There are many reasons to visit Doñana. From the devotional feeling aroused by the Virgen del Rocío to the naturalistic concerns, through photography or hedonistic pleasures offered by a natural space full of peace and tranquility.
In this post we are going to give you a lot of reasons to plan your trip to Doñana National Park. And if you want everything organized, just contact us and we will prepare the perfect getaway for you.
What you will find here
TO KNOW THE MOST IMPORTANT MARSHLANDS IN EUROPE
The marshlands are the key areas of the Doñana National Park and the main reason to visit this place. They are responsible for millions of birds to feed, breed or simply use it as a way station on their long journeys. The marshlands is formed from the millenary sedimentation of silts and clays that create an impermeable soil where water remains for long periods of time.
Visiting the marshes of Doñana is, without a doubt, one of the excursions from Huelva essential. Se trata de uno de los ocho lugares de Andalucía incluidos en la lista de Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO. En el siguiente enlace podéis to know the complete list.
Doñana marshes at sunset.
TO TAKE LONG AND UNFORGETTABLE WALKS
If there is a place where the walks along the beach can be infinite, that is the beach of Doñana. From Matalascañas we can take two directions, north or south. Both options are spectacularly beautiful and run through virtually untouched areas, without the road to the south is the one that enters the national park.
The beach is the place where the sea and the land meet. The tides vary this boundary throughout the day. Between the water and the beginning of the dunes there are small and resistant plants exposed to the winds and waves. Large flocks of animals sometimes gather on the beaches.
Sunset walk in Doñana (©Turismo Andaluz).
PHOTOGRAPHING UNIQUE SPACES AND MOMENTS
THE DUNES AND THE “CORRALES”
The wind shapes the landscape of Doñana and makes the sand dunes advance slowly every day. It is not possible to walk on your own inside the national park, but it is possible to see the dunes from the beach or enjoy a 4×4 route through them. The simplicity and beauty of their shapes make them the target of all photographers who visit Doñana.
The “corrales” are spaces with vegetation enclosed by dunes. They concentrate humidity and are a place of refuge and feeding for many animals. The combination of the green of the pines and junipers with the yellow of the sands fascinates visitors.
Corral enclosed among the dunes of Doñana (© Turismo Andaluz).
THE FIELDS OF CROSSES
As the dunes advance, they cover and dry out the pine trees. When the dunes disappear, the skeletons of the trees remain, forming a landscape known as “Campos de Cruces” (fields of crosses).
Field of crosses in Doñana (© Espacio Natural de Doñana).
THE VEINS
The small elongated islands that can be seen in the marsh are known as “vetas” (veins). In them grows vegetation that serves as a refuge and nesting place for birds and other animals. You can capture their reflection in the water on calmer days, locate animals with the right photographic lens or simply enjoy its scenic beauty.
Veins in the Doñana marshes.
SUNSET IN THE MARSHLAND
Sunset is one of the main reasons to visit the Doñana National Park. It is the moment when many animal species become active, but above all, it is the moment when the aquatic surface mimics the sky. Passing through the whole range of colors of the sunset, it is the photographic moment par excellence.
Sunset in Doñana National Park.
TO GO INTO A THICK FOREST
The gallery forests are another of the singularities of Doñana and, in our opinion, a little overshadowed by the marshes, wildlife and beaches. These are very dense forests that almost completely cover the trails. They are made up of trees such as willows (Salix sp.) and large cork oaks (Quercus suber), stone pines (Pinus pinea), strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo) and white poplars (Populus alba) and very varied shrubs such as arraclanes (Frangula alnus), several species of ferns, brambles (Rubus ulmifolius) and honeysuckles (Lonycera sp. ) cover the ground and build walls of vegetation that limit the transit spaces. One of the most interesting places to get to know this type of forest is the Rocina stream.
Doñana forest in winter.
CONTEMPLATE MAGICAL ANIMALS
Doñana is one of the main wildlife reserves in Andalusia, discover it all in a private and exclusive excursion.
IN THE COTOS
The “cotos” are enclosed or delimited areas. In the Doñana National Park, the scrub or undergrowth grows mainly on a sandy substrate. Although at present there are large stone pines, this species was introduced by humans in the eighteenth century. It is the place frequented by large herbivores. The reserves surround the marshes. Deer, fallow deer and wild boar abound, although it is also possible to see the famous Iberian lynx.
Deer in a reserve in Doñana.
IN THE VERA
The vera (border) is a narrow strip that makes the transition between the marsh and the cotos. Here, fauna and flora from both ecosystems coexist with other ecosystems typical of the vera. The humidity emanating from the sands allows the growth of grasses, ferns and reeds that remain evergreen. They are a reserve of food for the summer and here you can see the “mostrenca” cow and the “marismeño” horse. Sometimes the side of the river is home to portentous cork oaks called “aviaries”, as their twisted branches serve as seats for the nests of herons and spoonbills.
Marshland horses by the marsh.
IN THE CAÑOS
The caños (stream) are witnesses to the process of formation of the marshes of Doñana. In the past they were the rivers that flowed through the Guadalquivir delta and, although they are still the arteries of water channeling, today they are integrated into the landscape. They can be identified by the abundance of bulrushes (Typha latifolia) and reeds (Phragmites australis). They are places with greater depth where the water remains even during the summer. With luck and skill you can observe the elusive otter and other bird species such as the grey heron or the Purple Gallinule. The different species of fish that inhabit the national park are also abundant.
VISIT CHARMING VILLAGES
In Huelva there are many charming villages and in the surroundings of Doñana there are four villages worth visiting: Aznalcázar, Almonte, Hinojos and Pilas. In any of them you can get to know its beautiful historic center of whitewashed white houses. You can not miss in any of these villages a beautiful church with the characteristic bell towers and belfries of western Andalusia. Later we will prepare a specific post about these villages of Huelva.
TO KNOW EL ROCÍO AND ITS RELIGIOSITY
The village of El Rocio is a hamlet of Almonte, where since the fifteenth century the Virgen del Rocio is venerated. This devotion makes thousands of faithful pilgrimage to the village every year during the month of May. The pilgrims cross the Doñana National Park on horseback or in horse-drawn carts and stay for a few festive days in the village. The coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and the founding of the Christian church are commemorated there. This devotion is deeply rooted in western Andalusia, although some people even come from the area of Almeria (the easternmost part of Andalusia).
We do not recommend visiting Doñana on these dates if you are not completely interested in the Christian festivity, as accommodation is practically impossible if you do not book well in advance and activities are limited. But in a good visit to Doñana you can not miss a walk through the village to visit the Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Rocío.
Hermitage of El Rocío, always surrounded by visitors and horses.
SAVORING THE GASTRONOMY OF THE MARSHLANDS
Doñana and its surroundings produce food of extraordinary quality. About its ingredients, game meats or the “mostrenca” cow are some of the singularities of this land. The seafood and bivalves are another key of the gastronomy of Doñana that you should not miss. If you want names of specific dishes we suggest a few: marismeña veal with rice, chickpeas with spinach, caldereta del Rocío, picadillo de choco. If you want to know more we recommend you to read our post about Huelva’s gastronomy.
Rider riding next to the hermitage of El Rocío (© Turismo Andaluz).
NOW THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE TO VISIT DOÑANA
DISCOVER THE MOST COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE EXCURSION
