Spanish National and Nature Parks plus Places of Interest
Spain has 15 National Parks (in Bold text below), of which 10 are on the mainland, 1 in the Balearic Islands and 4 in the Canary Islands. We have featured them all here together with some of the many Natural Parks.
Andalucia |
Alpujarras A unique area situated between the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Costa Tropical coastline, shaped by the Moors before their removal in the 16th century, encompassing around 50 villages.
Cabo de Gata Nature Park An area of volcanic rock formations on the Costa de Almeria coastline. Doñana National Park Situated in a triangle between Cadiz, Sevilla and Huelva, this is the largest and most important wetland area in Spain, amounting to over 1,300 sq Km. Los Alcornocales Nature Park 170,000 Ha of Cork forest (one of the worlds largest) straddling the borders of Cadiz and Malaga. Sierra de Grazalema Nature Park The highest rainfall in the Iberian peninsula has shaped this landscape where there are forest of Spanish Pine and over 1300 other plant species, including some that are unique. Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park Covering 18,000 Ha with some of the deepest caves in the world, forests of the rare Spanish Pine, and 90 species of birds breeding here in the backdrop to Marbella. Sierra Nevada National Park Covering 86,000 Ha and including the two highest peaks of mainland Spain. |
Aragon |
Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park Stunning valleys, forests, meadows with wild flowers and one of the highest peaks in the Pyrenees complete with glacier.
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Asturias |
Redes Natural Park Near the Picos de Europa, this rugged partially forested area is an extremely picturesque area for walking.
Picos de Europa National Park Said by many to be the most picturesque mountains in Spain, also is home to the deepest caves. There is something for everyone here. |
Balearic Islands |
Archipiélago de Cabrera National Park An island with 100 inhabitants and 18 surrounding islets, 10 Km south of Mallorca, with a well preserved land and sea environment.
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Castilla La Mancha |
Cabaneros National Park 41,000 Ha of varied landscape which some have described as African in nature - a birdwatchers paradise, particularly for birds of prey .
Tablas de Daimiel National Park A unique wetland on the migration route for many waterfowl. |
Castilla y Leon |
Sierra de Gredos Nature Park A mountain range west of Madrid, running along the southern border of Castilla y Leon and extending into Extremadura, with spectacular scenery and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.
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Catalunya |
Aiguestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park A truly stunning area in the Pyrenees with many lakes and rivers.
Ebro Delta Natural Parque At the mouth of the great river Ebro, half way between Valencia and Barcelona, this is Spain's second most important wetlands where a wide variety of waterfowl may be seen. |
Extremadura |
Monfrague National Park A varied and attractive landscape - a bird watchers paradise, particularly for birds of prey and waterfowl.
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Galicia |
The Fragos do Eume Nature Park An important Atlantic forest which has survived from the late stone age with very little change.
The Dunes of Corrubedo National Park An important sand dune complex, including one very large moving dune, lagoons, wetlands, and the important associated ecosystems. The Islas Atlanticas National Park Four groups of islands off the south west coast of Galicia and an important sea-land ecosystem supporting many colonies of birds. |
Murcia |
Sierra de Espuña A mostly forested park offering a contrast of terrain in this dry region.
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Valencia |
L'Albufera Natural Parque Running south almost from the outskirts of Valencia, these wetlands have been the site of rice production for Valencias famous dish, the paella and provides some important aquatic habitats.
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Canary Islands |
Caldera de Taburiente National Park on the island of La Palma, one of the worlds largest sunken volcanic craters, 10Km across and upto 2Km deep creates a unique landscape with indigenous flora.
Garajonay National Park on the island of La Gomera, shows how each of the Canary Islands can be very different, this is a humid subtropical forest of the type that would have covered most of southern Europe before the last ice age. Mount Teide National Park on the island of Tenerife, the volcanic crater 15 Km across and the peak of Mount Teide, the highest point in Spain and any Atlantic island at 3,718m. Timanfaya National Park on the island of Lanzarote, 5,000Ha of a luna like landscape formed from solidified lava, where there are geysers, hot springs, and the rock below are hot enough to cook food over a hole in the ground. |