The Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park rises up between the depressions of Chirivel and Huéscar. A set of rugged massifs constitute a landscape of beautiful valleys and steep mountains. In the winter, snowy peaks amplify the contrast with the arid landscape surrounding fascinating

If you take the Pinar de la Alfahuara trail , you will come across one of the best preserved forests in the province and hunting grounds from the times of Felipe II. Animals such as squirrels, badgers and birds of prey (booted eagle and hawk) live among the dense vegetation composed of Aleppo pine, holm oaks, black pine and deciduous trees. For those interested in the vegetation in the area, there is a simple trail at the foot of Sierra de María that goes through the Umbria de la Virgen botanical garden .

Fluctuations in temperature, together with low annual rainfall (though often torrential when it does rain) cause drastic changes in the landscape. In places where vegetation is scarce, such as areas with high slopes in sunny areas, erosion is extreme and deep gullies and ravines form, like those in the Sierra de la Muela. These looming, rocky peaks are safe nesting areas for the golden eagle, Eurasian eagle owl and peregrine falcon.

In the Sierra de María-Los Vélez you can find species native to the area, such as the Sierra María centaurea, or Meditarreanean juniper which can be found around the Natural Monument of Chirivel at about 1,600 metres of altitude. It is rare species in the Andalusian region, estimated to be thousands of years old. The invertebrate community also has unique species, such as the Apollo butterfly and the giant peacock moth.

The Hoya de Taibena clearly demonstrates how, certainly in the lower areas, humans are responsible for the change in the appearance of the landscape. Forests (holm oaks and pine) and the Mediterranean scrubland have been replaced by cultivation areas of grains and almond trees.

Since ancient times, man has sought shelter on this mountain range and evidence of this remains. The Ambrosio Cave dates back to Paleolithic times, and the Los Letreros Cave contains very well-preserved rock art paintings, from Neolithic times. They are more than 7,500 years old and considered one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula, containing the magical figure of the Indalo man, a traditional symbol in Almeria. Another must-see in the natural park is the Castillo de los Vélez, a National Historic Monument.

Since 1990 the Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park has been twinned with the Altmühltal Natural Park in Bavaria, southern Germany, approximately a hundred kilometres north of Munich. This collaboration between natural parks has sparked an exchange of invaluable knowledge with regards to the running of the parks, as well as the support of different organisations such as universities, schools, artists, businesses, and women´s associations.