22 in the province of Cáceres. There were nine of the first category: The one from the city of Cáceres, ‘El Monfragüe’ from Malpartida de Plasencia, ‘El Pinajarro’ from Hervás, ‘Las Cañadas’ in Baños de Montemayor, ‘Sierra de Gata’ in Gata, ‘Del Pino’ in Pinofranqueado; ‘Carlos I’ in Cuacos de Yuste, ‘Las Villuercas’ in Guadalupe, and Alcántara.

There were 12 in the second category: ‘301’ in Miajadas, ‘La Chopera’ in Plasencia, ‘Valle del Jerte’ in Jerte, ‘Las Veguillas’ in Navaconcejo, ‘Roma’ in Hervás, ‘Borbollón’ in Santibáñez el Alto, ‘Yuste ‘ in Aldeanueva de la Vera, ‘Jaranda’ in Jarandilla de la Vera, ‘Cuartos’ and ‘Godoy’ in Losar de la Vera, and ‘Alardos’ and ‘La Puente’ in Madrigal de la Vera. ‘Michones’, in Villanueva de la Vera, was the only one in the third category.

The Camping Association of Extremadura was created in 1987. Its president, Víctor Manuel Carrón, does not expect more facilities of this type to open in the province of Cáceres, «rather, on the contrary; due to competition from motorhomes », which he points out that in some municipalities they allow them to settle in central areas of the city without paying anything.

Easter is the beginning of the high season for campsites, but those that are open have already had good percentages at Carnival. “The weekend of March 5 and 6, the 18 bungalows were full and the plots at 40%,” says the manager of the Cáceres.

Víctor Manuel Carrón is the manager of the Río Jerte campsite, in Navaconcejo, and points out that on the same weekend the campsite was at 30% and the bungalows were full. It has 128 plots of about 65 to 70 square meters and 21 bungalows that are highly sought after because they are made of stone, with a chestnut wood roof. The Jerte River, which was inaugurated in 1986, is open this season from February 9.

Many open six months as ‘El Pinajarro’ de Hervás, which has existed since 1988 and now has 120 plots of around 65 square meters and 11 bungalows. His manager is Alba Vicioso Moreno, who also expects a good season. “We are open for six months – she says – her, from April to September, and the truth is that they are already calling to reserve. This is going well.”