NomaTrails Running Vacations: Our Global Family Trails
When we talk about NomaTrails Running Adventures, we’re not just talking about putting one foot in front of the other. For me, Pablo, and my family, it’s about connecting, exploring, and truly living a place. These aren’t your typical running vacations; they’re expeditions into the soul of a destination. We go deep, often for days without Wi-Fi, sometimes no electricity, or even hot water. No alcohol, just the raw experience. If that still sounds good, if you’re ready for something real, then you might just be one of us. We’ve built this whole thing, NomaTrails, after 12 years of running these trails, getting to know every person who lives along them. For us, running is just a way to move, to explore, like our ancestors did. It’s not about getting slimmer or fitter; it’s about traversing the land and finding the heart of it. Read more about who we are and get in touch.
Meeting the people who call these areas home is the main goal of every adventure. We use running as a way to traverse the land, yes, but it’s also our ticket to genuine human connection. From the Pyrenees to the Atlas, from Costa Rica’s jungles to Sicily’s ancient paths, these are the places where our family has woven its own stories, where we’ve built relationships that last a lifetime. Each trail, each village, holds a piece of our heart. What we do here, these running vacations, they create memories and stories you’ll tell your grandkids. They will change you, transform you. So, be careful, but know you’ll go home different. If you think running point-to-point, exploring new places daily, sounds good, then you’re one of us. Welcome.
Our Home Trails: Running the Costa Brava and Pyrenees
The Costa Brava, right here in Catalonia, is where Cristina and I, Pablo, live with our five kids for most of the year. Cristina is Catalan, and I’ve spent enough time here, speaking the language, to feel completely Catalan myself. This isn’t just a destination for us; it’s our backyard, our daily run. Our Running Costa Brava event, which we’ve been putting together since 2011, is a true labor of love. It’s been featured in many magazines, but for us, it’s simply the culmination of over a decade of exploring every hidden trail and connecting with every local face. We’ve taken runners from all over the world through this beautiful area for years, building deep relationships with the people who live here. This is our home, and we want to share it with you, not just show you. These aren’t just runs; they’re an invitation to become part of our local family.
When we talk about the Pyrenees, we’re talking about something even deeper. The area we run, even into the South of France, is still Catalonia in spirit and history. Our entire Pyrenees run is actually built around an epic medieval poem, the Canigó. I spent years studying that poem, letting its verses guide our routes. We’ll run up the mythical Mount Canigó, a sacred peak for all Catalans. We’ll traverse the high ridges, the literal roof of the Pyrenees, then drop down into these tiny, almost fairytale villages. And the food? You hear “great food” a lot, but trust me, here it’s an understatement. It’s truly incredible. Every meal is a celebration, shared with locals who welcome us into their homes and traditions. These are the kinds of running vacations that feed your body and your soul. You can find more stories from our trails on our blog.
Costa Rica: My Jungle Home and NomaTrails Running Adventures
Costa Rica, for me, Pablo, is home. My homeland. Since 2015, Cristina, the kids, and I have spent three months of every year there. It’s a place woven into our family’s story, a place where our roots run deep, just like the jungle itself. Our NomaTrails Running Adventures here start high up, on the famous Cerro de la Muerte – ‘The Mountain of Death.’ Don’t let the name scare you; it’s a challenge, yes, but one that offers views and experiences you won’t forget. These aren’t just any running vacations; they’re truly life-altering. I’ve seen it firsthand. We once had a couple on a trip, married, but not to each other. By the next year, they were married to each other! Or couples whose marriages were saved, even leading to children they say wouldn’t exist without our trips. It’s that powerful, that unexpected.
From those cool mountain peaks, we begin our descent. We push through the densest, most remote parts of the Costa Rican jungle, making our way all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It’s not just a run; it’s a journey through incredible biodiversity, a chance to see nature untouched, and to feel the pulse of the wild. We meet people living deep in the rainforest, sharing their stories, their coffee, and a piece of their lives. It’s a truly transformative experience, like all good trail running should be. We use our legs, our bodies, our lungs, our hearts as the only means of transportation, traversing the territory in a way only runners can. It’s about exploration, pure and simple, getting to places where running is the most efficient, most beautiful way to go.
Morocco: Running the Atlas, Finding Family & Unforgettable Running Vacations
Morocco, for us, is a place where we’ve truly invested our lives. Cristina speaks fluent Arabic, and I’ve spent years learning Tamazight, the language of the amazing people of the Atlas Mountains. It’s more than just a place we visit; one of our own children is from here, which ties us to Morocco in a way that’s impossible to describe. We don’t just run through the Atlas; we run with its spirit, its history, and its people. This isn’t about tourist trips; it’s about becoming part of a nomadic family. We share meals, drink tea, and talk until tears come to our eyes about the shared experiences. Our friends from Spain and America, after these trips, they always say, ‘We want to be your friends, we want to keep in touch.’ That’s what these running vacations are all about. If you’re curious about the deeper culture, you can learn about historical sites like the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a place that embodies the spirit of these ancient lands.
Imagine waking up at 3 AM in the desert, running for two hours with Abdu, one of our incredible guides, the sand cool beneath your feet. We stop, and he points out every single star in the sky; you feel like you’ve never truly seen them before. Then, after that silent, powerful run, we watch the most beautiful sunrise paint the desert. These are the moments we live for, the small groups, the shared awe. One day, I remember running in the middle of nowhere, towards a place I didn’t even know. After a while, we found this beautiful valley, far, far away from everything. I’m talking five and a half hours in the opposite direction from where any tourist bus goes. We started running there, into an incredible place where people live much like they did 500 years ago. It felt like time travel.
Our NomaTrails Running Adventures in Morocco often take us far off the beaten path, sometimes five and a half hours in the opposite direction from where any tourist bus goes. We run through places that feel like time travel, where people live as they did 500 years ago. We’ve found the most beautiful human beings there, speaking a language, Tamazight, I’ve been trying to learn for nine years. I still struggle! But in one deep canyon, after days of running with our backpacks, we came across a family, a girl and her dog working by an irrigation channel. She was maybe 12, with a beautiful face. Our kids, they’re little monsters sometimes, but she just ran off, found wood, and made a fire for us to have tea. We went into their house, and that, right there, is the heart of Morocco for us – genuine connection, unexpected hospitality, and stories that will stay with you forever. These are the running vacations that truly touch your soul. For more on the joy of running, check out iRunFar, a great resource for trail runners.
Sicily: Answering the Question of Italy on the Run
Sicily. This island, this incredible place, is somewhere we’ve truly adopted. I speak Italian fluently, and after organizing a huge event there with 200 runners from all over Italy – an event that took three years of work to bring to life – Sicily became, for me, the answer to the question: ‘How do you explain Italy?’ It’s everything, all at once. Our guide, Pasquale Mangione, he knows these trails like the back of his hand. He’ll tell you, it’s fantastic. We come from the sparkling sea, pass through the wild countryside, and then into the heart of the mountains.
Our NomaTrails Running Adventures in Sicily take you from the sparkling sea, inland, through the island’s wild, rural heart. We pass through ancient mountain villages, climbing not necessarily up the mountains, but through their valleys, finding their weak points, their hidden paths. We might sleep in a borgo like Isnello, a village perched so high you can see the sea almost from your window. This isn’t just a run; it’s a journey through history, guided by the landscape itself. These are truly unforgettable running vacations.
From there, we run another stretch, pushing towards Cefalù. The coast here is dramatic; it literally becomes a mountain plunging into the sea. Sometimes, we’ll need a quick transfer, a small, fast move by vehicle to bridge a gap, but always with the promise of a swim in the sea waiting for us. It’s a journey of contrasts, of ancient history underfoot and breathtaking views all around. It’s a way to feel the true pulse of Italy, one stride at a time. For us, these are more than just running vacations; they’re an immersion into the soul of a place, a chance to really live it. For more travel inspiration, visit Italia.it’s Sicily section.
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