21 de March de 2023
Spring is without a doubt the best season for ecotourism in Spain. The cold winter months are getting out of the way with longer days and milder temperatures, thus everywhere the eye can see is blooming with new smells, vibrant colors and beautiful sounds.
Keep on reading to find out some little wonders that appear in our natural areas in Spring time and plan your next ecotourism getaway to experience nature at its fullest whilst discovering amazing destinations. Enjoy!
The return of the Egyptian vulture to the Sobrarbe-Pyrenees Geopark
Starting in April, the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) comes from Africa to the Sobrarbe-Pyrenees Geopark, in Huesca, to stay for the spring and summer. This migratory bird of prey is at vulnerable risk of extinction, measuring between 58 and 70 cm in length with a wingspan of up to 165 cm and a weight from 1.6 to 2.5 kg.
This scavenger vulture is known to gobble up the leftovers of the skins and meat that remain between the bones of dead animals, a diet that it completes with other food such as insects and eggs. The Egyptian vulture tends to nest in the same place, arriving in spring to lay the eggs.If you would like to find out more about the Egyptian vulture in Sobrarbe-Pyrenees Geopark, the Active Ecotourism and Adventure Sports company Nómadas del Pirineo offers a guided kayak tour to learn to spot this vulture at its best.
Where to sleep in Sobrarbe-Pyrenees Geopark
The Sobrarbe-Pyrenees Geopark has an ecotourism accommodation offer of three hotels, six rural houses and tourist apartments. Whether you are traveling as a couple, with family or friends, it is possible to find the accommodation that suits you best.
The blossom of the Daffodil of Sierra Nevada
During the month of April, the blooming of a very special daffodil (Narcissus nevadensis Pugsley subsp. nevadensis) takes place in Sierra Nevada National Park, in Granada. This flower has been almost at risk of extinction due to the very specific climate conditions that need to grow and bloom. In Spring, it can be found at an altitude between 1400 and 1950 meters, in flooded meadows next to fountains, streams and springs.
Sierra y Sol is an experienced company in Sierra Nevada that offers incredible guided hiking trails in the Andalusian mountains. They recommend seeing the Sierra Nevada Daffodil at the Hoya de Pedraza Botanical Garden, a wild garden where you can also find other unique plants and flowers of the area.
Where to sleep in Sierra Nevada
10 establecimientos conforman la oferta de alojamiento ecoturista en Sierra Nevada. Entre ellos hay cuatro hoteles, cuatro casas rurales, un hostal y una granja escuela de Educación ambiental. Una forma inmejorable de realizar una escapada un poco más larga y conocer el Parque Nacional, Parque Natural y Reserva de la Biosfera.
Spotting the beauty of orchids in Alto Tajo
From the end of May in the Comarca Molina – Alto Tajo UNESCO Global Geopark in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, blooms a very special orchid. This is the Orchis Ustulata Orchid, whose name comes from Latin and means burned, referring to the purple color of the hull, or upper part of the flowers, that contrasts with the white color of the rest of the flower. In addition, the Ustulata is one of the clearest examples of the etymology of the word Orchis and its translation as testicle, since the tubers of this plant resemble a lot like the male sexual organ.
The ecotourism activity company Sentir Alto Tajo offers guided walks and activities to learn about the local biodiversity. They have identified several spots where to see the Ustulata Orchid, which is known to bloom in mountain environments of cool and dry soils.
Where to sleep in Molina – Alto Tajo Geopark
If you are going on an ecotourism getaway to see this orchid and explore this fantastic destination, we recommend you to stay in the Alto Tajo Natural Park, in Casas el Salto, an ecotourism resort of cozy rural houses in the middle of nature.
In search of the Rose of Alexandria in Ambroz-Cáparra
The chestnut groves of Ambroz-Cáparra, in the north of Extremadura, turn pink-purple in April with the flowering of the Paeonia broteroi, known as Rose of Alexandria. This flower tends to find its home in forest spaces, as it likes shaded conditions. Each plant only grows one beautiful and very toxic flower of about 8 cm. Wild animals tend to stay away from it so the flower can be easily identified by walkers.
Vive Ambroz is a local ecotourism company that offers guided activities to learn about the ecosystem and wildlife in Ambroz-Cáparra. They will lead you to discover and see by yourself the beauty of the Rose of Alexandria flower.
Where to sleep in Ambroz-Cáparra
There are many accommodations accredited by the Ecotourism Club in Spain for your ecotourism getaway in the Ambroz Valley: a hotel, three rural houses, and two tourist hostels.
The flowering of the marjoram in Sierra Espuña
Starting in April and lasting up until the end of August depending on climate conditions, in Sierra Espuña, Murcia, it is possible to witness the spectacular flowering of the marjoram (Thymus membranaceus Boiss). Its white flowers can be found on dry and stony soils, among the clearings in the scrub and the thyme groves.
The marjoram is a medicinal plant known to help the purification of blood and for being diuretic, digestive and disinfectant. It is also good for healing wounds, toothaches and for treating colds, coughs and throat discomforts. The ecotourism company Aktiveco offers guided walks to explore the area and learn about plants and local biodiversity and workshops of natural cosmetic creams and ointments with extracts of wild marjoram.
Where to sleep in Sierra Espuña
In Sierra Espuña there are six ecotourism accommodations certified with Soy Ecoturista where you can enjoy a fantastic stay: two hostels, two rural houses, a campsite and a youth hostel and a forest school with overnight accommodation.
Do not miss out this Spring and enjoy a blooming ecotourism getaway in Spain!The Ecotourism Club in Spain – Soy Ecoturista groups together destinations and companies which guarantee, by fulfilling a series of requirements, their commitment to conservation and local sustainable development. That is why it has created its own brand “Ecotourist in Spain” and the website www.ecotouristinspain.com, where you can find protected areas, accommodation and companies which offer their tourism services, as well as experiences and activities committed to the preservation of the area in which they take place.