Prado de Cabanes Natural Park
It is the main wetland area in the province of Castellón, as well as one of the least altered wetland habitats in the Valencian Community. It is an old lagoon where the fauna is the protagonist.
It has a great landscape value because of its endemic vegetation and fauna where you can find unique species such as the shrimp, the fartet or the samaruc (aquatic species) or birds such as the canastera, the Montagu’s harrier or the carricerín real.
In short, a corner of the province of Castellón located in the municipalities of Torreblanca and Cabanes that you have to visit.
Columbretes Islands Natural Park
One of the jewels that the province of Castellón has are the Columbretes Islands, an archipelago formed by four volcanic islands that have become one of the most important natural reserves of the Valencian Community, located 56 kilometres from Cape Oropesa.
The Columbretes are an archipelago that is divided into 4 islands: La Grossa, La Ferrera, La Foradada and el Carallot. At present, access to Illa Grossa is only possible with authorisation.
Its remoteness from the mainland and the fact that it is subject to the harshness of the marine environment have shaped a flora and fauna rich in endemisms. The richness of its seabed is a point of attraction for diving enthusiasts.
The volcanic origin, the isolation in which the different species of animals and plants live, the small size and the harsh environmental conditions make the islands a unique and particularly fragile ecosystem. The bottom and waters are characterised by their extraordinary beauty, richness and excellent state of conservation.
It is without doubt one of the best places in the Mediterranean to snorkel and where you will discover a great number of marine species!
You can visit it by sailing from Peñíscola, here we give you all the information on how to make your excursion leaving the city in the sea.
Sierra de Espadán Natural Park
With its 32,000 hectares, it is the second largest Protected Natural Area in the Valencian Community. It is located in the south of Castellón and is characterised by its wide variety of vegetation, being one of the largest forests in the Valencian Community, located very close to the Mediterranean Sea.
Its cork oaks (or “sureres”) are the most famous in this natural area. Its forests are flown over by a large community of several species of eagles, and its most outstanding inhabitants are foxes, ginets, wild boars and badgers.
The landscape is steep and rugged at its highest points: Pico Espadán (1,099 metres), Pico Pinar (1,101 metres) and Pico Rápita (1,106 metres).
The Sierra de Espadán is one of the jewels of the Valencian Community, not only because of its historical heritage, but also because of the beauty and uniqueness of its cobbled villages and the originality of its gourmet and high quality gastronomic products such as honey or extra virgin olive oil (AOVE).
The Sierra de Espadán Natural Park is very popular among professional and amateur hikers, as it has several large and small trails (GR and PR), and hundreds of signposted hiking routes to enjoy nature with family or friends.
There are also many types of sports and adventure activities, always taking into account our level in each of them: caving, canyoning, climbing, bungee jumping and mountain bike routes among others.
Sierra Calderona Natural Park
The Sierra Calderona Natural Park includes a large number of municipalities located in the north of the province of Valencia, creating an enclave of great natural value between the Palancia River and the Turia River. The highest elevation in Sierra Calderona is the 1,012 metres of the Montemayor, while the average height of the Sierra Calderona mountains does not exceed 1,000 metres. Municipalities such as Náquera, Serra, Gátova, Olocau, Estivella or Gilet, among many others, offer the experience of visiting their streets and surroundings located in the heart of Sierra Calderona.
The Sierra de Espadà Natural Park is very close to the city of Valencia and it is said to be the lung of the latter due to its vegetation.
It is made up of ravines and slopes, so you can enjoy many of its routes such as the Gátova Mills or the Garbí route, where you can see the diversity of flora and fauna.
Ebro Delta Natural Park
About 40 km from Tamarindos is one of the most special, magical and spectacular places in our geography, which was declared a National Park in 1983. The Delta has an extension of 7,000 hectares that form the Biosphere Reserve of the Ebro Lands.
With an area of 320 km2, the Ebro Delta natural park is the largest wetland area in Catalonia, constituting one of the most important aquatic habitats in the Mediterranean.
The rice fields are the emblem of the Ebro Delta and form the typical landscape of the area giving it colour and aroma. They also change colour depending on the season. It is one of the obligatory photos to frame and decorate your house.
Besides, the Delta has a great ornithological diversity where you can observe
birds during all seasons, with flocks of both resident and breeding birds, spring and autumn migrations full of surprises and in winter, water areas full of life. For example, the exotic common flamingo can be counted in thousands.
Another of the main attractions of the Ebro Delta are its spectacular and extensive beaches of fine sand where you can swim, walk, take photos or even do water activities such as kayaking, paddle surfing, kitesurfing or sailing with your family without the need for a licence.
In fact, one of the best plans is to rent a kayak (for the more sporty ones) or a small motor boat with your family, to sail around the Delta and make an obligatory stop at any of the two restaurants located in the middle of the sea (Musclarium and Musclarium de l’Avi Agustí), where you can enjoy the mussels or the oysters of the Ebro Delta just taken out of the sea – a real delight!
Finally, you cannot leave the Delta without trying the local gastronomy. The Delta is full of small villages with great restaurants where you can try the mussels, the oysters from the Ebro Delta, caixetes (a very characteristic seafood of the area and with a powerful sea flavour), smoked eel, frog legs or rice dishes such as duck rice, lobster rice or sea nettle rice among many others.
Without a doubt, it is one of the obligatory visits to make with the family. In fact, it is an ideal place to visit with children and travel as a family.
If you like to practice outdoor activities in the middle of nature we give you some ideas!
- Walking through the Far de Fangar, characteristic for its dunes and how similar it is to a desert
- Boat trips around the Ebro Delta
- Sailing your own boat without a licence.
- Sailing in a kayak
- If you like to cycle around places here we leave you with some very interesting routes.
- Practice kitesurfing. Do you dare?
- Watching birds in the lagoons (e.g. flamingos)
You can also consult this link where you will find much more detailed information about the Delta and the activities to be carried out.
