The beautiful Alcornocales Natural Park in Cádiz

Los Alcornocales Cadiz Natural Park
There is less and less to start which for many is the most beautiful season of the year, as it fills the fields and cities with flowers, color and positive energy. Yes, we are referring to spring, an ideal time to put on a comfortable shoe and go out to explore the different corners natural that we have around us. And, although you may not believe it, beyond the cities you can find some of the most beautiful places.

If you live in the province of Cádiz or close to it or you have the opportunity to make a getaway to Andalusia, we recommend that you visit the Los Alcornocales Natural Park, a beautiful place that you will love at any time of the year. Will you join us to discover it?

Location

The Alcornocales Natural Park belongs to the province of Cadiz, although a small part is also in Malaga. It has about 170,000 hectares full of roads where you can discover beautiful landscapes. It extends through the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, Jimena de la Frontera, Benalup-Casas Viejas, Castellar de la Frontera, Alcalá de los Gazuales, Los Barrios, Arcos de la Frontera, Benaocaz, El Bosque, Algar, Ubrique, San José del Valle, Prado del Rey, Medina Sidonia, Algeciras and Tarifa.


Los Alcornocales Cadiz Natural Park

Important protected area

Considered as the largest mass of cork oaks in the world, this park is actually a set of not very high mountain ranges where sandstone predominates. It is an important protected area in Andalusia, among other things due to its size. And we are talking about a place that reaches the Strait of Gibraltar. In addition, it must be borne in mind that in the southern area you can find the so-called joints, a type of forest unique in Spain that maintains remains of vegetation typical of the European tertiary flora. This is possible thanks to the climate of the region, which has high humidity due to the proximity of the mountains to the sea.

Los Alcornocales Cadiz Natural Park1


Wildlife

As you can imagine, the Alcornocales Natural Park has fauna and flora worthy of mention. As for the animals, the raptors, being able to find from griffon vultures to eagle owls, passing by peregrine falcons, goshawks, hawks, eagles and Egyptian vultures, among many others. Of course you can also find granivorous and insectivorous birds. On the other hand, in the joints you can find animals such as waterbirds, Kingfishers and sapper planes. As for mammals, there is no shortage of deer, roe deer, foxes, deer, genets, badgers, wildcats and wild boars, as well as otters, polecats and weasels.

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Flora

As for the flora, we must highlight above all the cork oak. And it is that, as we have told you before, it is the park with the largest number of trees of this type on the planet. In addition, gall oaks, holm oaks, wild olive trees and carob trees are common, and alders, ash trees, rhododendrons, hazelnuts, holly, ferns and laurels, among many other plant species, can be found.

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Activities

The main activity that we recommend you do in this beautiful place is to contemplate the landscape. A good way to do this is through bicycle touring, which can be practiced on eight different itineraries. Of course, you can also explore the place on foot along the 18 trails located in the park. The best of all is that in many of them you can also enjoy monuments of great cultural importance, such as rock art samples. Another typical activity of the place is the harvesting of mushrooms in autumn, in addition to sailing in a canoe through the Barbate reservoir. Also, do not forget that it is an ideal place to observe wildlife, especially birds. Then we leave you with our Gallery, where you will find more images of the Alcornoques Natural Park. Do not miss it!

Best hiking routes of Andalusia || Los Alcornocales Nature Park (February 2024)


  • Cádiz, natural parks
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