What is the importance of Grazalema natural park in Cadiz?
Do you want to get to know some of the best hikes in Andalusia? If you are interested in getting to know which areas to visit and what types of habitats and plants you will find, contact me to do a guided hiking tour in Grazalema natural park in Cadiz. I do hikes in La Breña, El Estrecho, Grazalema, and in Los Alcornocales natural parks.
Cadiz province has more than a third of its surface protected, the highest percentage of the provinces in Andalusia. Los Alcornocales is one of the largest natural parks in Spain and La Breña natural park the smallest in Andalusia. However, the importance of Grazalema is in its geology, climate and flora.
The Sierra de Grazalema natural park shares borders with Seville, Malaga and Cadiz. This park is also part of the Mediterranean intercontinental biosphere reserve, which goes from Malaga to Morocco.
Grazalema natural park in Cadiz
The almost 52,000 ha park in Cadiz has a spectacular rugged limestone landscape of cliffs, gullies, caves and gorges. In fact, If you compare it to the rest of Cadiz province that is mostly younger sandstone it is a much older landscape, and formed at a similar time to Gibraltar.
By far the most impressive gorge is Garganta Verde, with its exceptional Griffon Vulture colony and rocky walls that tower 400m vertically. Furthermore, Andalucia’s largest cave system is also here, the Hundidero-Gato with its biggest cavern measuring 4km long.
Grazalema region is well known for being the rainiest place in Spain. It has an annual rainfall of 2,200mm, which means that of the 1,300 Mediterranean plant species that have been registered here, some of them are endemic to this natural park and can flourish perfectly. In fact, there is an incredibly rare Spanish fir forest, a relic from the Tertiary period called pinsapar. On the other hand, you will also find the highest peak in Cadiz province in the Sierra de Grazalema natural park, El Torreon.
Please read about some of the best hikes in Andalusia for a hiking holiday in Grazalema. Moreover, if you want to join one of my guided hiking tours in Andalucia, please do not hesitate to contact me.
You need to call the natural park to request permission for 4 hiking trails: the torreón route, the garganta verde route, the pinsapar route and the llanos de Rabel route. Contact the office through your email, cvelbosque@reservatuvisita.es.
El Torreon hike
It is a short hike to climb to the highest peak in Cadiz province, but with 800m of elevation in this hike. From the top, you will be able to enjoy incredible views and hiking along a beautiful area.
Duration: 4 hours
Length: 6km
Difficulty: Medium-high
El Pinsapar hike
Hike from Grazalema to Benamahoma and enjoy walking along Spanish fir forest which was typical in the tertiary geological period, same as the laurisilva subtropical forest in Los Alcornocales natural park. This hike is one of the best hikes in Andalucia and Spain with a unique habitat.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Length: 11km
Difficulty: Medium-high
Linear Calzada medieval hike
This main Roman road was very important to connect the different Roman settlements in the mountains, like Ocuri, Iptuci and more, with the coastal cities like Carteia. It is an wasy walk in Andalucia that goes from Benaocaz to Ubrique.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Length: 4km
Difficulty: Low
Rio Majaceite hike
One of the most famous hikes in the area and a very easy hike for the family. You walk along the river Majaceite which carries lots of water and walk from Benamahoma to El Bosque.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Length: 4km
Difficulty: Low
Grazalema- Villaluenga del Rosario- Tambor del Llano
This hike is a difficult hike where you hike up to the mountain system south of Grazalema and walk along animal trails to Villaluenga del Rosario and finally to Tambor del llano. Moreover, this hike is long but with beautiful 360º views while walking along the Mediterranean forest and karstic geological formations.
Duration: 6-7 hours
Length: 22km
Difficulty: high
El Tambor del Llano hike 1
This hike in Grazalema natural park is a beautiful hike walking along plains, mediterranean forest and along different creeks. We start and finish at El Tambor del Llano.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Length: 12km
Difficulty: Medium
El Tambor del Llano hike 2
This hike in Grazalema natural park is a beautiful hike walking along plains, mediterranean forest, and beautiful karstic rock formations. We start and finish at El Tambor del Llano.
Duration: 4 hours
Length: 14km
Difficulty: Medium-high
Tours in Grazalema natural park and Cadiz province
If you enjoyed this blog with the hikes in Grazalema natural park in Cadiz, and are looking for a hiking holiday in Andalucia surrounded by nature, then keep reading. Moreover, I offer tours in the natural park of “Los Alcornocales”, “La Breña”, “Grazalema” and “El Estrecho”. I also focus on agrotourism and cultural tours including: Visits to the almadraba in a private boat; private sherry and Andalusian wine tastings; olive mill tours; Iberian ham tours; and white town tours in Cadiz province.
Guided hiking tours in Andalucia
Cadiz province is one of the most biodiverse provinces in mainland Spain. Habitats range from dense forest reminiscent of cloud forest to Mediterranean forest, dune systems, and more. Moreover, enjoy the incredible views of magical landscapes in Cadiz and the Strait of Gibraltar. Cadiz has over a third of its surface protected, while its climate and sunlight hours are similar to Canary Islands.
If you want to do any of the above hikes in El Estrecho natural park in Cadiz please click here to read the coastal hikes that I offer or contact me.
Join my hiking tour in Los Alcornocales natural park, where we will head to the heart of the natural park, to places where you cannot access without the permit of landowners. In fact, these places are very pristine areas with beautiful landscapes and with possibility to see roe deer, wildcats, common genet, Griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures and more. On the other hand in our guided nature tours you will discover the coastal hikes in Andalucia. Contact me if you are interested in doing any hikes in Grazalema natural park.
I lead the hikes in Andalucia above. Furthermore, I will also explain the habitats that we find and some the landmarks of the hikes. I will help you identify Mediterranean plants and explain the traditional, culinary or medicinal use that it had in the region.
Contact us
To learn more about these natural parks and hiking holiday in Spain, please click the big blue button to read more posts. And, If you have any ideas and suggestions, please do not hesitate to write us an email at info@explorelatierra.com.
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