Nearly 20% of the territory of Andalucia lies in a protected area, roughly 30% of the protected territory of Spain. Remote and thinly populated mountains, valleys, beaches, deserts and plains, all waiting to be explored.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Parque Natural (Natural Park), in Almeria province is Andalucia's largest coastal protected area. It is a wild and is... >>>
At a minimum height of 800 metres and rising to over 2000 metres, Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park is one of the higher parks in And... >>>
The story of the Desierto de Tabernas Natural Area starts 8 million years ago when the whole area, as far as the Sierra de los Filabres, ... >>>
The beauty and magnificence of most national and natural parks is best appreciated on the earth's surface. Impressive mountains, craggy... >>>
Just a few kilometres north of Almeria city, the Sierra de Alhamilla Nature Site is a granite and schist mountain massif that rises to 1387 ... >>>
The Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park is a place of ecological diversity and threatened fauna species. Many species are now only found within... >>>
Between Cape Trafalgar, scene of the famous battle in 1815 of the same name, and the fishing town of Barbate, in Cadiz province, is one o... >>>
Del Estrecho Parque Natural, or The Straits Natural Park, located between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, is a unique area. Influence... >>>
Parque Natural Los Alcornocales lies across the borders of Malaga and Cadiz provinces with its southern boundary on the Atlantic and Medi... >>>
Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is one of the wettest places in the Iberian Peninsula. Straddling the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga this... >>>
The valley of the Rio Guadalete is dammed in two places just upstream from Arcos de la Frontera in Cadiz province. The two embalse, Embalse ... >>>
Although small, only 27 hectares, the Estuario del Río Guadiaro Natural Area is very important, particularly for the birds that make the an... >>>
At the mouth of the river of the same name, the Marismas del Río Palmones Paraje Natural is at the northern end of the Bay of Algeciras ... >>>
Playa de los Lances Paraje Natural is inside the Del Estrecho Parque Natural. The 226 hectares consist of a 3 kilometre long beach backed by... >>>
The Sierra de Cardeña y Montoro Natural Park is located in the extreme northeast of the province of Córdoba bordering Jaén and Ciudad ... >>>
The Sierra de Hornachuelos Parque Natural is in the Sierra Morena Unesco Biosphere Reserve in the northern area of Cordoba province within e... >>>
The Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas is in the south of Córdoba province. It was approved by UNESCO in 2006 due to the unique n... >>>
In 1966, Sierra Nevada was declared a National Hunting Reserve, in 1986, UNESCO declared it to be a Natural Biosphere Reserve under the a... >>>
In the northeast of Granada province is a Parque Natural that provides some of the most contrasting climatic conditions of any park in An... >>>
The Parque Natural Sierra de Castril is a small park in Granada province alongside the southeastern flank of the much l... >>>
Just 20 kilometres northeast of Granada city, the Sierra de Huétor Natural Park is a favourite weekend destination for the population of... >>>
Doñana is a complex mosaic of landscapes forming a paradise for birds in the most important wetlands in Europe. Situated between the pro... >>>
In the westernmost part of Sierra Morena, north of the province of Huelva, is a range of mountains of moderate elevation. The visitor, ob... >>>
Only a few kilometres northwest of the Parque Nacional de Doñana, the Paraje Natural de las Marismas del Odiel (Las Marismas de Odiel Na... >>>
The natural park of Despeñaperros straddles the only natural break in the 500 kilometre long Sierra Morena. The Despeñaperros Pass conn... >>>
The Sierra de Andújar Natural Park is located in the northwest of the province of Jaén, in the Sierra Morena mountains, easily accessed... >>>
Almost in the geographical centre of Andalucia, the 20,000 hectare Sierra Mágina Natural Park is an isolated mountainous massif, easily spo... >>>
The Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park covers almost one fifth of the area of Jaen province and is the largest protecte... >>>
The Paraje Natural Cascada de la Cimbarra is in the far north east of Jaen province. It is as remote as you are likely to find. As a conseq... >>>
In June 2021, Sierra de las Nieves was upgraded from a Parque Natural to a Parque National. This 18,350 hectare of, predominantly karstic... >>>
Just a few kilometres north of Málaga city, the Montes de Málaga Natural Park is a 5,000 hectare area of, primarily, Aleppo pine, rushing ... >>>
The Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park is one of the most remote areas in Andalucia. It borders the provinces of Malaga and... >>>
The mouth of the Guadalhorce, called “El Guada” by local birdwatchers, is the most important wetland in the province of Málaga along wi... >>>
At 478 hectares, the Sierra Crestellina Paraje Natural or Natural Area, is one of the smallest protected areas in Andalucia. It is a lime... >>>
The limestone karstic formations on Torcal de Antequerra are considered to be unique in the world. Their ‘other wordly’ appearance ha... >>>
With a length of 6.5 kilometres and width of 2.5 kilometres, the Fuente de Piedra lagoon is one of the two largest remaining in the Iberi... >>>
The sparsely populated Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park is one of Andalucia’s largest protected areas, covering 177,484 hectares. I... >>>
National Parks, Natural Parks, sites and reserves of special interest Spain has a bewildering array of types of protected areas and Andalucia has more than its fair share of them. Here we take you to those areas of outstanding natural beauty or places of special interest.
National Parks (Parque Nacional) An area is declared a National Park by State Law. There are 3 National Parks in Andalucia.
Natural Parks (Parque Natural) An area is declared a Natural Park by Decree passed by the Governing Council of the Junta de Andalucía. There are around 30 Natural Parks in Andalucia.
Nature Sites (Paraje Natural) An area is declared a Nature Site by Andalusian Parliament Law. There are about 30 Nature Sites in Andalucia.
Nature Reserves (Reserva Natural) An area is declared a Nature Reserve Park by Andalusian Parliament Law. There are around 30 Nature Reserves in Andalucia.
Monumento Natural (Natural Monument) A fairly recent classification that highlights one feature of the landscape. It may be the 230 million year old dinosaur footprints in Jaén province, or an island off the coast of Almeria, important for its breeding colony of European storm petrel. There are over 30 natural monuments in the region and more added each year.
UNESCO Global Geoparks Spain ranks second in the world for the number of biosphere reserves with 15 in total. Andalucia has 4. Geoparks are natural spaces with landscapes of extraordinary beauty. In addition, their mountains, formations and soil reveal the history of the planet. Since 2015, UNESCO has recognised their value and given them the status of Global Geopark. To date, the four Global Geoparks in Andalucia are the Granada Global Geopark, the Cabo de Gata Níjar Parque Natural UNESCO Global Geopark, the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Parque Natural UNESCO Global Geopark, and the Sierras Subbéticas UNESCO Global Geopark
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