Best hikes from Tarifa
Do you want to get to know the best hikes nearby Tarifa? There are many alternatives to kitesurfing in Tarifa in the rare times when the sea is still. Below, I recommend serveral hikes in El Estrecho and Los Alcornocales natural parks.
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 any of these hikes from Cadiz. I do hikes in La Breña, El Estrecho 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 El Estrecho is related to the horizontal migration of fish and marine mammals, and the vertical migration of birds. It has been recognized as a natural park since 2003 and it is part of the Mediterranean intercontinental biosphere reserve, which goes from Malaga to Morocco.
El Estrecho natural park is in the Strait of Gibraltar, between Spain and Morocco. El Estrecho natural park is an incredibly diverse park and is super important for the migration of different species. It has the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea, and you can find it between two continents. It is at the most southern part of mainland Spain, some areas only 14km from Africa.
Below are just a few of the hikes from Tarifa.
Hikes in El estrecho natural park nearby Tarifa
Please click here to see all the hikes that you can do in El Estrecho natural park. I can do a hiking tour in all these hikes in El Estrecho natural park. All the hikes are less than 30 mins away from Tarifa, and some start in Tarifa.
These are some of the photos of the hikes that you can do. If you are interested in doing a guided hiking tour in El Estrecho natural park please do not hesitate to contact me at info@explorelatierra.com
Hikes in Los Alcornocales natural park nearby Tarifa
Los Alcornocales is one of the largest natural parks in Spain with 174000 hectares. The cork oak forest in Los Alcornocales natural park is the largest cork oak forest in Spain and one of the largest in the world. In this natural park you will find the only place in continental Europe with a subtropical forest, laurisilva. It has been recognized as a natural park since 1989 and it is part of the Mediterranean intercontinental biosphere reserve, which goes from Malaga to Morocco.
Laurisilva is a forest found in wet or cloudy areas, usually in valleys or surrounding creeks where temperatures do not drop below 8-9ºC . The species that compose this subtropical forest in Europe are rhododendron, bay laurel, holly, ferns, alder, laurustine and more.
Below are just a few of the hikes that you can do nearby Tarifa in Los Alcornocales natural park. Please take into account, that for many of these you will need to ask for a permit. If you want to do a guided hiking tour I can arrange the permits and lead you on the hikes while talking about the history, interpretation of the landscape, and the culinary, medicinal and traditional uses that the plants and trees have.
Hiking route from Facinas to Puertollano – linear hike in Facinas.
The linear walk in Los Alcornocales natural park (yellow) that will take you 4:00h. It is best if you have a taxi who can pick you up at the end. If not you will have to follow an animal trail near the gastronomical association of Puertollano.
In this hike you will appreciate pine and cork oak forests, views of the Strait of Gibraltar and dolmens near Facinas. You will start from the top of Facinas and hike from over 150m to over 600m.
Below you will find the map and can follow the yellow route to do this hike in Los Alcornocales natural park in Cadiz province. The route is a medium-high difficulty of around 11.5km long. Please take enough water with you and wear long trousers. On the way down to Puertollano you will have to follow an animal trail and there are many spikes.
The circular route (red) has great views of Tarifa and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is a medium difficulty hike near Tarifa of 8.3km.
Hike El Valle de Ojen – Canuto de Risco Blanco – Arroyo de San Carlos del Tiradero.
To enter this land I recommend to ask for permission and call in advance to ensure that that day there is no hunting. Moreover, if you do the Canuto de Risco Blanco hike in Los Alcornocales natural park you must have a permit. Call 856587508, or send an email to this natural park to ask for a permit when you hike here.
The parking spot would be the blue icon. The full Hike from the parking and back is around 10-11km with medium difficulty. The drive to there is usually close and you have to ask for a permit to drive in.
Rio de la Miel and Guadalmesí-Llanos de Juncal hikes.
To enter this land I recommend to ask for permission and call in advance to ensure that that day there is no hunting. Moreover, if you do the Llanos de Juncal hike in Los Alcornocales natural park you must have a permit. Llanos de juncal hike is in the north part of the yellow hike. Call 856587508, or send an email to this natural park to ask for a permit when you hike here.
The Rio de la Miel hike is a circular medium hike (red hike) 10km length. It gets very busy in the Rio de la miel section, so avoid going during a bank holiday or weekend. The yellow hike has the llanos de juncal walk as well as the Guadalmesi hike. You can find lausilva subtropical forest in these hikes. The yellow hike is a circular 17km hike with high difficulty.
If you are interested in doing a guided hiking tour surrounded by nature and learn about local plants and culture then keep reading. Furthermore, this natural park has the largest cork oak forest in Spain. If you are interested in learning more about cork, please click here.
Full day hiking tours from Tarifa
If you enjoyed this blog with the best hikes in Los Alcornocales and El Estrecho natural parks nearby Tarifa and are looking for hiking tours surrounded by nature in Cadiz province, then keep reading.
I offer a guided private hiking tour in the previous hikes as well as in La Breña natural park. 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.
Contact us
To learn more about Cadiz’s hiking, gastronomy and culture, please click the big blue button to read more posts. If you have any ideas and suggestions, please do not hesitate to write us an email at info@explorelatierra.com. Please read our privacy policy before you get in touch with us. We will take your new recommendations into consideration.
