• Region: Andalucia
• Provinces: Cadiz, Malaga
• Declared a Natural Park: 1984
• Park surface area: 51,695 hectares

Points of interest

The Natural Park of the Sierra de Grazalema has also been declared a Biosphere Reserve, this is due to the diverse geography with high limestone mountains and deep gorges such as Garganta Verde, (Green Gorge) that is 400m deep and filled with lush vegetation. In addition, it offers a great diversity of species- animals and vegetation.

Many species are represented in the Botanical Garden of El Bosque, which is a good place to see the more rare flora of the area.

Numerous species of birds live in the park, the Griffon vulture being the most recognizable by its sheer size and tendency to fly in numbers.

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.

For more in depth information about this area please have a look at the Grazalema Guide. This is our Tourist Information Portal for the Sierra de Grazalema, The town of Ronda and the Caminito del Rey. You can find out everything you need for a visit to this area of Andalucia (Where we live) 🙂

Tailored nature and cultural tours in the Sierra de Grazalema

Nature Plus – Grazalema is based in the picturesque white village of Grazalema in southwest Andalusia. The village is known for its white-washed houses, clay-tiled roofs, steep cobbled streets, traditional architecture, and deeply rooted cuisine.

Your local guide at Nature Plus – Grazalema is Sue Eatock. Originally from the UK, she has lived in Grazalema since 2005 and specializes in the wild plants and animals of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park’.

Find our more here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/nature-plus-grazalema/

Find a hotel in the Sierra de Grazalema

Flora

The mountain range conserves an important mass of typically Mediterranean natural vegetation including evergreen oaks, cork oaks, strawberry tree, carob trees and wild olives. Pine woodlands have been planted for a crop and land stabilization in the past but have now naturalized. In the shade of the mountain

El Pinsapar is a magnificent forest of rare Pinsapo trees. There are three areas of this exclusive fir tree in the mountainous area of Ronda showing that it once covered more ground. Grazalema park has the largest area of them.

Mediterranean scrub including Lentisc, Cistus and Gorse cover the hillsides which in spring are also host to a huge variety of wildflowers, some of which only grow in the Ronda area, such as Linaria platycalyx. Those endemic to Grazalema are Papaver rupifragum, Phlomis margaritae, Echinospartum algibicum and Erodium recoderi. Ornithogalum reverchonii grows in the Sierra de Grazalema and North Africa.

Short gallery of photos from the Malaga side of the Sierra de Grazalema natural park

Fauna

The Griffon vulture has large resident breeding colonies here as does Red-billed chough. Eagle owls are resident but uncommon. Egyptian vulture, Booted eagle and Short-toed eagle arrive in spring to breed. There is a breeding colony of Lesser kestrels in the village of Zahara de la Sierra. Blue rock thrush, Rock thrush and Black wheatear can be seen on the higher ground with occasional Alpine accentor and Ring ouzel sightings in the winter. Warblers include sub-alpine, Dartford, Sardinian and Orphean.

Cabra montes or Spanish ibex is the most visible mammal. Red deer, Mongoose, Fox, Genet, Otter and Wildcat are much more elusive and can be hard to spot.

Also in the area

• Cueva de la Pileta is a natural cave system near Benaocaz which holds some of the most important cave paintings in Spain.
• Hundidero-Gato Complex is a natural caving system that connects a sink hole to a cave river outlet traversing 5kms underground, caving here is for professional teams only. But you can visit the Cueva del Gato. (very refreshing in the summer.)
• There are Roman remains close to the town of Ubrique (Ocuri.) If you are visiting the town of Ubrique then ask in the tourist office for times and prices for the guided visits.
• The gastronomy of the region constitutes another important cultural wealth. Many of the villages survive today by producing goats cheese and Iberian pork products.

Excursions and activities in the nearby town or Ronda

Information/Visitors Centers

The visitor centre in the village of el Bosque is the main and official information centre for the natural park of the Sierra de Grazalema.It contains multipurpose room where an audiovisual presentation on the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park can be seen

At the reception you can find information about trails and get your permissions for restricted walks in the park area, attractions. There is also a shop with very different items (clothing, handicrafts, souvenirs, food, maps, guides, etc.).

Click here to find out how to get a permit

The nearby botanical garden El Castillejo has examples of the most representative plant species in the reserve. Read about the Botanic garden in El Bosque here.

Most villages in the park also have their own municipal information centre or infomation point.

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

Visit Cádiz

Planning on visiting Cádiz? Tourist information. Monuments. Hotels. Activities. City guides: https://visitingcadiz.com/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum! https://iberianatureforum.com/