Spain is steeped in nature and splendour and there is so much to see and do. We take a look at some of the best Nature Parks to visit and a little history to savour.
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HuelvaHuelva has some of the great National Parks of Spain. A stunning place to visit is The Parque Nacional de Doñana, which is centred around the delta of the Guadalquivir, the ‘big river’. The delta waters flood in winter and then ebb away in the spring to make for perfect conditions for geese and ducks in winter, and flocks  of breeding birds in spring. In the marshes and among the cork oak forests you can spot birds such as grey herons, lanner falcons, ring and turtle doves, partridges, oxpeckers, cattle egrets, storks, colourful colonies of flamingos and vultures. You may also catch a glimpse of the rare Spanish Imperial Eagle if luck is on your side. Generally the fauna at Doñana is richly varied, and some of it is in danger of extinction, such as the lynx, and the Egyptian mongoose; game is also plentiful - deer, fallow deer and boar. But what you see at Doñana depends on the time of year and your luck on the day.
The park comprises three distinct ecosystems: the marismas, the matorral and the dunes. A typical safari trip will take in all three, but the extent of each environment varies with the seasons. But one thing is guaranteed - no two visits will be the same.Doñana has also become a key centre in the world of conservation. Vegetation varies from narrow leaved cistus heather to mastic tree, rosemary, cistus scrub and red lavender. The marsh cork oaks are known as Las Pajareras (bird sanctuaries) because of the enormous numbers of birds that nest in them.Another place to visit in the Huelva region is The Sierra de Aracena mountain range, which covers a vast area of 184,000 hectares. Its forests comprise holm oak and cork trees, and are interspersed with wide tracts of pasture.
There are also many ancient chestnut trees and gall oaks, alternating with fruit orchards in the valleys. The land surface is rugged, with softly rolling hills and pine groves suddenly giving way to towering limestone formations from which hikers can enjoy splendid views. La Gruta de las Maravillas - the Cave of Marvels - in Aracena is famous for its spectacular calcareous formations. On the whole, this area has a very diverse flora and fauna, including cork oak, lots of eucalyptus and a large rabbit population, which provides the staple diet for the native rare black vultures, weasels, stone martens, badgers, polecats, and wildcats. The terrain is also ideal for breeding the black pigs which provide the famous Jabugo and Cortegana hams. To the northeast of the Sierra de Aracena lies another wild region typified by rockrose and spear, which contrast strikingly with the masses of eucalyptus around its edges. Known as the Peñas de Aroche, this is the best place to spot imperial eagles and black vultures. |
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CadizA fantastic park to visit is The Sierra de Grazalema. As the first area to be declared a Natural Park in Andalucia (a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977), it is one of the most ecologically important areas of Spain. It is famous for its spectacular limestone cliffs and landscape of gullies, caverns and gorges, the most spectacular of which is La Verde, whose walls rise vertically for 400 metres. There is a diverse range of flora, and as for the fauna, the lion buzzard dominates the skies here, with one of the biggest breeding populations in Europe. It competes for airspace with six different species of eagle, as well as goshawks and Egyptian vultures.
The region is also peppered with picturesque villages that are well worth a visit, while an archaeological site of major importance is La Pileta, a cave with paintings from the Paleolithic period. Another essential stop-off point in Cadiz is Los Alcornales, a vast nature park named for its striking and beautifully kept cork tree grove, one of the world’s largest. It is also home to wild olive trees and gall and holm oaks. The far south of the region is crossed by very humid, narrow valleys, which provide an ideal habitat for sub-tropical forests of great ecological value, as well as animals such as otters, Egyptian mongooses, imperial and royal eagles and royal owls. Boar, roebuck and deer are also native species here.Acantilado y Pinar de Barbate is characterised by beautiful woods and rocky cliffs. Two extraordinary cliffs, Torre del Tajo and Los Caños de Mecca, descend over a hundred metres into the Atlantic. This is a protected area because of the ecosystems of the rocks and the rich offshore marine life.
It is considered one of the most diverse and best-preserved parts of the coast. The spectacular cliffs are full of birds, including egrets, kestrels and one pair of peregrine falcons who have decided to nest in its safe nooks. The nearby port of Barbate is the centre of the region’s tuna fishing and canning industry, where Bluefin tuna is abundant. The Barbate Nature Park is Andalucia’s second largest coastal reserve, a major attraction for its underwater sports. The shoreline is lined by towering cliffs called Los Caños de Mecca, which are home to teeming colonies of herring gulls and egrets. Thick stands of stone pine provide shade for a stunning variety of Mediterranean wildflowers. Ancient watchtowers stand on the cliffs overlooking the sea, where local fishermen use traditional techniques to catch tuna fish. |
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MálagaWhile in Málaga, visit the main Natural Park. It covers a gentle, hilly area crossed by small valleys. The many Aleppo pine trees seen here were planted by the government to protect the city from the disastrous effects of flash floods. There are also many ancient Mediterranean tree species such as the holm oak and cork tree, carob and mastic trees which provide an ideal habitat for chameleons. Nearby, the natural park Sierra de las Nieves is located in the hills behind Marbella to the east of the road to Ronda from the Costa del Sol. The park centres on Mount Torrecilla and covers an area of 18,530 hectares. This mountainous area has a rich variety of flora and fauna. As the name (snowy mountains) suggests, its mountains are frequently snow-capped, which is both beautiful and rare in sunny Andalucia.
In 1970 the park was declared a National Hunting Reserve, and in 1995 a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. El Torcal Park Nature Reserve in Antequera, located about 30 km north of Málaga city near the village of Villanueva de la Concepción, is known for its unusual limestone rock formations. Within El Torcal Park’s grounds are some of the most stunning limestone landscapes in Europe. The whole area was under the sea until one hundred million years ago. Because of this, over millions of years the rain and wind have been able to chisel away at these layers to form incredible shapes. In the Park_s parking area there is an information centre and a small museum with displays showing an interesting selection of wildlife, flora and fauna to be found in the park. Orchid enthusiasts will be captivated by the 30 varieties of the plant growing in the park. |
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GranadaSierra de Baza is a large mountain with peaks reaching 2,200 metres, which stands on the arid plain of Las Hoyas de Guadix-Baza. It is relatively fertile and its vegetation includes several types of pine, with holm oak and, on the higher areas, gall oak, maple and stands of mountain ash. The park is home to nearly a hundred species of wild flowers exclusive to the Iberian Peninsula, including the rare dianthus, immortelle and primrose. There are also numerous birds of prey, badgers, wildcats and genets.The Sierra Nevada is snow-capped for much of the year and offers skiing from November until late May. As it is less than two hours’ drive from the coast, it is possible to spend the morning skiing in the snow and the afternoon sunbathing on the beach. During the rest of the year the Sierra Nevada Nature Park offers walkers endless opportunities. The Park has been declared a Preserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO, and its mountains are the highest in the Iberian Peninsula. Vegetation varies with altitude, from the bottom of the valley upwards. There are groves of holm oak, oak, mountain pine and thickets of thorny shrub. The variety of high mountain flora is exceptional and visitors can find numerous endemic species. Of the 2,000 species of flora catalogued in this area, over 15 per cent are nationally endemic, and about a hundred are exclusive to this area. If you are interested in geology, visit the Laguna de la Caldera glacial lagoon. |
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Almeria The peninsula at the rugged south eastern corner of Spain north of Almeria is known as Cabo de Gata. The lighthouse marks the tip. Covering 29,000 hectares, this is Andalucia’s largest coastal nature park. The mountain range of Cabo de Gata has a distinctly volcanic appearance with sharp peaks and crags. It falls sharply into the sea, creating the jagged cliffs, which are broken by gullies leading to small hidden coves with powdery white sand beaches. The pristine waters of the peninsula are ideal for underwater diving and all types of fishing, as well as sailing and windsurfing. Nearby is a lagoon with a bird observatory, from where you can see greater flamingos, herons, egrets, waders and other bird life. The inland parts of this natural park are arid and desert-like, while the mountains and rocks are clearly volcanic in nature, making them ideal for mountain biking and land vehicle excursions. The Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park covers 18,000 hectares in the northern part of Almeria province.
It will stun you with its impressive contrasts - arid, moon-like plains overlooked by the white peaks of the sierras during the cold of winter. Only pines and holm oaks grow on the lower slopes. Above there are junipers and small satins, and near the peaks are thickets of thorny shrubs. Numerous archaeological remains from Palaeolithic and Neolithic times are to be found in the park. Check out the Cueva Ambrosio (Ambrosio Cave) and the fort on top of the hill, Cerro de las Canteras. Cave paintings can be seen in the Cueva de los Letreros near Velez-Blanco. Booted eagles, goshawks and sparrow hawks inhabit the pine forest. On the ground, meanwhile, you may see squirrels and dormice, wildcats, wild boars, badgers, weasels and genets. Other birds nest higher up, such as golden eagles, peregrine falcons and eagle owls. |
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TenerifeEl Teide National Park offers a fascinating landscape created by the forces of the Teide volcano. Christopher Columbus observed its last great eruption in 1492 from the nearby island of Gomera just before he set out on his voyage of discovery to America. In 1798 there was another smaller eruption. Some 12 million cubic metres of volcanic material has accumulated around the volcano, creating what are popularly known as the noses of Teide. At 3,718 metres, the Teide is not only the highest mountain in Spain, but also the highest elevation overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. A cable-car takes visitors up to 3,600 metres. From there you can climb to the peak on foot.On clear days there is a fantastic view from the summit. But equally impressive is the volcano’s immense crater, with its circumference of approximately 80 kilometres. You can arrange to explore it, free of charge, if you contact the Park Authority in advance. You will be taken into the crater, first in a cross-country vehicle, and then on foot, until you reach volcanically active areas.Around the Teide are several smaller volcanoes, including Mount Rajada (2,509 metres) and Mount Chahorra (2,995 metres).
Next to El Teide a large flat plain called Cañadas was used by the island’s original population, the Guanches, as pastureland. Today it is covered with petrified lava in bizarre shapes, such as the Roques de García, and there are several caves, including the Cueva del Hielo and the Cueva de los Cazadores.There are some extremely rare species of plants here, including the Guanche Rose, of which there are only some fifty specimens anywhere in the world, and the Teide Violet. Rare animals include lizards. |
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Gran CanariasThere are no Nature Parks in the Gran Canarias, but there are some interesting features. For example, the Guanches were also the original inhabitants of the Canary Islands. This tall, white race remains a mystery to historians. The Museum in Las Palmas has a fascinating collection of artefacts.The Cueva Pintada in Galdar is a cave with polychrome geometrical wall paintings. Telde is a village worth a visit just for its beautiful landscape and great beaches. There is also one of the most interesting sites associated with the Guanches as an additional attraction: the Montaña Sagrada, the “Holy Mountain”, as well as several caves which were inhabited by them.San Bartolomé de Tirajana is a village hidden in an enormous volcanic crater reached only by narrow mountain roads up Pozo de las Nieves (1,965 metres) and Los Pechos (1,961 metres). Close to it is the Guanche’s Necropolis of Artenara. |
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The Balearic IslandsThere are no natural parks in the Balearic Islands, but there is plenty of history to explore, nonetheless. The numerous prehistoric discoveries made on the Balearic Islands are not only important to the history of the islands, but to European culture in general. On Menorca alone more than 500 exciting sites have been located, which is why the island has been called a historical open-air museum. The monumental stone constructions, the Talayots, Taulas and Navetas, were probably used for ritual ceremonies.Of particular importance are the Asentamiento de Trepucó, at 2 km from Mahón, the Talayot de Trebaluger in the surroundings of Villacarlos, and the Naveta des Tudoms close to Ciutadela, the biggest and best conserved prehistorical monument. On Mallorca the Talayot de Sa Canova and the settlements of Ses Paises, Capocorb Vell and Claper dels Gegants all deserve a mention. | |
