Casal, colònies, campamento, campus: the types of kids camps in Spain explained
Spanish camps go by many names. Here is what each one means, who runs it, how long it lasts and which one suits your child and your holiday.
Look for a summer camp in Spain and you will meet a whole vocabulary: casal, colònies, campamento, campus, escuela de verano, granja escuela. They are not marketing words — each describes a different kind of programme, with its own hours, price level and type of organiser. Knowing them makes it much easier to find the right camp, and to read organisers’ websites, which are often only in Spanish or Catalan.
Day camps: back home every afternoon
- Casal d’estiu (Catalonia, Valencia, Balearic Islands) — the classic summer day camp run by schools, sports clubs, town councils and leisure associations. Usually Monday to Friday, 9:00–13:00 or until 17:00 with lunch.
- Campamento urbano or escuela de verano (rest of Spain) — the same idea under another name, very often organised by the town council for local families, sometimes open to visitors.
- Campus — a day camp focused on one sport or subject: football, basketball, tennis, padel, swimming, robotics, English. Clubs, academies and universities run them, often with qualified coaches.
- Activity schools — sailing, surf, kayak and diving schools on the coast sell weekly courses or single mornings, which is ideal when you are only in town for a few days.
Day camps are the easiest option for families on holiday: you keep your evenings together, your child tries something new in the morning and you can usually book week by week. Many accept children from age 3 or 4.
Residential camps: the child stays overnight
- Colònies (Catalonia) — a stay of several days to two weeks in a casa de colònies, a large country house with dormitories, run by an educational team. Common for ages 6–14.
- Campamento — a residential camp, either in a hostel or under canvas, with hiking, games, water activities and evening campfires. Sessions of 7, 10 or 15 days are typical.
- Granja escuela — a farm school where younger children look after animals, make bread and learn about nature, usually for 3–7 days.
- Language and sports camps with accommodation — intensive English, Spanish, surf or football weeks, often with children from several countries.
Residential camps suit children who have already slept away from home, usually from 7 or 8 years old. Most include full board, transport from a meeting point, insurance and 24-hour supervision in the price.
Family programmes and single days
Some hotels, nature centres and outdoor companies run family activities or sell single days, so younger brothers and sisters can join or parents can take part. On our search page these appear as “Family programme” and “Classes or single days”.
How to choose
- Age first: pick your child’s age on the search page and you will see which types of camp are available for it.
- Holiday rhythm: for a one- or two-week holiday a day camp or activity school is usually the best fit; a residential camp makes sense if your child wants an adventure of their own.
- Language: check the language of instruction and the filter “OK for children without Spanish”.
- Distance: use the map to find camps near where you are staying — most day camps do not offer hotel pick-up.
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