In writing this article about ‘five excursions from Huelva’, we have been faced with a dilemma. The province of Huelva is so interesting that it is difficult to narrow it down to just five excursions. In the Sierra de Aracena alone we can think of a lot of activities and spectacular places to visit.
That said, we are going to give you five ideas to inspire your trip around Huelva. If you would like to do any of them, at Andalucia 360 we are experts in designing tailor-made trips in Andalusia. Do not hesitate to contact us.
And without further ado.
Let’s start with the 5 excursions from Huelva that will make your trip unforgettable
What you will find here
SIERRA DE ARACENA
Since we visited the Sierra de Aracena for the first time in 2006, we fell in love with this land. It is a mid-mountain range with hilly profiles and lush forests of holm oaks, gall oaks and cork oaks. Chestnut trees, symbol of the area, have been cultivated in the Sierra de Aracena at least since the Middle Ages. It is a cool and humid place, with abundant rainfall and mists that make the experience nostalgic and lonely. This is not always the case; as part of Andalusia, sunny days abound here too.
A walk along the trails of the Sierra de Aracena (© Turismo Andaluz).
Mycology, chestnuts and Iberian pork are some of its hallmarks if we focus on gastronomy. Here you can eat excellently in almost any restaurant you see.
All this natural environment that we describe is protected as a natural park of the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche. The territory is dotted with charming little villages such as Alájar, Fuenteheridos, Robledo del Castañar, etc. The villages are connected by paths away from traffic and surrounded by vegetation.
Gruta de las Maravillas with its transparent waters (© Turismo Andaluz).
If you like artistic heritage, in Aracena (the largest village) you will enjoy ancient buildings, but it is not the only place. Almonaster la Real is home to one of the most unique buildings in Andalusia, an early medieval mosque built on the ruins of a Visigothic Christian temple.
Almonaster la Real at nightfall (© Turismo Andaluz).
Here is our proposal for a day trip in your own vehicle. If you want our opinion, the Sierra de Aracena deserves more than one day.
PROPOSED EXCURSION TO ARACENA
Early arrival in Aracena
Visit to the Gruta de las Maravillas (‘Cave of Wonders’)
Pedestrian tour of Aracena
Lunch in Aracena
Transfer to Alájar
Pedestrian tour of the village
Visit to peña de Arias Montano (Arias Montano’s rock)
Transfer to Almonaster la Real
Visit to the Castle and Mosque of Almonaster la Real
RIOTINTO MINES
Minas de Riotinto is a mining area located towards the north of the province of Huelva. This area is so rich in minerals that it has been exploited since ancient times for its abundance of copper, iron and silver. The Riotinto Mines are located in a stunning natural environment, surrounded by mountains and unique landscapes shaped by the hand of man. The mining history of the area dates back to Roman times, but it was in the 19th century that it experienced a boom with the arrival of foreign companies who took it upon themselves to modernise the mining operations. The British-owned Rio Tinto Company Limited operated the mines and built a major railway infrastructure for the export of the ore.
Corta Atalaya, Rio Tinto Mines (Luis M. Portillo Barrera, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 ES).
Under the protection of mining, the Barrio Obrero of Huelva, the Muelle de Riotinto, and the RC Recreativo de Huelva (the first football team in Spain) were born, among other things.
Today, the Riotinto Mines have been restored and have become a tourist attraction where you can visit the old mining infrastructures, such as the engine house or the mining railway. You can also take a tour of the open-cast mine and discover how the minerals were extracted in the past. There is also an underground gallery that can be visited with a guided tour.
Peña del Hierro Mine, Minas de Ríotinto (© Turismo Andaluz).
Without a doubt, the Riotinto Mines are a place full of history and industrial heritage that deserves to be visited to learn more about the mining history of the region. To make the following proposed excursion from Huelva, you will need your own vehicle to make the most of the day. But if you don’t want to complicate things and you want everything well organised, we recommend you to take a look at our private excursion to the Riotinto mines.
PROPOSED EXCURSION
Visit to the Mining Museum
Visit of the open pit mine Corta Atalaya
Visit to the Peña del Hierro mine
Lunch in Nerva
Riotinto Mine Train Tour
NIEBLA
Niebla is a beautiful village in Condado de Huelva with a very curious name. This town has a rich historical and cultural heritage that makes it a very attractive tourist destination.
One of the main singularities of Niebla is its importance in both Roman and Muslim times. It preserves the entire walled perimeter with its eight monumental access gates. Here the medieval constructions are superimposed on the Roman ones. Its imposing medieval fortress stands out, which dates from the 11th century and is in an excellent state of conservation. In the historic quarter you must see the church of San Martín and the church of Santa María de la Granada. The latter preserves the remains of the town’s old mosque. During the 9th century, Niebla was the capital of a ‘cora’ (province) of the Caliphate of Córdoba and during the Taifa period it was the capital of its own kingdom.
Side door of the Church of Santa María de la Granada, Niebla (© Turismo Andaluz).
If you take a trip from Huelva to Niebla you will be able to contemplate the reddish waters of the Tinto River, which owe their colour to the large quantities of iron oxide.
In addition, Niebla has a charming old town with cobbled streets and white houses, where you can enjoy picturesque corners and charming squares. In this town you can also visit the Museum of Contemporary Art of the province of Huelva, which houses an interesting collection of works by local artists.
Walls of Niebla in the fog (© Turismo Andaluz).
In short, Niebla is a perfect destination for those looking to learn about the history and culture of the Huelva region, as well as to enjoy its natural beauty and rich gastronomy. Without a doubt, a visit to this charming Andalusian town will be an unforgettable experience.
Dolmen del Soto near Niebla (© Turismo Andaluz).
PROPOSED EXCURSION
Visit to the Guzmanes Castle
Free or guided tour of the city (gates, squares, churches and Andalusian streets)
Lunch in Niebla
Visit to the Roman bridge
Dolmen of Soto de Trigueros
COLUMBIAN ROUTE
The Columbian sites are key towns and places in Christopher Columbus’ expedition to America. On 3 August 1492, three ships captained by Admiral Columbus set sail from the coast of Palos de la Frontera to what was then known as the Indies. The initial aim of the expedition was to reach West Asia, but they came across the American continent. Although some studies suggest that earlier contacts had been made between Europe and America and even Asia and America, this event would profoundly change the history of the entire planet.
We can say that there are three Columbian places par excellence: Moguer, Palos de la Frontera and the Monastery of La Rábida.
Cloister of the monastery of Santa Clara in Moguer (© Turismo Andaluz).
Moguer contributed the ship called ‘La Niña’ and a large part of the crew to the expedition. In the 15th century, Moguer was a booming town from which ships from the Canary Islands, North Africa and Europe departed and arrived. Today it is a charming town with many places to visit: the monastery of Santa Clara, the church of Nuestra Señora Mayor de la Granada, the convent of San Francisco, the Casa Natal de Juan Ramón Jiménez, the Casa Museo Zenobia y Juan Ramón Jiménez or the Plaza del Cabildo.
Muelle de las Carabelas near Palos de la Frontera (© Turismo Andaluz).
Palos de la Frontera also contributed ships and sailors to the expedition. In its streets we can visit the Gothic-Mudejar church on whose door the Royal Order of 1492 was promulgated. The fountain where water was supplied for the great voyage has even been preserved.
Monastery of La Rábida (© Turismo Andaluz).
Christopher Columbus stayed at the Monastery of La Rábida for some time before setting out on his voyage. During his stay he worked on the project for the sea voyage to America. Here you can visit the late medieval monastery in Gothic-Mudejar style and contemplate works commemorating the ‘Discovery of America’.
However, within the Columbus sites there are other lesser-known places or modern-day monuments that commemorate that epic voyage. On the outskirts of Huelva you can visit the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Cinta, where Columbus prayed to the Virgen de la Cinta after his first voyage.
Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cinta.
On the way to Palos de la Frontera you will find the monument to the Discovering Faith. It is a huge commemorative sculpture donated by the United States to Spain in 1929. Finally, there is the Muelle de las Carabelas, a dock at the mouth of the Tinto River where you can access three replicas of the ships used by Columbus and his crew.
PROPOSED EXCURSION
Monument to Fé Descubridora (the Discovering Faitha)
Monastery of La Rábida
Muelle de las Carabelas (Caravels Wharf)
Lunch in Palos de la Frontera
Visit to Palos de la Frontera
Visit to Moguer
Return to Huelva
DOÑANA NATIONAL PARK
Last but not least, a visit to the Doñana National Park is a must on a list of excursions from Huelva. We are talking about one of the largest reserves of animal life in Europe. The protected area is made up of large marshes, pine forests and dunes that form a transition between the Atlantic Ocean and the wetlands. This territory has been formed with the sediments of the Guadalquivir River over thousands of years, so we can say that it is made up of small pieces of almost all of Andalusia.
Charco de la Boca in front of the hermitage of El Rocío.
In Doñana you have the option of accessing the national park by conventional 4×4 for private excursions and 4×4 bus for group excursions. You can also go horseback riding on the beach, bird watching, hiking trails. But you can also enjoy the “rociera culture” in El Rocío. Here you will find the sanctuary where one of the most devout virgins of Andalusia, La Virgen del Rocío, is venerated.
Acebrón Palace in the surroundings of the Doñana National Park.
Almost all of the national park is protected with access restrictions, so you will have to have an authorised company to accompany you, but there are areas on the periphery of the park that are just as interesting. We are talking about the Rocina stream, the Palacio del Acebrón visitor centre, the Zampullín bird-watching area and the Pilas dehesa.
Although we may fall in love with Doñana from a scenic point of view, its true value is environmental. It is a magnificent reserve of animals, mainly birds that migrate every year between Europe and Africa. If you enter the park it is not difficult to find majestic deer, fallow deer and wild boar. Occasionally it is possible to see the imperial eagle or the griffon vulture. Much more elusive are the Iberian lynx and the otter. But what will surely accompany you during your stay will be the flamingos, herons, storks, geese and ducks.
Excursion in 4×4 in the Doñana National Park.
You can make a trip from Huelva in just one day, but as in Aracena, we recommend you to spend at least one night in Matalascañas or El Rocío. It is worth enjoying the tranquillity of such a natural space. If you want to have everything well organised, you have to take a look at our excursion to Doñana or contact us so that we can design a tailor-made activity for you in the area.
PROPOSED EXCURSION
Hiking along the Rocina stream
Visit to the Acebrón Palace
Visit to the town of El Rocío
Lunch at El Rocío
4×4 excursion in the south
MAP OF EXCURSIONS FROM HUELVA
We can think of a lot of excursions from Huelva, this land is full of truly special places. However, we think that these are the 5 excursions from Huelva with which you will get to know the province to perfection. We leave you a map so that you can get an idea of the destinations and the routes (don’t forget to activate and deactivate the layers to see it more clearly).
