National Parks in Andalucia

Andalucia is the southernmost region of Spain and is known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning coastline, and diverse natural landscapes. The region is home to several national parks, each with its own unique flora, fauna, and geological features.

A notable national park in Andalucia is the Doñana National Park, located in the provinces of Huelva, Seville, and Cadiz. Doñana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to a diverse range of ecosystems, including marshes, dunes, and forests. The park is a crucial stopover for millions of migratory birds each year and is also home to the endangered Iberian lynx, the Spanish imperial eagle, and several other rare species. Visitors to Doñana can explore the park’s unique landscapes on foot, by bike, or by horseback, and can also take guided tours to learn more about the area’s rich cultural history.

The Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park offers a unique experience for visitors, from hiking and wildlife watching to cultural activities such as visiting historic towns and sampling local cuisine.

Overall, the national parks in Andalucia are a must-visit for anyone interested in exploring the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

How Rainfall Revived Doñana in 2025: A Wetland in Full Bloom After Years of Decline

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How Rainfall Revived Doñana: A Wetland in Full Bloom After Years of Decline
A Rare Spring Transformation

Doñana National and Natural Park is bursting with life this spring, thanks to a season of heavy rains. The once-parched marshlands have returned to their former glory, offering a rare spectacle of biodiversity and a glimpse of the wetland’s ecological potential. This resurgence has flooded over 39,000 hectares, transforming the landscape and reminding us why Doñana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Doñana To Return to the IUCN Green List

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The Doñana National and Natural Parks occupy the northern area of the Guadalquivir river where it meets the Atlantic Ocean
Doñana Expected to Rejoin the Green List Before Summer

The Andalusian regional government anticipates that Doñana National Park will be reinstated on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Green List before the summer. The park was removed from this prestigious international catalogue due to conservation concerns, pending a reassessment that has been ongoing for over a year.

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Sierra de las Nieves

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Sierra de las Nieves National park

In the summer of 2021 The Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park was upgraded to NATIONAL park status. It covers a huge area of approximately 300 square kilometres with its limits ranging from Marbella inland to include the villages of El Burgo, Istan, Monda, Parauta, Ronda, Tolox and across to the Sierra Bermeja close to … Read more

Doñana National and Natural Parks

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The Doñana National and Natural Parks occupy the northern area of the Guadalquivir river where it meets the Atlantic Ocean
  • Region: Andalucia
  • Provinces: Sevilla, Huelva, Cadiz
  • Declared a Natural Park: 1969 reclassified in 1978
  • In1963 WWF and the Council of Scientific Research bought land (6,794ha) and set up a research station
  • In 1994 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site  
  • Natural Park surface area: 54,200
  • National Park surface area: 50,720 hectares – Total area: 77,260ha:
  • World Heritage and Special Bird Protection Areas: 50,720ha.
  • National Park and Ramsar site; buffer zone 26,540ha.
Towns and Villages
  • Huelva: Almonte, Hinojos, Bollullos Par del Condado, Rociana del Condado, Bonanes y Lucena del Puerto, Palos de la Frontera, Moguer, La Puebla del Río and the Isla Mayor
  • Sevilla: Aznalcázar, Pilas y Villamanrique de la Condesa.
  • Cádiz: Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Points of interest

The Doñana National and Natural Parks occupy the northern area of the Guadalquivir river where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Six thousand years ago it would have been a wide estuary, but this has mostly been closed off by a long, natural sand bar. This in turn created a large saline lake which gradually collected silt leaving a huge wetland area with lagoons, marshlands and semi-permanent sand dunes.

Latest news and Iberia Nature Forum discussions here.

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