What should you expect in my guided hiking tour in Cadiz?
Welcome to nature in Cadiz. My name is Carlos and I will be your lguide. I worked in the environmental and conservation field in Canada, UK and Spain for 5 years. In this private guided hiking tour in Cadiz province I try to mix both of my passions and focus on hikes along the coast in La Breña and Los Alcornocales natural parks. If you are looking to go hiking within Costa de la Luz then you are interested in this hiking tour.
If you want to do a hiking tour along the coast but not in a private tour in El Estrecho natural park, please click here. This tour is a 3-4 hour hiking and photography tour in the beatiful El Estrecho natural park
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, you will be seduced with 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.
In this guided nature tour we will discover the many culinary, medicinal and traditional use of Mediterranean plants found within Cadiz province. You will find many of these plants in your supermarket in lotions, herbal teas, and to flavour your food or even eat them as part of your main plate.
Please contact us in advance to book these guided hiking tours in Cadiz province to check on availability. Depending on the season some of the hikes are more recommended than others. If you are more interested in hiking a subtropical forest in the heart of Los Alcornocales natural park, click here.
Choose the guided hiking tour in Cadiz that you are most interested in from below:
I will lead you in these hiking trails to get the most out of them. 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. Did you know that these uses have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries?
These hikes last from 3.5 - 4.5h depending on the guided hiking tour in Cadiz that you choose. However, we can design longer or shorter hiking trails for those groups that are interested. Some of the following hikes are done in Los Alcornocales natural park, but most of the hikes shown in this page are undertaken in La Breña natural park, close to Conil de la Frontera and Vejer de la Frontera
Although I'm based in Vejer de la Frontera we can arrange transportation for your group from anywhere within Cadiz province. Moreover, having a transport with a driver will help you enjoy doing linear hiking routes and discover different types of habitats. Alternatively, if you prefer to use your own vehicle, we can meet at the end point and I can drive us (up to 4 guests) to the start of the hike.
La Brena Natural Park (Linear trail- Low Medium difficulty)
We will start our hiking route at the bottom of Vejer de la Frontera. Throughout this route we will take in great views of Vejer de la Frontera as well as the saltmarshes of Barbate, and Cape Trafalgar. We will visit one of the largest dovecotes in Europe while learning about some of the unique plant species we will find in this beautiful hike.
We will book transport with a driver or taxi for the return. Alternatively, if preferred we can use two vehicles (mine and yours).
Duration: 3.5h / Length: 12km / Habitats: Pine forest, Mediterranean shrub, grassland / Highlights: One of the largest dovecotes in Europe, views and possibility to see chameleons / Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of water.
Vejer de la Frontera history and hike to El Soto (Linear trail - Low Medium difficulty)
The hike starts at the tourism office of Vejer de la Frontera. First 1:30h we will learn about the history of Vejer and enjoy some of the best views of Vejer de la Frontera. From here we will head to the bottom where we will go to one of the only places in Europe with a possibility to see the Ibis Eremita (Northern Bald Ibis). Next, we will walk to the beginning of our trail where we will learn about local agriculture in Vejer. In this hike there are really nice views of Vejer de la Frontera
We will book transport with a driver or taxi for the return. Alternatively, if preferred we can use two vehicles (mine and yours).
Duration: 4h / Length: 12km / Habitats: Pine forest, agriculture, riparian, Mediterranean forest, grassland / Highlights: Viewpoints, history of Vejer de la Frontera. / Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes and and bring lots of water.
El Palmar in Vejer de la Frontera to Barbate (Linear trail - Low Medium difficulty)
First, to start the hike we will head to Trafalgar cape. From this sandy area of Cadiz we will begin a hiking route towards the Natural Park of La Breña, a great protected area in this area of Andalusia with incredible views from the top of the cliffs.
During the tour we will get to know four out of the five types of ecosystem that the Natural Park has. Did you know that these properties have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries?
While we walk along the beaches we will also get to know some curiosities of trap fishing, a technique widely used in the area, the almadraba. Along with this coastline, popularly called "the tuna coast", we will also see various defensive towers built at different times to prevent incursions into the sandy areas.
After touring La Breña and the Barbate marshes, we will continue the hiking route to Cape Trafalgar. On this hike we will take a walk next to its iconic lighthouse while we tell you about some events about the famous Battle of Trafalgar: a battle that in 1805 faced the Franco-Spanish fleet in these waters with the British Navy, commanded by Admiral Nelson.
Finally, from la Breña we will return to Trafalgar. We will book transport with a driver or taxi for the return. Alternatively, if preferred we can use two vehicles (mine and yours).
Duration: 3.5h / Length: 13.5km / Habitats: Pine forest, dune system, Mediterranean shrubs, cliff, and coastal / Highlights: Viewpoints, history of Cape Trafalgar and tradition of Bluefin Tuna almadraba of Barbate. / Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of water.
Conil de la Frontera-Roche (Circular trail - Low Medium difficulty)
Duration 4.5h / Length: 13km / Habitats: Pine forest, dune system, Mediterranean shrubs, cliff, and coastal / Highlights: Viewpoint, and tradition of Bluefin Tuna almadraba in Conil de la Frontera. / Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of water.
Los Alcornocales Natural Park Hike 1 (Linear trail - Medium difficulty)
We will book transport with a driver or taxi for the return. Alternatively, if preferred we can use two vehicles (mine and yours).
Duration 4h / Length: 12km / Habitats: Pine forest, eucalyptus forest, Mediterranean shrub and forest / Highlights: Viewpoint, and tradition of Bluefin Tuna almadraba in Tarifa. / Avoid: Rainy season - certain parts of the trail may be flooded after heavy rain / Recommendations: Wear hiking boots that cover the ankles and bring lots of water.
Los Alcornocales Natural Park Hike 2 (Linear trail- Medium High difficulty)
In this guided hiking tour within Cadiz we will hike to the top of a mountain in Los Alcornocales Natural Park. This hiking tour is for people who are used to hiking with irregular terrain. We will head to the top of the mountain to take in the views of the Strait of Gibraltar and surrounding habitats. Along the way to the top your local guide will lead you through a cork oak forest and take you to see a dolmen. Later, during part of the trail there can be some spiky plants so I recommend using long pants/trousers. Finally, at the end of our nature trail we will enjoy a great ending to the hike along the creek.
We will book transport with a driver or taxi for the return. Alternatively, if preferred we can use two vehicles (mine and yours).
Duration 4.5h / Length: 12.5km / Habitats: Mediterranean forest, Mediterranean shrubs, Pine forest, grassland / Highlights: Viewpoints, and tradition of Bluefin Tuna almadraba in Tarifa. Recommendations: Wear hiking boots that cover the ankles, long trousers as we will be hiking through some spiky areas, and bring lots of water.
