Park of los Alcornocales

Natural Park in the province of Cadiz

The Natural Park of los Alcornocales extends its 170,000 hectares in the southeast of the province of Cadiz, from the tip of Tarifa to the Sierra Grazalema Natural Park. Crossed by numerous rivers and streams, there is a great diversity of landscapes and landforms up to 1091 m above sea level at the Aljibe mountain.

The narrow low valleys of fluvial origin called “canutos” which characterize its southern part contain tertiary vegetation. The cork oak, the alcornocal that gives the park its name, together with “quejigo”, the Portuguese oak, form rich forests in which rhododendrons, wild olives, carob trees and dwarf palms also flourish.

To these canutos, the “cork oak kingdom”, the largest cork oak forest in the Iberian Peninsula, succeeds between 300 and 900 metres above sea level. Like the heather, other plants typical of the primitive Mediterranean forest are also mixed in.

These preserved areas of the park are also home to many mammals and birds of prey. Wild cats, wild boars, deer, otters and wild boars are flown over it by booted eagles, owls, wild vultures…

Jimena de la Frontera overlooks its Moorish castle, Casteller de la Frontera, surrounded by medieval walls, Benalup-Casasas, which gives access to the cave of Tajo de las Figuras and its rock paintings are just a few examples.
In addition to the fishing allowed by the numerous rivers and streams in the park, mushroom picking, which is possible in the forest, mountaineering, speleology, canyoning, hiking and horseback riding, will convince nature lovers.

For hikes, it is necessary to obtain an entry permit from one of the Park’s Interpretation Centres.

Access: the park is crossed by the A-381 axis which connects Algeciras to Jerez de la Frontera.