2 de January de 2023
Sierra Norte of Guadalajara is a natural park located in the province of Guadalajara, in Castile-La Mancha. It is in close proximity to Madrid, only 100 km away from the capital, making it a perfect getaway combining the big city and the great outdoors in one trip.
This is a very special destination with fantastic weather conditions all year round thanks to its altitudinal variety and diversity of landscapes: mountain ranges, river valleys, vast forest and beautiful meadows. Among nature, valuable cultural and ethnographic heritage find its way in, being black architecture one of the most popular features in the quirky towns.
Another unmissable location in the Sierra Norte of Guadalajara is the Hayedo de Tejera Negra, a stunning beech tree forest turned into a nature reserve of outstanding ecological value. The forest is bursting with wildlife such as birds of prey, roe deers, wolves, otters, martens or wild cats.
Add Sierra Norte of Guadalajara to your ecotourism bucket list and get lost by foot, bike or canoe in the network of trails and rivers. Enjoy wonderful local gastronomy and learn about the magnificent ethnographic heritage and cultural offer. Find out more about the destination and affiliated accommodation services and activities to help plan your adventure in the section below.
Where to sleep in Sierra Norte of Guadalajara
La Alquería de Valverde
La Alquería de Valverde is a set of fully equipped apartments located in Zarzuela de Galve, in Valverde de los Arroyos. This is one of the popular black towns of Guadalajara and a heaven for bird and astronomy lovers. In the apartments you can find equipment for bird watching in the morning and telescopes for stargazing at night.
Casa Rural La Tormenta
La Tormenta is a rural house located in Albendiego, a quiet town on the banks of the Bornova river, popular for its red sandstone houses. This is a perfect spot to enjoy the privileged natural environment and explore the history and culture of the place.
La Tormenta opened its doors in 2017 and the house was built by the owners, who took care of every detail using sustainable and locally sourced materials. There are solar panels and a set of sustainability practices have been implemented throughout to reduce the footprint associated with every stay.
Casa Rural La Perla
Casa Rural La Perla is the former residence of a mining engineer dating from the end of the 19th century, the golden era of silver exploitation in Hiendelaencina. This beautiful stone house is an adults-only accommodation and a good neuralgic point to explore the region.
Al Viento del Ocejón
Al Viento del Ocejón is a rural house located in El Espinar. It is a black slate house built in a traditional way according to the style and regulations of the Black Architecture of Guadalajara. Each room in the house is unique with different decorations and the setting is ideal for small groups of family and friends.
The house is perfectly located at the Pico Ocejón valley to access stunning hiking trails, including the Pozas del Aljibe route. The sky is pitch black at night, favoring an impressive starry sky and there are plenty of beautiful towns nearby to explore during the day.
El Huerto del Abuelo
El Huerto del Abuelo (grandpa’s patch in English) is a rural house with a 5 green star rating located in the town of Almiruete, the epicenter of the natural park. From the house you can easily visit the Hayedo de Tejera Negra and find plenty of options to go hiking, cycling, horse-back riding or even rowing in a canoe.
Casa Rural Pájaro Bobo
The Pájaro Bobo Rural House is located in a privileged location at the foothill of the Sierra del Alto Rey, in the lovely town of Bustares. The accommodation has a cozy and warm design that makes you feel at home. It is located in a quiet place where nature sets the pace of life, perfect to relax and unwind from busy life.
Ecotourism activities in Sierra Norte of Guadalajara
At La Tormenta rural house you can find plenty of ecotourism activities options to do. The mountain guides and environmental education professionals put all their love into designing quality activities in nature such as guided hiking treks, electric bikes routes, wildlife discovery workshops, mycological day trips or stargazing experiences.
La Tormenta is focussed on sustainability and all their activities aim to raise awareness on the local environment and traditions to make sure ecotourism is a tool for development in the Sierra Norte of Guadalajara natural park. 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.