Spanish educator Santi Baeza has been living and working from a converted van for five years. He states this lifestyle saves him at least €750 per month by eliminating rent and utility bills.

The Spanish van converter Ciclope is seeking dealers in Germany for its new Mencia camper series based on the Maxus Deliver 9 van. The 5.94-meter-long models come in three versions, with prices starting at €51,231 in Spain. Standard equipment includes a 150 hp diesel engine, induction hob, compressor refrigerator, and a dry toilet.

The Más Madrid party has proposed converting a former truck parking area in Valdelaparra into a regulated, free space for caravans, motorhomes, and special vehicles. The motion aims to address the increase in illegal parking of such vehicles in the urban area. The proposal includes studying the addition of services like a waste water disposal point and a public vehicle wash.

The Dora Camper Studio project from Marín in Galicia has won the IATI 2026 award for Best Camper Content. The studio, founded by a couple, specializes in the design and conversion of camper vans. Their social media content reaches millions, with some videos exceeding 20 million views.

Camper vans are available for rent at reduced prices in January. Rental costs start from 60 euros per night, which is significantly lower than summer rates. This is due to low seasonal demand after the New Year holidays.

On the Canary Islands, some residents are turning to permanent van and motorhome living due to high housing costs. For instance, one retiree gave his apartment to his son, who could not afford rent, and now lives in a fully equipped van. Another hotel worker uses a motorhome to avoid rental costs that would exceed half of his salary.

In Spain, associations of residents permanently living in caravans are emerging, creating challenges for urban planning and neighborhood coexistence. These communities form permanent settlements, contradicting the original purpose of caravans as temporary housing. Local authorities face the need to regulate such settlements, which often appear on city outskirts.

An overview of six practical and affordable gadgets for campers and motorhomes has been compiled. The list includes a portable espresso machine, the powerful Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station, the Safeglow V16 warning light mandatory in Spain from 2026, as well as a ladder, a carbon monoxide detector, and a paper towel holder.

Approximately 150 people living in caravans on the grounds of the Son Hugo public sports facility in Palma de Mallorca plan to formally constitute a residents' association. They cite unaffordable rents, with a simple two-room apartment in Palma costing around 1500 euros per month. In October 2025, their representatives brought their housing crisis case to the European Parliament.

Toyota has expanded its Proace Verso lineup with custom camper van versions. The model, developed with Tinkervan, features a kitchen module, portable shower, foldable bed, and a pop-up roof. The price in Spain starts from 42,434 euros.

The Dora Camper Studio project from Marín, Spain, is a finalist for the IATI Awards, known as the travel industry's 'Goya Awards'. It competes in the 'Best Camper Content' category, which carries a prize of 1,500 euros. The award ceremony will be held on January 23 in Madrid.

The Zamora City Council has completed the development of a parking area for motorhomes in the Los Pelambres zone. The €160,000 project includes a dedicated space with a potable water supply, grey and black water drainage, and bicycle parking. This is the fourth such area in the city, established under a sustainable tourism plan.

Authorities in the Canary Islands have introduced new regulations for motorhome tourists. The changes address overnight parking and the use of public infrastructure. The rules aim to manage the increasing flow of camper van travelers to the archipelago.

January presents opportunities for budget camper van travel due to lower prices and fewer tourists. The list includes Barcelona and other destinations where overnight costs start from 92 euros. This approach combines transport and accommodation into a single expense.

A fire at the San Pascual campsite in El Perelló (Valencia) destroyed around ten caravans last Friday afternoon. An affected resident, who lived in one of the caravans year-round, lost all her belongings and her pets. Five fire crews evacuated people and contained the blaze, with three individuals treated for anxiety attacks.

Mercedes-Benz has presented the Clase V Marco Polo camper van, positioning it as one of the most comprehensively equipped on the market. The model accommodates up to four people, features a kitchen, two sleeping areas, and the MBUX system. In Spain, the vehicle is available via subscription starting from 695 euros per month for 48 months.

Sales of new motorhomes and camper vans in Spain in 2025 show a shift towards lesser-known regions. According to ASEICAR association data, the highest growth compared to 2024 was recorded in Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, and Castilla y León. Factors include stabilized prices, dealer promotions, and events like the International Caravaning Salon in Barcelona.

Spanish outfitter Cíclope Camper has introduced three camper van models based on the Chinese Maxus Deliver 9 van. The Mencía 230, 420, and 420e models feature high-quality finishes, including natural stone and Corian, and are manufactured in Spain. Prices start from €51,231 excluding VAT. The company plans to enter the German market next year.

Mass tourism in Mallorca has caused a sharp increase in housing costs, displacing local residents. Renting a 20-square-meter apartment in Palma now costs at least 1,200 euros, with rooms starting at 600 euros. Consequently, some residents are forced to live permanently in caravans in parking lots, although even this temporary solution is at risk.

The Catalan Tourist Board has presented the Grand Tour de Catalunya route for motorhome and camper van travelers. The 2200 km route covers inland regions such as the Pyrenees, the volcanic area of La Garrotxa, and the Ebro Delta. Officials advise visiting during the off-season and using smaller campsites to avoid overcrowding.

Due to unaffordable rents and bans on overnight stays in vehicles, a new form of barter has emerged in Ibiza. Workers with stable incomes offer property maintenance services in exchange for permission to park their motorhome or caravan. Fines for sleeping in a vehicle in public spaces can reach 750 euros, and up to 30,000 euros in natural areas.

A couple living in a camper van for three years has detailed their monthly expenses. The main budget items are food (360 euros) and fuel (210 euros). The total fixed costs include connectivity, maintenance, and daily necessities.

The all-wheel-drive camper van North Cape, featuring a series-standard autonomous energy system, premiered at the CMT 2026 show. Based on a MAN TGE chassis, the 5.98-meter vehicle includes a 300 Ah lithium battery, 200 W solar panels, and a 1600 W inverter. The Spanish manufacturer offers four variants starting at 129,990 euros.

The article provides guidelines for using motorhomes and camper vans in winter. Key points include the need for winter tires, chains, anti-freeze fluid, and preparing heating and power systems. Many ski resorts and national parks in Spain offer designated overnight parking areas with service points.

As of January 1, 2026, a regulation mandating the use of V-16 warning beacons during roadside stops has come into effect in Spain. An independent study identified the Help Flash IoT+ model as having the highest effective luminous intensity, exceeding 290 candelas, which is 625% above the legal minimum of 40 candelas. This enhanced visibility is deemed particularly crucial for large vehicles like caravans and camper vans.

A seasonal worker in the Tena Valley (Huesca) lives in her camper van due to high rental prices. Local police demanded she leave, accusing her of illegal camping, although the law permits overnight stays in a vehicle if it is properly parked and not set up.

The Gijón City Council is planning to install height-restriction arches at the entrances to major city-center parking lots to prevent motorhomes from parking. The barriers will limit access to vehicles under 2.2 meters tall, reserving spaces for cars with higher turnover. This extends a measure implemented two years ago in the El Rinconín area.

Tourism in Spain is undergoing a shift driven by increasing demand for motorhome and camper van travel. This segment has grown significantly post-pandemic, attracting tourists who value freedom of movement and wish to avoid crowds. The rental market is expanding, making this type of travel more accessible, although registrations of compact campers saw temporary dips in August and October 2024.

The owner purchased a used Citroën C8 for €1,500 and minimally converted it for overnight stays. He removed the rear seats, installed a two-level sleeping platform, and uses the vehicle for trips to ski resorts. The owner describes it as the best car he has ever owned.

The specialist Tinkervan has presented a camper van based on the Ford Transit Custom with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The model features a pop-up roof, is 5.05 m long and 2.08 m high. The hybrid version combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a total output of 232 hp and up to 57 km of electric range. The price for the base vehicle plus conversion is around €60,000.