New maps, outstanding terrain and international racing: discover where to build your next winter camp.
A great winter camp gives you more than training hours. It offers time to develop your technique, explore unfamiliar terrain and share focused days with your team, laying the foundations for the season ahead.
For 2027, Spain brings fresh reasons to pack your compass. Maximus O Meeting heads into new forests, Sun-O expands its southern training network with a new base in Tarifa, and a brand-new camp in Tenerife opens up exciting possibilities in the Canary Islands. Established favourites return with updated maps, international competitions and programmes for clubs, national teams and independent athletes.
From the pine forests of Ávila to coastal dunes and intricate urban sprints, here are 10 destinations to put on your winter training shortlist.
1. Maximus: New forests. Four new maps. One winter highlight.
Maximus O Meeting | 19 to 23 February 2027
For athletes who want to combine a substantial training block with international racing, Maximus O Meeting is an event worth building the trip around.
The 2027 edition explores new terrain in the eastern part of Ávila province, with Las Navas del Marqués and San Bartolomé de Pinares as its main venues. Four official stages on entirely new maps will offer a different challenge each day:
- Long distance in Ciudad Ducal, opening the competition in beautiful pine forest.
- Middle distance in El Quintanar, the northern part of the magnificent Cabeza Mesada area.
- Sprint in San Bartolomé de Pinares, where quick decisions and precise execution will be essential.
- A chasing-start finale in Risco de los Dineros, with the finish right at the doorstep of Hotel Maximus.
Mappers Tommi Hakuli and Janne Weckman are already working on the maps, preparing the foundations for another technically demanding and super fun edition.
The racing is only part of the attraction. Maximus Winter Camp offers an extensive selection of permanent training courses, SportIdent sessions during the weeks around the event, and accommodation assistance. Come for MOM, stay for the training, and turn the competition trip into a complete winter camp.
Full 2027 training information will be available from 1 November 2026. #TheBestChooseMaximus
2. Barbate & Tarifa: An established favourite enters a new chapter
Barbate enjoyed an exceptional winter in 2026. The Finnish and Swedish national teams, numerous clubs and individual athletes, and a large Norwegian junior camp organised by NOF all chose this corner of the Cádiz coast for their winter preparation.
For 2027, Sun-O is building on that success with a new training centre in Tarifa, dedicated accommodation and an expanding selection of maps. The forest of La Breña and the established sprint areas around Barbate will be complemented by new additions in Bolonia/Camarinal, Los Lances, Facinas Sprint, San Roque Sprint and Los Barrios Sprint.
Together, Barbate and Tarifa offer an increasingly varied training network. Groups can combine coastal forest sessions with urban navigation, adapting their programme to different technical goals and exploring fresh terrain throughout their stay.
The Norwegian national team is returning, and Helsingin Suunnistajat is among the clubs already confirmed for the coming winter.
Sun-O is developing the Sun-O Tarifa Cup for 27 and 28 February 2027, featuring a night mass-start race followed by a daytime stage. The event remains in preparation, with final details to follow. The following weekend, 6 and 7 March 2027, partner club SurOrientando will organise the Cádiz City Race, creating another opportunity to combine training and competition.
For an extra dimension to your trip, Way to Morocco offers an extension across the Strait of Gibraltar, with training experiences in Tangier and further destinations being prepared for 2027. Read more in destination 10 below.
3. Tenerife & Gran Canaria: A new island adventure for 2027
A new destination, a new training network and plenty to explore: Sun-O is launching a camp based in Tenerife this winter, with a planned extension to Gran Canaria, subject to official confirmation. The camp will offer at least 30 permanent training courses, comprising 15 forest and 15 sprint sessions, supported by a local contact on Tenerife. SportIdent sessions will be available on request, alongside multi-adventure activities for groups looking to broaden their programme.
For clubs seeking a fresh setting for winter preparation, the combination of forest and sprint training creates opportunities to alternate technical focuses and build a varied schedule. This is also the first step in a wider Canary Islands project, with the ambition of extending the camp to further islands in the future.
If you are planning a trip over the Christmas period, consider combining your stay with the Gran Canaria O Meeting (GCOM), from 27 to 31 December 2026, to bring competition into your winter programme.
4. Alicante & Murcia: Classic dunes, fresh maps and international racing
Some destinations earn their place on the winter calendar year after year. Alicante and Murcia combine the distinctive dunes of Guardamar with contrasting inland forest terrain and a varied sprint offering. For 2027, Coto Cuadros has been remapped from scratch, while several other maps have been updated and extended. There are fresh reasons to return, even for groups who already know the region well.
The Norwegian junior group from NOF has already confirmed its attendance, choosing Sun-O again after its 2026 camp in Barbate. This winter, the group will discover the technical challenges of Alicante and Murcia.
Two international events stand out for athletes looking to add competition to their camp:
- Gran Premi de la Comunitat Valenciana, Biar, 13 and 14 February 2027: two World Ranking Events.
- Costa Cálida, La Almudema and Mula, 27 and 28 February 2027: three World Ranking Events.
Official accommodation is available at Samay La Marina, with a Sun-O discount code.
For groups seeking technical dune training, contrasting inland terrain and international racing within one trip, this remains a compelling option.
5. Granada: Demanding navigation and a stay to remember
Granada deserves a place on more clubs’ winter plans. Its combination of varied forest areas and challenging sprint settings makes it possible to change the technical focus from one session to the next. Groups can build a programme that tests different skills while discovering some of Andalusia’s most distinctive surroundings.
After training here in winter 2026, NTNUI described their camp as a success. Interest from other clubs is already building for 2027, and we look forward to welcoming more orienteers to the region. The experience extends beyond the maps. Sun-O’s official accommodation in traditional cave houses provides a memorable setting for team life, recovery and evenings together between training days.
For groups looking for technical variety and a destination with a strong sense of place, Granada offers an attractive combination.
6. Málaga: Sprint training with local expertise
If sprint is your priority, Málaga deserves a closer look. Developed in close collaboration with our partner COMA (Club Orientación Málaga), this Sun-O camp combines varied sprint training opportunities with the local knowledge and experience of an established orienteering club.
Build your programme around route-choice decisions, reading ahead and maintaining accuracy at speed. With several days dedicated to urban navigation, there is time to analyse each session and put those lessons into practice on the next map.
For groups visiting in March, the Trofeo Andalucía Orientación, a World Ranking Event taking place on 13 and 14 March 2027 in Villanueva de la Tapia, offers an excellent opportunity to combine the camp with competition.
Add the coastal setting and the chance to explore Málaga between sessions, and you have an attractive destination for a focused and enjoyable training trip.
7. Huelva: The perfect partner for your Portugal O Meeting trip
Planning to race at Portugal O Meeting from 6 to 9 February 2027? With the event taking place in southern Portugal, just over an hour from the Huelva camp, this is an excellent opportunity to extend your trip with training in Spain. The dunes of Punta Umbría offer enjoyable orienteering in runnable coastal forest, where subtle contours and careful compass work keep the navigation interesting. It is an inviting setting for a few days of training before POM or for exploring fresh terrain after the competition.
With accommodation options close to the training areas, groups can build a straightforward programme around their racing schedule, adjusting the length and intensity of each session to their needs.
International racing in Portugal and fun technical training in the Spanish dunes: a combination worth putting on your February calendar.
8. Sevilla: Discover the city with a map in your hand
Sevilla adds another attractive sprint option to the Sun-O network, including a city-centre map. A camp here can combine focused urban navigation with time in one of Andalusia’s most distinctive cities. For sprint athletes, it offers a setting to practise rapid map interpretation, route planning and accurate execution through unfamiliar streets.
Consider Sevilla for a sprint-focused visit or as part of a wider southern Spain itinerary, combining destinations to bring more variety to your training week.
9. Madrid: Capital-city sprint training
For groups seeking urban navigation alongside the possibilities of a major city, Madrid offers a practical and varied sprint destination. The camp includes training locations accessible by metro, which can help simplify transport and the organisation of your daily programme.
Madrid can work as a dedicated sprint trip or as an addition to a Maximus camp in Ávila, depending on your travel plans and training priorities. It is an opportunity to combine forest and urban navigation within the same visit to central Spain.
Between sessions, the city offers plenty to explore, making it an attractive option for groups who want training and city life in one trip.
10. Way to Morocco: Take your Spanish camp one step further
Our final option takes you beyond Spain, with an extension that can give your winter camp a very different character. Way to Morocco connects naturally with a stay in Barbate and Tarifa, opening the door to navigation experiences across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Last winter, day trips to train in the medina of Tangier proved particularly popular. Its intricate streets offered a distinctive setting for urban navigation and a memorable change of scene during a training week in southern Spain.
For 2027, Sun-O is developing the programme further. Alongside Tangier, plans include trips and training in other northern Moroccan destinations, including Chefchaouen, famous for its blue streets and spectacular setting. For clubs and groups, this is an opportunity to combine technical exploration with travel, culture and a shared adventure. It can be the experience that makes a training camp stand out long after the final session.
The expanded programme is currently in preparation. Contact Sun-O for the latest options and availability.
Your winter camp starts with a goal
Concentrated forest work? A dedicated sprint block? International racing? Or a varied week that brings your team together? Start with what your athletes need, then choose the destination and programme that support it. Spain’s 2027 offering gives you plenty of scope to create a camp with a clear training purpose and an experience your group will remember.
Sun-O is currently finalising its 2027 camp programmes. To explore the options and discuss your group’s needs, visit sun-o.com or contact info@sun-o.com.
For Maximus O Meeting and Maximus Winter Camp, visit maximusorientacion.com/mom and maximusocamp.com, or contact info@maximusocamp.com.
Choose your terrain. Bring your team. Make winter count.
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