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NATURAL PARK

LOS ALCORNOCALES

 

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Signposted trails
Icono bicicleta
Cycle routes
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Reception and information
DESCRIPTION

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.


OTHER PROTECTION FIGURES

DATA SHEET
  • Provinces Cádiz, Málaga
  • Icono Municipios
    Municipalities Alcalá De Los Gazules, Algar, Algeciras, Arcos De La Frontera, Barrios (los), Benalup-casas Viejas, Benaocaz, Bosque (el), Castellar De La Frontera, Cortes De La Frontera, Jerez De La Frontera, Jimena De La Frontera, Medina-sidonia, Prado Del Rey, San José Del Valle, San Roque, Tarifa, Ubrique
  • Icono Superficie
    Total area 173.619,52 ha.
  • Icono Calendario
    Declaration Date 28 - July - 1989
  • Salir de la app
    Management planning

MAP
 

ACTIVITIES

One of the best ways to discover a protected area as large as the Los Alcornocales Natural Park is cycling. There are eight routes designed for it, passing through the mountains of CÁDIZ and Málaga provinces, such as Berrueco-Cañillas via Cortes de la Frontera and Jimena de la Frontera, or through the foothills close to the Strait of Gibraltar, such as Puerto del Bujeo-Hoyo Don Pedro.

Hiking is another popular activity, and Los Alcornocales has 18 specific trails. The Tajo de la Figuras Route is of great cultural importance, with one of the best examples of prehistoric rock art in Andalusia. You can visit during the established opening times. In Autumn, hiking is particularly popular because you can also pick wild mushrooms. This activity has a long tradition in the mountains. To find out more about the mysterious world of fungi, head to the mycology information point at La Misericordia Church in Jimena de la Frontera.

To finish, you could do some water sports (organised activity), such as kayaking on the Barbate Reservoir. The area around the water is also good for seeing animals that come to drink and birds wintering here. Los Alcornocales is also an excellent place to see migratory gliding birds.

This natural protected area is affiliated with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism , whose associated projects can be consulted by clicking here .


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
CARTA EUROPEA DE TURISMO SOSTENIBLE BRAND NATURAL PARK OF ANDALUCIA
CAMPO-MUSEO DE LA MIEL RANCHO CORTESANO

Honey

Ctra. Cortes-Cuartillos, km 2

Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)

956237528

miel@ranchocortesano.net

http://www.ranchocortesano.net

CAUCE NATURA, S.L.

RUTAS DE SENDERISMO: “Garganta del Puerto Oscuro”, “Subida al Picacho”, “Subida al Aljibe”, Travesía el Aljibe”, “Cañada real de los Ratones”, “Ruta de los Molinos”, “La Sauceda”, “La Laguna del Moral”, “Garganta de la pulga”, “La Teja”, “El Palancar”, “Valdeinfierno”, “Arroyo de San Carlos del Tiradero”, “Caminito de Risco Blanco”, “Río de la Miel”, “Garganta del Capitán”, “Río Guadalmesí”, “La Calzada Dehesa del Boyal”, “Río Hozgarganta”, “Vereda Ubrique-Asomadillas”, “Charca del Moro: Cañón de las Buitreras”; Rutas en bicicleta: “Picacho Peguera”, “Montecoche”, “Valle de Ojén”; ITINERARIO GUIADO por instalaciones El Aljibe: Centro de Visitantes – Jardín Botánico y Suberoteca del Corcho.

Centro de Visitantes el Aljibe, Alcalá de los Gazules: Ctra. A-2228 Alcalá de los Gazules - Benalup Casas Viejas, Km 1

Alcalá de los Gazules (Cádiz)

info@caucenatura.com / cvelaljibe@caucenatura.com

http://www.caucenatura.com

CHACINAS Y EMBUTIDOS EL BOSQUE

Sausages

Pol. Ind. Huerto Blanquillo, 11

EL Bosque (Cádiz)

956716347

info@chacinaselbosque.com

http://www.chacinaselbosque.com

CONFITERÍA SOBRINA DE LAS TREJAS

Patties, brown tarts, campanitas sweets, egg-yolk marzipan fingers, snowy egg-yolk marzipan, egg-yolk marzipan balls, alfajores traditional sweets, truffles, almond biscuits and marzipan

Plaza de España,7

Medina Sidonia (Cádiz)

956410310 956411577

lastrejas@terra.es

https://www.lastrejas.com/

EMBUTIDOS GAZULES, S.L.

Salchichón con queso, Chorizo categoría extra, Morcilla, Butifarra, Embutido de hígado, Chicharrón tradicional, Chicharrón especial, Carne mechada, Lomo frito manteca, Zurrapa de lomo, Zurrapa de hígado.

Polígono Industrial La Palmosa. C/ Puerto de la Víbora, s/n. 11180 -

Alcalá de los Gazules (Cádiz)

956413041

juancalero@embutidosgazules.com

http://www.embutidosgazules.com

ENTOLSUR INICIATIVAS S.L

Hiking trails, paddle, off-road with motor

Herrería, 30

11.360 - San Roque (Cádiz)

633538930

info@andaluciaactivities.com

https://www.andaluciaactivities.com/

FINCA ÁGUILA AZUL

Accommodation

Finca Águila Azul, s/n

11.330 - Jimena de la Frontera (Cádiz)

676491893

aguila.azul.labordalla@gmail.com

https://www.fincaaguilaazul.com/

HACIENDA EL SANTISCAL

Accommodation in 1 * Hotel

Avda. del Santiscal, 173

Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz)

956708313

haciendasantiscal@santiscal.com

http://www.santiscal.com

HOTEL ENRIQUE CALVILLO, S.L.

Alojamiento en hotel, categoría 1 estrella, modalidad rural; Restauración en “Restaurante Enrique Calvillo”

C/ Diputación, n.º 18, 11670 –

El Bosque (Cádiz)

info@hotelenriquecalvillo.com

http://www.hotelenriquecalvillo.com/

IBÉRICOS ARO

Iberian hams and shoulders (acorn-fed, fodder & acorn-fed and fodder-fed), Iberian cured loin (acorn-fed, fodder & acorn-fed and fodder-fed), bondiola cured sausage, Iberian sausage and chorizo, black pudding, loin in lard, dried pork rinds and pork rinds in butter, fried pork loin in red and white lard

Cañada del Real Tesoro, 23 Bda. de la Estación

29.391 - Cortes de la Frontera (Málaga)

952153286

ibericosaro@ncs.es

http://www.ibericosaro.es

JUAN ANTONIO JIMÉNEZ PEREA

Carne de bovino

El Lentiscal, s/n Bolonia "La Era".

11391 - Tarifa (Cádiz)

juanjpbolonia@gmail.com

http://

LA DIFICULTOSA

Brown bread, almond cupcakes, white tarts, chocolate and toffee millefeuille, mantecado traditional sweets, honey fritters, fried donuts, polvorones traditional sweets, alfajores traditional sweets, easter rosquettes, French toast, fried milk desert with currents

Ctra. Térmica, s/n. Pol. Ind. Palmones II

LOS BARRIOS (CÁDIZ)

956675261

ladificultosa@ncs.es

http://www.ladificultosa.com

QUESERÍA EL BOSQUE

Goat's cheese (fresh, cured, semi-cured, in oil). Sheep's cheese (fresh, cured, semi-cured, in oil).

Polig. Ind. Huerto Blanquillo, 14

El Bosque (Cádiz)

956716156

quesoselbosque@quesoselbosque.com

http://www.quesoselbosque.com

QUESERÍA EL GAZUL

Goat cheeses

P.I. La Palmosa. Parcela 20

ALCALÁ DE LOS GAZULES (CÁDIZ)

956420307

info@queseriaelgazul.com

http://www.queseriaelgazul.com

RESTAURANTE LA PESCADERÍA

Restaurant services

Paseo de la Alameda,22

TARIFA (CÁDIZ)

956627078 956681884

info@lapescaderiatarifa.com

http://www.lapescaderiatarifa.com

TURISMO RURAL GENATUR S.C.A

Nature tourism: canoeing, hiking and cycling routes

Polígono Industrial Guadalquivir, 36

11408 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)

956316000

genatur@genatur.com

http://www.genatur.com

TURMARES TARIFA

Nature Tourism: whale watching and coastal excursions

Avda. Alcalde Juan Nuñez, 3 - Local 12

TARIFA (CÁDIZ)

956680741/ 956680741

turmares@turmares.com

http://www.turmares.com

GOOD PRACTICES
Go to our visitor centres, information points and ecomuseums to get the most out of your visit.

Go to our visitor centres, information points and ecomuseums to get the most out of your visit.

Follow the recommendations and comply with the regulations at all times

Follow the recommendations and comply with the regulations at all times

Respect the facilities put at your disposal. We all pay for its maintenance.

Respect the facilities put at your disposal. We all pay for its maintenance.

Help prevent fires. Do not throw cigarettes or any other object that produces combustion.

Help prevent fires. Do not throw cigarettes or any other object that produces combustion.

Trash doesn't come back alone. Take it with you to the nearest container. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Trash doesn't come back alone. Take it with you to the nearest container. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Noise is another form of pollution. In silence you will enjoy your experience more.

Noise is another form of pollution. In silence you will enjoy your experience more.

Live respectfully with the locals and other users. Respect private property.

Live respectfully with the locals and other users. Respect private property.

Facilitate use for people with special needs.

Facilitate use for people with special needs.

By consuming local products and counting on local companies, you will contribute to rural development.

By consuming local products and counting on local companies, you will contribute to rural development.

Practice responsible tourism and committed to the environment. Be a true ecotourist!

Practice responsible tourism and committed to the environment. Be a true ecotourist!

Never leave your pet in the wild. It would endanger the flora and fauna of the place.

Never leave your pet in the wild. It would endanger the flora and fauna of the place.

Get around in a sustainable way: public transport, bicycle, on foot, electric or shared vehicle ... Park in the designated places

Get around in a sustainable way: public transport, bicycle, on foot, electric or shared vehicle ... Park in the designated places

If you bring a dog, take it on a leash. It could scare other people or animals

If you bring a dog, take it on a leash. It could scare other people or animals

Do not leave a trace of your passage through nature. The best memory you can take with you is your own photograph.

Do not leave a trace of your passage through nature. The best memory you can take with you is your own photograph.

Your safety is our concern, but it is your responsibility.

Your safety is our concern, but it is your responsibility.

The conservation of natural spaces is also in your hands. Thank you for your collaboration!

The conservation of natural spaces is also in your hands. Thank you for your collaboration!

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  • Sunday, 26 September 2021
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  • Monday
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    15° min.
    • WIND SPEED 5km/h
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    31° max.
    16° min.
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    Poco nuboso
    32° max.
    16° min.
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    • PERCENT OF HUMIDITY 80%
    • CHANCE OF RAIN 0%
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