World Heritage Sites : Doñana National Park

Overview

Doñana National Park is effectively the delta of the Guadalquivir, but unlike most rivers, this one has only one outlet to the sea, just below Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The rest of what used to be its delta has gradually been blocked off by a huge sandbar that stretches from the mouth of the Rio Tinto, near Palos, to the riverbank opposite Sanlúcar, and which the sea winds have gradually formed into high dunes. Behind this natural barrier stretch the marsh (marismas).

UNESCO describes Doñana as:
Notable for the great diversity of its biotopes, especially lagoons, marshlands, fixed and mobile dunes, scrub woodland and maquis. It is home to five threatened bird species. It is one of the largest heronries in the Mediterranean region and is the wintering site for more than 500,000 water fowl each year.

Doñana National Park covers an extensive area (50,720 hectares) between the coastline of La Rábida (Matalascañas) and the Guadalquivir estuary. These wetlands, sands, dunes and coastal marshes are visited by over 300 species of birds and are home to many rare species, including the endangered Iberian lynx, wild boar, imperial eagle and several species of deer. Some of the most spectacular sights are the blankets of colourful flamingos, the flocks of thousands of geese that descend on the dunes to swallow the sand they need for their digestion, and the wide variety of different species that can be seen together in the coastal marshes, including spoonbills, garza imperial, and a whole host of wading birds.

These coastal marshes (marisma) are the biggest ecosystem in the park (27,000 hectares). It is an area that has lost contact with the sea and the river that formed it and that has become marshlands which only have seasonal flooding. In autumn you see the first puddles form; in winter they become a shallow lake; in spring the surface of the water is covered with flowers and in summer they are a dusty plain.

Spring and winter are the best times to visit the park when most species of birds are in residence. In summer when the park is at its driest, many species have finished breeding and migrated, although eagles, vultures and other local inhabitants still abound.

There are no towns or villages in the park and despite many threats over the centuries the beautiful landscape has remained largely unaltered. Curiously several palaces can be seen in the park, built mainly by aristocrats over the centuries, including the Palace of Doña Ana Gomez de Mendoza, who retired here when the area was a great hunting ground, and who gave her name to the park.

Visits to the park

Visits to the park are strictly limited and no private vehicles are allowed in at all. Spanish legislation allows visitors on foot along the whole of the coastline between the sea and the impressive walls of sand dunes. On the west side of the Doñana, which is classified as a Natural Park, you are allowed visits - on foot, horseback or by four wheel drive with a pre established timetable depending on the time of the year. It is also possible to visit the outer limits of the park from the town of Matalascañas, where several companies organize visits by four wheel drive, on horseback and in horse and carriage.

Visitors Centres
El Acebuche
Crta. de El Rocío a Matalascañas, Km 12
21760 Matalascañas, Almonte, Huelva
Tel: 959 44 87 39
Opening times: 8am - 9pm (summer) and 8am – 7pm (winter)
Services: information, exhibition, interactive videos, a hologram that gives the sensation of flying over the park, ticket office, café, shop
El Acebuche is well worth a visit, even if you don’t have time for a long excursion. Starting from the Visitors Centre are signposted footpaths and guided walks (3 to 15 km) that lead to several observation posts and the Acebrón Palace (an ethnological museum next to a large shallow lagoon). These excursions are free - remember to take your binoculars.

La Rocina
Crta. de El Rocío a Matalascañas, Km 2
21750 El Rocío, Almonte, Huelva
Tel: 959 44 23 40
Opening times: 9am - 9pm (summer) and 9am – 7pm (winter)
Services: information, exhibition, short films, signposted footpaths around the Charco de la Bota (small lake also home to many species of aquatic birds), observation points

Palacio de El Acebrón
21750 El Rocío, Huelva
6 Km from "La Rocina" Visitors Centre
Tel: 959 50 61 62
Opening times: 9am - 9pm (summer) and 9am – 7pm (winter)
Services: information, exhibition, short films, footpaths and observation points

Jose Antonio Valverde
41849 Aznalcázar, Sevilla
Tel: 955 95 90 96
Opening times: 10.30am - 7pm (summer) and 10.30am – 6pm (winter)
Services: information, exhibition, short films, footpaths, café, shop

Fábrica de Hielo
Bajo de Guía, s/n, 11540 Sanlúcar de Barameda, Cádiz
Tel: 956 38 16 35
Opening times: 9 - 2pm and 4pm – 9pm (summer); 9am – 2pm and 4pm – 7pm (winter)
Services: information, exhibition, self-guided visit to exhibits, short films, footpaths, café, souvenir shop, terrace with view

Organised Visits
Buque Real Fernando
You can take a boat trip from Sanlúcar de Barrameda on the River Guadalquivir with stops at points of interest in Doñana National Park. You can reserve by phone (956 36 38 13), fax (956 36 21 96) or online by filling in the form at the following link. Pick up your tickets (and pay) at the Fábrica de Hielo Visitors Centre.
http://www.visitasdonana.com/reservas.asp
e-mail: info@visitasdonana.com

Four wheel drive visits
You can also visit the park in authorized vehicles, which have been specially adapted to reduce noise and pollution. The trip lasts about 4 hours and covers about 70kms through Doñana’s most typical ecosystems. You should reserve in advance - if you’re visiting between Easter and September or over popular bank holidays, it’s compulsory to reserve. Reservations can be made at the El Acebuche Visitors Centre or by phone (959 43 04 32) or fax (959 43 04 51)