The natural parks of Andalusia reflect the diversity and richness of their ecosystems. Staying at Iberostar hotels gives you access to some of these beautiful and ecologically significant sites. We will reveal what makes them special (hint: their uniqueness extends as far as the eye can see). Furthermore, we will share some key tips for practicing sustainable tourism when visiting them. To conclude, we will also inform you about the names of the 16 national parks in Spain, among which several Andalusian natural parks are included.
How Many Natural Parks Are There in Andalusia?
If you are wondering how many natural parks there are in the southernmost region of Spain but still do not have a clear answer because, perhaps, the terminology to differentiate the types of protected areas that exist may seem a bit complex, start by considering that a natural park is not the same as a national park. The former enjoy specific protection due to the peculiarities of their fauna and flora, while the latter, in addition to the former, also represent the national natural systems, with endemic species and, often, endangered species in Spain. The same park can be in both categories.
There are other designations such as natural reserves, marine areas or protected landscapes, and natural monuments that, without being parks but sometimes within their enclosure, also preserve the biosphere. With 17 parks, Andalusia boasts one of the richest environmental heritages in the entire country, which means that many animals and plants depend on their good health to survive: take care of them whenever you can.
Which Are the Natural Parks of Andalusia?
Bay of Cádiz
The Bay of Cádiz is located over a large marine estuary and includes marshes, beaches with dunes, pine forests, and muddy plains. Opposite La Barrosa, considered by many the best of Andalusia's beaches and also one of the most sustainable, stands one of its symbols: the islet of Sancti Petri. Animals such as birds, including storks and avocets, curlews, herons, and small invertebrates and vertebrates that spend their existence between water and land are some of its sensitive inhabitants. Aquatic plants provide them with shelter and food. The shores of channels, the broom grasslands, the pines, and the aromatic and other flowers color its lush vegetation.
The Iberostar Selection Andalucía Playa and Iberostar Waves Royal Andalus hotels make up an all-inclusive resort on the front line of La Barrosa Beach. If you decide to spend your holidays there, you will discover a prodigious ecological universe on foot and by bicycle tours, in addition to enjoying exclusive services. The 36-hole course designed by Severiano Ballesteros of the complex, overlooking the bay, is among the most reputable golf clubs in the world. Other natural parks of Andalusia in Cádiz include La Breña, Marismas del Barbate, and El Estrecho.
Doñana
Doñana is one of those hybrid cases that also belong to the national parks network. It spans the provinces of Cádiz, Huelva, and Seville. This large wetland hosts more than 70 types of fish, including rare marine animals such as the estuary, more than 400 birds, about 50 terrestrial and aquatic mammals, 25 types of reptiles, and 11 of amphibians. New species often appear. The lack of water endangers all these lives, which need their moist homes to survive. More habitats in this area worth preserving? The Natural Park of Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche, located in Huelva; or Los Alcornocales and Sierra de Grazalema, both in Cádiz and Málaga since, like Doñana, they extend over more than one region.
Sierra de las Nieves
The Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park is also a national park, in this case, a mountainous one located in the province of Málaga. It is carved by deep ravines and impressive gorges and cliffs, such as La Caina. Due to its conditions, it is an extraordinary location for ethically spotting various types of eagles, sparrowhawks, or eagle owls, as well as for hiking routes along the same paths and rivers traveled by wildcats, genets, or otters. The Spanish fir, its most characteristic tree, is safeguarded as a symbol of the reserve (it hosts the largest fir forest in Spain, with 2000 specimens).
The mountains of the interior give way to the cliffs and paradise beaches of the coast. From the Iberostar Selection Marbella Coral Beach and Iberostar Waves Málaga Playa hotels, you will also tour this side of the map to leave nothing unexperienced. Are there any more natural parks in the Malaga area? Two more must be added to the list: Montes de Málaga and Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara, and Alhama (which extends to Granada).
Cabo de Gata-Níjar
In Almería, you will find another one of those natural parks of Andalusia that will leave you speechless is Cabo de Gata-Níjar. It stands out for its maritime and terrestrial contrasts, with a sequence of beaches and coves of dark sand known popularly as “Las Negras”. The bohemian and relaxed atmosphere that prevails contributes to its visitors being able to relax and connect with nature in its freest expression. While enjoying it, you will likely come across some foxes, wild boars, rabbits, hedgehogs, or shrews: respect their space and do not disturb them. Among its diverse aquatic vegetation, there are Mediterranean saline grasslands and meadows of Posidonia, plants that are in danger of extinction. In addition, flowers such as saffron, sea poppy, lavender, and holy thistle will scent your walks. Sierra María-Los Vélez is also located in Almeria territory.
Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada National Park is recorded as the largest in Spain. Also a national park, it is mainly located in Granada, though it also includes certain areas of Almería. Thanks to its ski resort, the high season as a destination for sports and adventure in the mountains coincides with winter. But there is much more: its flora of trees and shrubs, with around 2000 plant species, ranks among the most abundant on the European continent. You will be fascinated to recognize endemic plants such as the Sierra Nevada chamomile, the violet of Sierra Nevada, the star of the snows (and not just for their evocative names).
The majestic mountain goat, as well as the martens, squirrels, genets, or badgers, inhabit this ecosystem of impressive reliefs and delicate nuances. Approach it cautiously and, if possible, in the company of local guides to support community tourism. Making the decision to travel vegan will also help to promote more environmentally respectful getaways. Sierra de Huétor, Sierra de Castril, and Sierra de Baza are other Granadian parks where you can put this into practice.
Sierra de Hornachuelos
In Córdoba, the Sierra de Hornachuelos has become one of the last refuges of the black vulture. Its holm oak and cork oak forests nourish and enrich the soil of a mountain system with gentle orography, ideal for challenging oneself with hiking routes and admiring the panoramic postcards it offers. There are otters, genets, wild boars, deer, lynxes, and wolves. In the most humid places, the wild olive tree of the Vega del Guadalquivir, an indigenous tree, serves as a home for other creatures who like riverbanks and watercourses, among them, small birds that set up their nests in the grove. More natural parks of Andalusia in Córdoba with similar fauna and flora are the Sierra de Cardeña and Montoro and the Sierras Subbéticas.
Despeñaperros
Jaén is not only famous for its olive oil and other products with Denomination of Origin that define Andalusian gastronomy. In Despeñaperros, with corners that seem taken out of a fairy tale, fascinating beings with an earthly magical character thrive. In this gorge, which borders the river of the same name, valuable deer, wild boars, or griffon vultures live among peaks, caves, and green lungs where pine trees, cork oaks, and holm oaks grow, among many other trees, bushes, and herbaceous plants. If you like the idea of traversing the mountains, you might want to continue your Jaén itinerary by visiting three more parks: Sierra de Andújar, Sierra Mágina, and Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas. Or move to Seville to visit Sierra Morena, where the largest population of Iberian lynxes is concentrated.
What Protected Natural areas Are There in Andalusia?
Protected Marine Areas: Gulf of Cádiz
The next step after learning about the natural parks of Andalusia is to start planning your visit to those areas you do not want to miss. The Gulf of Cádiz is identified with a protected marine area within Doñana. Corals feed from these waters and also a registry of animals and plants associated with the ecological treasure of almost endless reefs. On the other hand, some cetaceans and sea turtles approach the coast at specific times of the year and as part of their life cycles, as happens in the reproduction and spawning season of the latter. Greet them in controlled sessions of water sports such as diving and snorkeling to not interfere with their routines. The planet will thank you.
Natural Monuments: Spanish Fir of Las Escaleretas
The Spanish Fir of Las Escaleretas is a tree with its own name that sinks its roots in the Sierra de las Nieves, in Málaga. This natural monument belongs to the species Abies pinsapo Boiss and presents dimensions of 26 meters in height, 5 meters in diameter, and 200 m² of crown. It is estimated to be between 350 and 550 years old. Despite care, it is deteriorating due to age. The cycle of nature, constant in change, is manifested in each of its leaves, among the cracks of its branches, and in the robustness of its trunk. Can you imagine what it would be like to sit next to it to absorb a part of all the wisdom that, over time, has been accumulating in this living sculpture?
Other Protected Landscapes: Río Tinto
The excitement that these places will provoke in you cannot be compared to anything else. In them, you will feel the connection with the environment in all its splendor. What protected natural spaces are there in Andalusia, besides the marine areas and natural monuments, to continue pursuing that state of union? The protected landscapes, such as the Río Tinto in Huelva, will embrace your moments of presence on vacation with their great sensory impact. Specifically, this enclave is named after the red color of its waters, which resemble wine. This phenomenon is caused by a very acidic pH with a high content of ferrous salts from the surrounding mines. A myriad of microorganisms, most yet uncatalogued, move in their liquid element: NASA studies these life forms due to the similarity between their environmental conditions and those that could occur on Mars.
What Are the Names of the 16 National Parks of Spain?
In Spanish territory, there are 152 natural parks, of which 16 are national. But what are the names of the 16 national parks of Spain? Surely many of them sound familiar to you. In the Canary Islands, the Teide National Park in Tenerife, Garajonay in La Gomera, Caldera de Taburiente in La Palma, and Timanfaya in Lanzarote are located. In the latter destination, you can bathe in a volcanic pool while contemplating the immensity of nature. The Cabrera Archipelago National Park is located in the Balearic Islands (you can access it from your accommodation in Mallorca and, if you are left wanting more, combine the plan with active tourism plans in S’Albufera). The Atlantic Islands, in A Coruña, make up another insular national park.
In the interior, the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Monfragüe, and Ordesa y Monte Perdido (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO) protect the fauna and flora of Madrid, Cáceres, and Aragon, respectively. Picos de Europa spans several areas of Asturias, León, and Cantabria; while Cabañeros extends through Toledo and Ciudad Real, where the Tablas de Daimiel National Park is also located. Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici is located in Lleida. Doñana, Sierra Nevada, and Sierra de las Nieves, which we have already spoken about, are the three Spanish National Parks that are located in Andalusia. If you are planning to visit, go and see them in person!
