Nature Parks in South of Spain. Cadiz.

La Sierra de Grazalema.

A 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.

Archaeological area.

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.

Protected Ecologic area.

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 Barbate Nature Park.

The nearby port of Barbate is the centre of the region tuna fishing and canning industry, where Bluefin tuna is abundant. The Barbate Nature Park is Andalusia’s second largest coastal reserve, a major attraction for its underwater sports.

The coastline 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.