- Region: Andalucia
- Province: Jaen
- Declared a Natural Park: 1986
- Park surface area: 209,920 hectares
Points of interest
The Sierra Cazorla, Segura y las Villas offers a great array of very well conserved ecosystems, each of high natural value with many endemics. Spectacular landscapes including waterfalls, deep valleys and lakes make this park unique. The important Guadalquivir and Segura rivers both begin in the park. Large pine forests clothe this limestone mountain range whose highest point is Pico Empanada at 2,107m. It is a very accessible park with many old donkey routes crisscrossing the mountains.
Plenty of footpaths to choose from in Cazorla
This video shows some of the footpaths and stunning scenery close to the town of Cazorla.
The area has also become famous as a starlight destination. The Starlight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 to promote the protection of the night sky and the development of “astrotourism” and there is an ever growing list of starlight destinations in Spain to visit.
Nearby Quesada has a lot to offer!
Some fantastic photography showcasing the Sierra Cazorla Segura y Las Villas natural park has to offer!
Flora
Too many to name and a botanists dream destination. Boasting more than 2000 different plant species, of which 34 are unique in the world such as Viola cazorlensis. This territory holds a 5th of the variety of plant species to be found within the Iberian peninsular.
A visit to the botanical gardens at Torre de Vinagre is pretty much obligatory.
Fauna
Historically this zone has constituted a refuge for the wild fauna. There are 280 species of vertebrates (11 of which are fish, 12 amphibians, 21 reptiles 185 birds, and 51 of mammals). One reptile unique to the park is the Valverde lizard. (Algyroides marchi)
Spanish ibex, Red deer, Fallow deer, Mouflon, Wild boar and Red squirrel are well represented.
Griffon vultures are plentiful and the Bearded vulture has been re-introduced recently.
Find a hotel in the Sierra Cazorla, Segura y las Villas
The Sierra de Cazorla in Andalucia has the stunning Parador de Cazorla.
The Parador de Cazorla is a charming country-house hotel nestled in the Sierra de Cazorla Nature Reserve. With rustic charm, comfortable air-conditioned rooms, and stunning mountain views, it offers a peaceful base for exploring nearby hiking trails, caves, and natural sights. The hotel features an outdoor pool, cozy lounge with fireplace, and a restaurant serving regional cuisine, making it ideal for nature lovers and families.
Click here to reserve your room over at booking.com.
Also in the area
The area has held onto its historic roots and the village of Segura de la Sierra is dominated by its Mudejar castle. The church of Our Lady of Collado dates from the 15th century also there are Arab baths.
The village of Hornos de Segura has marvellous views, it retains its old city walls and the Puerta de la Villa or old city gate plus the castle and church which have led to the denomination of this town as an “Historic Artistic Site”.
Guided tours at Get Your Guide
Listen to the traditional tales of an ancient Spanish town on this guided tour. Dive into Segura de la Sierra’s medieval streets by night to hear about the death of Martinica and Yelmo’s treasure.
Information/Visitors Centers
Cazorla, information centre
In the town of Cazorla you will find a well equippped information centre. probably the best place to start if you are in the area.
Torre del Vinagre
The main park visitor centre is at Km. 45 of the A-319 road between the villages of Cazorla and Hornos de Segura, one of the main access routes into the park.
The Torre del Vinagre visitor centre should be an obligatory visit and there is a huge amount of information about Spain’s largest Nature Park. Its outstanding location in the Guadalquivir valley makes it possible to enjoy one of the most emblematic sectors of this natural area.
The Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas encompass five types of environment, each with its own scenic attraction, and this information centre helps visitors to discover all their secrets. The different landscapes comprised of rocky environments, with a whole universe of shapes and colours; water environments, based around water as the source of life, richness and diversity; pine groves, the predominant woodland in the Sierra; the craggy relief of the high peaks – a wilderness that is nevertheless full of life; and lastly the human landscapes, where Man has transformed the land he has occupied since times immemorial.
The exhibition presents the inhabitants of these five landscapes, and there is a room in which visitors can view live images of deer and other local wildlife. These species, among others, are crucial to the hunting activity for which the area is famous, and the Torre del Vinagre centre describes their evolution in great detail.
Opposite the Torre de Vinagre Visitor centre you will also find the excellent botanical gardens .
Fluvial Río Borosa Visitor Centre
To get to this visitor centre follow the signposts along the A-319 Cazorla – Hornos de Segura road to the Torre del Vinagre visitor centre at Km. 45. From there, turn off towards the River Borosa and the Loma de Mariángela ridge. The facility is 1,5 kilometres further on.
The Río Borosa Visitor Centre is in one of the most emblematic parts of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, on the bank of the river from which it takes its name and which is the Guadalquivir’s first sizeable tributary. Next to the centre there is a fish farm and a path called the Río Borosa trail which follows the course of the river and enables visitors to familiarise themselves with the area.
The location is the ideal setting for visitors to discover the importance of water and the river ecosystems which exist in this protected area. But apart from shaping the landscape, water has also been used by Man since ancient times to transport wood, this area’s main natural resource. In the Río Borosa visitor centre we can see how logs were floated down river from the timber yards to the railway stations lower down the mountain, from where they were distributed throughout Spain.
Common, rainbow trout and barbel constitute the main diet for a wide variety of the small mammals and fish-eating birds which inhabit this environment. Between them they represent a huge food chain which is also covered in the display at the visitor centre.
Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park: FAQ
The Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park is a vast protected area in Jaén Province, Andalusia. Declared a natural park in 1986, it spans over 209,920 hectares, making it Spain’s largest Nature Park. It’s known for its well-preserved ecosystems, waterfalls, deep valleys, lakes, and limestone mountains. The park is also home to the Guadalquivir and Segura river sources, and features old donkey routes for hiking through pine forests and up to Pico Empanada (2,107 m), the highest peak.
This park is a botanist’s dream, with over 2,000 plant species, including 34 endemics like Viola cazorlensis. It holds around 20% of all plant species found in the Iberian Peninsula. Wildlife is equally impressive, with 280 vertebrate species, including Spanish ibex, red deer, wild boar, mouflon, and the reintroduced Bearded vulture. Reptile lovers may spot the rare Valverde lizard (Algyroides marchi).
Hiking is the park’s main draw, thanks to well-marked trails, dramatic landscapes, and natural wonders like Río Borosa. It’s also a certified Starlight Reserve, making it ideal for astrotourism. Don’t miss the botanical gardens at Torre del Vinagre or the night-time legends tour through Segura de la Sierra. Whether you’re a family, solo hiker, or photographer, the park has something for everyone.
Torre del Vinagre Visitor Centre (km 45 on A-319): Extensive exhibitions on the park’s five landscapes, live wildlife footage, and cultural history.
Botanical Gardens opposite Torre del Vinagre: Showcases the park’s plant diversity.
Río Borosa Visitor Centre: Focused on aquatic ecosystems, fish farms, and traditional logging methods.
Cazorla Town Information Centre: Ideal first stop if you’re staying nearby.
The Parador de Cazorla is a peaceful, rustic country hotel located deep within the park. It features:
Mountain views
Air-conditioned rooms
Outdoor pool and fireplace lounge
Regional Andalusian cuisine
Located about 26 km (45 mins) from Cazorla town, it’s perfect for hikers and nature lovers seeking comfort and immersion.
Yes!
Segura de la Sierra: A medieval village with a Mudejar castle, Arab baths, and a 15th-century church.
Hornos de Segura: Designated as an “Historic Artistic Site”, featuring old city walls, the Puerta de la Villa, and breathtaking views.
These towns offer a cultural complement to your natural adventure.
Visitor centres like Torre del Vinagre and Río Borosa highlight how people have lived in harmony with this landscape for centuries. Learn about:
Ancient logging methods
The impact of rivers on settlement patterns
Local wildlife management, especially deer populations
These insights make the park a living example of sustainable coexistence between humans and nature.
Wildside Holidays, run by Clive, supports eco-friendly tourism and wildlife conservation by promoting responsible travel across Spain’s protected areas. By spotlighting destinations like Sierra Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas, Wildside Holidays connects nature lovers with authentic experiences — from guided hikes and wildlife tours to local accommodation and cultural insight.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!