Doñana National Park

Though Doñana Nature Reserve is not on the Costa del Sol, it is the largest and most important wetlands of Spain as well as among the few remaining ones in Europe. Also known as The Parque Nacional de Doñana it is a well known area for migratory birds and the worlds key conservation centre.

The Doñana National Park consists of vast coastal marshlands complex in the floodplain of the lower Guadalquivir River and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a widespread system of stabilized and active dunes. It is home to many migratory birds like the summer visitors from Africa and winter visitors from both Northern Europe and Central Europe, including the world's largest colonies of Spanish imperial eagles and flamingoes.

The nature park has huge contrasts of beaches, coastal lagoons, pine woods, rice fields, riverbank forests and shifting dunes that cover more than 280,000 hectares of land. You will need to reserve 2-3 days to cover the park to really appreciate its beauty. The area is dedicated to nature conservation and is owned entirely by the state. Activities like bee keeping, fishing, stock grazing and charcoal production are permitted as they are compatible with conservation. Although access is controlled, official guides can take you on half day trips to explore the environment.

The closest centre for visitors to El Rocio is known as La Rocina, which is hardly five hundred meters off the village and just near the Matalascanas road. It is a 3km trail where you will enjoy the nature along with marshland of Charco de la Boca and the freshwater lake, whose water finally goes to the Madres de Las Marismas at El Rocio. You can visit all three types of ecosystems that are in the park; i.e. matorral, dunes and marshlands. There are few bird hides, five to be more precise along the trails and if lucky you can spot hoopoes, Savi's warblers and purple gallinules. However if you visit again it wont be the same as the exposure to each environment changes with the seasons.

The best way to visit Doñana is by rennting a car at Seville Airport.