Welcome
Welcome to the Virtual Tour of the Puerto Lobo Visitor Centre, located in the Sierra de Huétor Nature Reserve in the province of Granada. Here you’ll be able to discover the treasures of this Nature Reserve, which is part of the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia (RENPA).
At the centre you’ll find a reception area where visitors are welcomed, a gift shop where you have the opportunity to purchase products connected with the surrounding area, and a zone with information about the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia (RENPA), all together in a central space. The building also has a room for meetings, exhibitions and events, which is also where a video on the treasures of the Natural Area is screened.
The exhibition inside gives visitors an insight into the natural heritage of this young mountain range, which is made up of limestone rock slowly sculpted by water to form a karst system with caves, galleries and stalactites. This same water that penetrates the rock later emerges as the crystal-clear springs that since Moorish times have been routed into irrigation channels such as the Aynadamar canal, which used to supply the city of Granada.
During the tour of the centre, you'll see how the courses of the Darro and Fardes rivers bring life to these rugged landscapes that provide a refuge for animals such as the hedgehog and the viperine snake. You'll also observe the striking contrast between Mediterranean forest vegetation, pine forest, and the greyish tones of the rocks.
In these links you can find more information about this Protected Natural Area with downloadable material such as the offer of trails, opening hours, how to get there, map with all the public use equipment, etc.
Visitors Center Puerto Lobo: lajunta.es/3sq8i
Sierra de Huétor Natural Park: lajunta.es/3p0u5
Complete your visit with ecotourism experiences with local companies. You can check the offer at the following link: ecoturismoandaluz.com
For activities aimed at the educational community, associations of people with functional diversity and local population, you can access through the link: reservatuvisita.ecoturismoandaluz.com
Stone, water and time The shaping of the mountains of the Sierra de Huétor
There are various different types of rock in the Reserve, which differ in terms of hardness, and the minerals they are made of.
Dolomites: These differ from limestone in that they contain magnesium. They’re not as hard and compact to the touch as limestones, and water wears them down more quickly. They’re a type of rock that closely resembles marble, and can be used in the same way. They’re found in the Alfaguara area.
Marlstones: Rocks with a clay-like texture due to their chemical composition, that also contain small amounts of limestone. They’re softer than pure limestones, as well as more impermeable. There’s no single part of the Reserve where this type of rock is to be found, but they can be seen in the highest parts of cliffs and gullies.
Limestone: Limestones are formed from material on ancient ocean beds. Like our own bones, they’re composed of calcium. They have a sandy structure, but are harder than the other types of rock in the Reserve. Limestones predominate in the Sierra Arana, where they contain fossils, and in Puerto de la Mora.
Quartzites: As the name suggests, these contain quartz, which means that they are extremely hard, and smooth to the touch. Their great strength means that they erode less than other rocks, and form spectacular crests and fissures in the landscape. They are to be found in the Barranco de Polvorite and in the Cerro del Corzo.
A young, rugged mountain range
The Sierra de Huétor forms part of the Baetic System. These are young mountains that came into being “only” 25 million years ago, in the same process that formed the Pyrenees. The passage of time has produced a very irregular, rugged terrain in the mountains of the Reserve. The limestones that form the mountain range are very easily eroded, and rainwater has carved out a unique landscape with a great variety of bizarre formations known as karst.
At work beneath the surface
Rainwater seeps in through cracks in the rocks, and begins to circulate underground. On its subterranean journey, it slowly dissolves the rock, forming caves and galleries that can grow very large. Over thousands of years, drop by drop water has shaped the unusual stalactites and stalagmites that grace the floors and ceilings of the caves.
The municipalities of the Reserve
The municipalities of the Reserve are notable for their history, culture and delicious gastronomy, the result of the combination of a Moorish heritage and Christian tradition.
Diezma, different architectural styles In Deizma, a visit to Cabrera Castle, the palatial home of the marquisate, and the Mudéjar church dedicated to the patron saint of the village, the Santo Cristo, are a must.
Alfacar, a long tradition of bread baking: Since Roman times the hornos morunos or Moorish bread ovens have produced high-quality artisan bread which is highly prized by the inhabitants of the province.
Beas de Granada, a church with a long history: In Beas de Granada stands the church of La Inmaculada, which over the time has been a mosque, a Christian temple and a Baroque church. The one that exists today was built in 1948, using the stone from an old castle.
Huétor-Santillán, the village that lends its name to the mountain range: The parish church, whose appearance today dates back to the 18th century, is worthy of note. If you visit on the Día de la Cruz, you’ll be able to get out into the countryside and sample a traditional hornazo, a sort of bun with a hard-boiled egg inside.
Cogollo Vega, land of olives: The extensive olive groves of this municipality produce a high-quality extra virgin olive oil that comes under the Montes de Granada designation of origin.
Víznar, an unusual monument: In Viznar, the Palace of Cuzco comes as a surprise. It was built in the 18th century in a classical Italian style that contrasts with the type of building typical of this area.
Nívar, streets with a charm of their own: Traces of the Moorish past can be seen in the layout of the picturesque streets leading to the Balcón de Nívar, where you can enjoy wonderful views of the fertile plains of Granada.
Rivers and gold
The waters of life
After bubbling up in springs and fountains, the water in the Nature Reserve forms numerous streams and watercourses, most notably the Darro and Fardes rivers.
Water is a symbol of life in these mountains, the rivers and streams enrich the landscape, supporting a range of fascinating species. What’s more, the cool shade provided by the riverside vegetation makes the river banks ideal places for many animals to feed, nest or find refuge.
A liquid treasure
The abundance of water in these mountain ranges is one of the treasures most highly valued by the different civilisations that have inhabited the region over the course of history. The growth of the villages of the sierra and the splendour of the city of Granada since the time of the Arabs owes much to the water of these lands. It was the Moors who built the numerous irrigation channels that carried water from the mountains to the neighbourhoods of the capital. These include the Acequia Real, which brought water from the Darro to the Generalife and the Alhambra, and the Acequia Aynadamar, which supplied water to the Albaicín.
Gold fever in Granada
In 1850 there was a spectacular gold rush in Granada, as in other parts of the world. Thousands of people from the region and from the rest of Spain quickly became impromptu miners, invading the banks of the Río del Oro (River of Gold). However, gold fever lasted only a few years, due to the scarcity of the precious metal. Around 1950, a few gold prospectors returned to the Darro, but the rewards were minimal.
Although gold was never found on land within the Reserve, it was found in the region. Indeed, the Darro River was famous in antiquity because of the gold that was found in its sands. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs all knew about these riches, and searched in the area around the Reserve.
Other minerals such as fluorite, pyrite and siderite are to be found in the Sierra de Huétor and its surroundings, and these have also been exploited by human beings.
The trees in the Reserve
Mediterranean Forest dominates the Sierra de Huétor Nature Reserve, but the precise species of trees and shrubs vary, depending on differences in temperature, light, humidity and soil conditions. The main forests are made up of holm oak and pine, and to a lesser extent Portuguese oak. Pine, holm oak, Portuguese oak and maple are some of the species found in the Mediterranean forest, creating different landscapes on the slopes of the Sierra de Huétor.
The holm oak is adapted to drought conditions; it’s one of the most common trees in the Nature Reserve, and is typical of Mediterranean forest. Small, strong leaves covered with tiny hairs prevent water loss, and allow it to survive in the hottest and driest of places. Its sweet acorns provide food for many forest animals.
The Portuguese oak is found in shady areas, and is less resistant to drought. It grows in high, cool areas of the Reserve, mixed with other trees. Its straight trunk has been used for firewood and for making charcoal.
The maple is a relic of times past. Eight thousand years ago it was common, but things are different today, and these trees are now rare in the Nature Reserve. In autumn, its vibrant colours brighten up the landscape in the gullies and shady spots where it grows, seeking refuge from the heat.
The cluster pine can live in poor soils, where it can find water thanks to deep roots. It’s a very resilient tree, and is faster-growing than other species of pine. The sap, known as resin, is extracted from the trunk and transformed into various products used in the manufacture of paints, varnishes and ointments.
A forest of needles The stands of cluster pine are an essential part of the landscape of the Nature Reserve. They are of significant ecological importance, because the pines grow together with shrubs such as juniper, flax-leaved daphne, rosemary and rockrose. Many creatures find shelter in the depths of this forest: from large birds of prey to small rodents.
A century ago, most of the forest in this mountain range disappeared due to fire and the pressure of human activity, leaving behind a desolate and impoverished landscape. The process of replanting with Aleppo pine and black pine that began in the 1950s and that is still ongoing, has enabled the mountains to recover their former glory. Today these forests are extremely important, as they prevent soil erosion as well as improving the landscape.
The fauna in the Reserve
Up on the highest peaks
Life is difficult up on the crags and peaks of the sierra, due to the steep terrain and the climate. This is where some of the Reserve's most interesting and unusual animals and plants can be found.
Born to climb
The animals that live in the heights of the Sierra de Huétor are well equipped to deal with the terrain, and are able to move around, find food and protect themselves from sudden changes in the weather.
Suspended in the skies Swifts have short legs and large talons, and so can move easily on the ledges where they nest. They hardly ever perch on the rocks, spending most of their time in the air; their long, swept back wings are perfect for catching insects in flight.
“Dragons” on the wall: Geckos are capable of clinging to sheer walls of rock, thanks to flared toes shaped rather like leaves covered with scales that act like suction cups.
The climbing bird: Wood nuthatches live on sheer rock faces with very little vegetation. They use their tails and short legs to wind their way over the stones. A long beak serves to catch insects and small reptiles.
Sharp eyes on the rocks Kestrels nest on the rocky crags, using them as observation platforms. Their sharp eyes enable them to spot prey that they then catch with their razor-sharp claws.