Sierra de Grazalema

Grazalema National Park

The Sierra de Grazalema is one of Spain's most ecologically outstanding areas and in 1984 was declared the first natural park in Andalucia. The park is home to over 1,200 species of plant some of which are found nowhere else. The best known of these is the Spanish Fir, or Pinsapo, which has grown here since before the last ice age. The other flora is clearly Mediterranean and includes holm oak, cork, carob and wild olive. Our apartments make an excellent base for exploring Grazalema.

 
Spanish Fir or Pinaspo
The Spanish Fir or Pinsapo
Prehistoric Art in the Cueva de la Pileta

A combination of relatively high rainfall and limestone geology has produced a landscape of high rocky ridges and deep caves and the park contains two of Spain’s best known caves. The Cueva Hundidero-Gato with its biggest cavern measuring 4km long and an entrance of 60m tall is Andalucia's largest cave system and the Cueva de la Pilata, which has art dating from the Upper Palaeolithic era 25,000 years ago.

Grazalema has one of the largest nesting colonies of griffon vultures in Europe as well as Egyptian Vultures and Golden Eagles. The geographical location of Grazalema makes it an important staging area in spring and autumn for the huge number of migrant birds moving between Africa and Europe.
 

Note that all of these walks are either circular or return you to your starting point. These walks are detailed in the map pack that we can supply free of charge.
This is a very easy (30 minute) walk, which leads to the Cueva del Gato, which you can see just above the waterfall. This picture was taken on an August afternoon and there were no other tourists around - proof that this area of Spain is still quiet and unspoiled.
 
The village of Grazalema is well worth a visit and in addition to the walks listed above above, we can supply you with details of eight circular walks which begin and end in this beautiful white village. These walks are between 4 and 11 Km and take between 1 and 3 hours.
 

The following is a list of bird species which have been recorded in the park:

Alpine Swift, Bee-eater, Black Kite, Black Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Black-shouldered Kite,
Blue Rock Thrush, Bonelli's Eagle, Booted Eagle, Corn Bunting, Crag Martin, Eagle Owl, Egyptian Vulture, Firecrest, Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Griffon Vulture, Hobby, Honey Buzzard, Hoopoe, Nightingale, Peregrine, Red-billed Chough, Red-legged Partridge, Red-rumped Swallow, Rock Bunting, Rock Thrush, Scops Owl, Short-toed Eagle, White Stork, White-rumped Swift
 
Return to National Parks page.