Soil, climate and the cork trade have been the main factors in the conservation of the largest productive area of cork trees anywhere on the Iberian Peninsula; Los Alcornocales Natural Park.

Located in the province of Cadiz and part of that of Malaga, the park stretches across the mountains to the relatively new Estrecho Natural Park is, offering a great range of reliefs and landscapes. The wealth of the environment is reflected in all aspects: flora, fauna, climate, history and folklore, making it an ideal place to visit and enjoy activities such as mushroom picking and outdoor sports.

The main reason for such a rich setting is thanks to its waters: rivers, streams and reservoirs that supply the surrounding areas, and lend themselves to fishing and recreational activities. More important, however, is the humidity from the coast which accumulates, forming misty cloud forests in deep, narrow valleys called “canutos”. Because of such conditions, a very unique flora called Laurisilva is able to grow. It has smooth shiny leaves that take advantage of the humidity and limited light let in by the trees, surrounded by the “canutos”. Walking through the forest you will find yourself enveloped in the smell of laurel, marvelling at the European hornbeam in bloom, and enjoying the beautiful lauristine and holly trees. All the while in the company of the sounds of the white-throated dipper, kingfisher, warblers and finches, hiding amongst the ferns.

The sandstone soils, which have nurtured the dense cork oak forest, also host Portuguese and Andalusian oaks in the damper areas. Booted eagles, short-toed snake eagles and common buzzards hunt in these woods, as well as northern goshawks, sparrow hawks and tawny owls. High up, it is rocky and the soil is not as good quality, and we find dense, stunted scrubland made up of “herriza” vegetation which has adapted to soils rich in metals such as aluminum. Aromatic plants are particularly abundant. Its main residents are mountain goats and numerous birds of prey, including the griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Bonelli´s eagle, Eurasian eagle owl and peregrine falcon.

In the low, clay areas, olive trees are diminishing making way for pastureland for the local cattle; the Retinta cow. Mediterranean scrubland covers the mountain side with rockrose, heather, lavender, flax-leaved daphne and hawthorn. The indigenous Moorish roe deer, a favourite with big-game hunters, and fallow and common deer roam the area. They share their habitat with carnivores such as genets and badgers, and the largest population of mongoose on the peninsula.

This diverse park has more to offer in the form of: mountaineering, up to the peaks of Aljibe and Picacho; caving in Ramblazo-Motillas; and canyoning in the natural monument La Garganta de Buitreras, one of the few areas adapted for this activity. For something a bit tamer, horse riding is also available in La Almoraima.

The visit to the natural park should be completed with a walk through the local towns: Jimena de la Frontera, Alcalá de los Gazules and Castellar de la Frontera are just some of the recommendations, boasting rich cultural and gastronomic heritage.