The first Spanish National Park
Picos de Europa is the first Spanish National Park to receive this classification. Its origin dates back to 1918, when don Pedro Pidal, Marquis of Villaviciosa, helped establish the law to create Montaña de Covadonga National Park. Since 30 May 1935, it has been called Picos de Europa National Park.

The Picos de Europa consist of three important massifs that go by the names of the Eastern Massif or Andara, Central Massif or Urrielles and Western Massif or Cornión. The climate is characterized by humidity and constant rainfall, a fact that is determined by its proximity to the sea (barely 20 kilometres). The presence of snow is accentuated during the winter months, however, it is not unusual for there to be perpetual snow. The Park's special climate means that there are frequent fog banks, something that is greatly feared by mountaineers. As for its orography, the Park has an exceptional relief, where high summits alternate with deep gorges and canyons. The park boasts 200 heights of over 2,000 metres, and vertical drops of over 2,300 m. The Central Massif is the most abrupt of the three that make up the Park and the greatest heights can be found there: Torrecerredo (2,646 m), the highest summit in the Picos, Naranjo de Bulnes (2,519 m) or Pico Tesorero (2,570 m). The Western Massif is the most extensive, and it possesses high summits, like Peña Santa de Castilla (2,596 m), intermingled with meadows, hillside forests, beech and oak groves and moors. The famous Covadonga lakes can be found on this massif. The Eastern massif, shorter and lower, blends sharp crag with green pastures. The Park is crossed by four rivers channelled in deep gorges: la Hermida defile, crossed by the river Deva; los Beyos defile, by the river Sella; la 'Garganta Divina',(Divine Gorge) through which the river Cares runs, and La India defiles, though which the river Duje flows. There are numerous viewpoints in the Park from where you can admire its beauty. An interesting alternative is to use Fuentedé funicular, via which you can go up to a height of more than 1,800 metres above sea level. Type of area: National Park and Biosphere Reserve Surface: 64.660 Hectares

Alpine site presided by Monte Perdido
This National Park is characterised by high peaks and steep slopes, in which the peak of Monte Perdido stands (3,335 m), topped by its glacier, rising up over the entire site.

It forms a stunning landscape ensemble dominated by high peaks. It possesses a wide variety of ecosystems, with both Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, translating as a rich and diverse flora and fauna. The massif of Monte Perdido (3,355 m) presides over its orography, with the summits of Tres Sorores, from where the valleys of Ordesa, Pineta, Añisclo and Escuaín come from. A sharply contrasting landscape: the extreme aridity of the high ground, where the rainwater and thaw filter through cracks and holes, contrasts with the green valleys covered in forests and meadows, where the water forms waterfalls and travels along canyons and ravines.

A crystal-clear paradise of peace and tranquility
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park has the characteristics of Pyrenean areas of high mountain, which gives it its main distinguishing feature water.

This park's setting is characterised by crystal-clear waters that run through the numerous lakes and rivers, that enrich this Pyrenean landscape. Next to the torrents and waterfalls stand leafy forests which, when its snows, are stunning. However, not only is the landscape noteworthy, its biological treasures are extraordinary. It is a true paradise for nature lovers: lakes, torrents, waterfall, peat bogs, rocky ground, rugged peaks and leafy forests of hooked pine, fir, wild pine, birch and beech, are home to interesting alpine or northern plants and animals.

Sea refuge in the Rías Baixas (southern coast of Galicia)
Located in the province of Pontevedra, the National Park of the Atlantic islands including the Cíes Islands, and Ons, Cortegada and Sálvora all in the Rías Baixas (southern coast of Galicia).An ecosystem sea-land with an interesting and important colony of sea birds that live on it.

The park has four groups of islands that are distributed between the estuaries of Vigo, Pontevedra and Arousa. Home and shelter to one of the most numerous colonies of seagulls on the Spanish coast and other species such as the shag, cormorant, the common shag, etc.

Inland unspoiled ecosystem
Just over an hour's sailing from Majorca, stands this spot that boasts a considerable wealth of nature.

In this group of islands and calcareous rocky isles, its marine ecosystem is particularly noteworthy, with the presence of meadows of Neptunegrass, enabling the proliferation of marine fauna. This marine area is one of the best preserved on our coastlines. Besides, there are several exceptional botanical endemisms, as well as large colonies of birds. This is why it was named National Marine and Land Park in 1991.

Bird paradise
The Park forms an exceptional and unique ecosystem, called wetlands, formed by the overflows of the rivers in their middle sections, that cause great pools. it great ecological worth is the bird life that uses this area in winter and for nesting, thereby creating a whole area of water birds.

Tablas de Daimiel formed as the result of overflows at the confluence of the rivers Guadiana and Cigüela, a fact favoured by the slight slope of the land. The Wetlands are strategically located on the migratory routes of many species of birds, that use the area to rest, and even spend the winter. The water birds are the absolute protagonists of the Park. They include the great crested grebe, the common grebe, black-necked grebe, herons, egrets, and all kinds of Iberian ducks. In the Wetlands numerous aquatic flowers grow.. Some grow underwater (like the horwart or musk grass), float (such pondweed) and emerging (cladium mariscum, reed and rush).

Iberian meadow fauna
Cabañeros National Park is noted for its rich fauna, that includes a considerable number of endemic species.

The lush pastures, mountain ranges and massifs covered in forests and Mediterranean scrub, make this landscape particularly beautiful. It is also the habitat of very important fauna, mainly consisting of birds (black vulture, Iberian eagle, golden eagle). Cabañeros is also a land of large mammals (45 species). It is easy to spot the red deer, wild boar or roe deer.

Virgin meadows and Mediterranean forests  In the province of Cáceres we find varied ecosystems of great environmental value, like Mediterranean forests, rocky lands and meadows. In addition, rivers and reservoirs irrigate the river side in the Monfragüe National Park.

Mosaic of ecosystems
Doñana. The National Park's biodiversity is the result of the conjunction of different ecosystems.

The Park is noted for its extreme flatness. There, you can see a transition from the undulating topography of the 'cotos' to the marshes, which are the most noteworthy seeing as they provide a refuge for many migratory birds. The vegetation is also determined by the different ecosystems (dunes, sandy ground, fresh water and lakes...). With respect to the fauna, Doñana is home to a large number of species which, apart from the outstanding presence of the birds, includes the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), which has become an emblem of the Park, since it is a carnivore endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.

The greatest heights on the Peninsula
This park combines beauty and ecological wealth, not forgetting that the highest peaks on the mainland are to found here.

It is situated to the south-east of Granada and extends to the eastern end of Almería. It combines smooth areas with other very rugged ones. Mulhacén and Veleta, the highest peaks on the mainland are situated here. It is an extraordinary landscape site, with a morphology of glacial origin, forests and different areas of natural vegetation. The presence of several local endemisms is important. It landscape is rich in mineral-medicinal waters. Fifteen of its summits exceed 3,000 metres in altitude. The most characteristic species in the park is the mountain goat.

A trip to the Moon
The impressive fields of solidified lava that make up this island convert Timanfaya into the land of the volcanoes.

Different volcanic eruptions and magma activity throughout its history, make this land what it is today. From the nature viewpoint of Montaña Rajada you can admire a vast sea of lava that reaches the coastline. Particularly impressive are: the undulations, strident forms created by the lava...Since then its inhabitants have learned to live alongside this unusual and pretty landscape, and have even dry farmed melons, onions, tomatoes and also vines in La Geria.

Timanfaya - Lanzarote - Spain

In the land of volcanoes
Teide National Park is the biggest and oldest of the Canary Islands' parks. Its landscape is shaped around the biggest volcano in Spain: Teide, whose last eruption took place in 1798. The volcanic cones and the lava runs form an extraordinary group of colours and shapes, in which thrives a diverse flora of great biological importance.

In 1954, Teide National Park was founded in order to protect a landscape of impressive beauty and great ecological importance, that extended around the colossal volcano. Teide is a volcanic formation situated on an old and gigantic crater-like sunken area, shaped by two semi craters, separated by Roques de García. In the shelter of Teide live plants and animal species that are unique in the world. The diversity of plants is astounding: Teide broom, towers of jewels, echium virescens, bencomia stipulata, descurainia bourgaena, pterocephalus lasiospermus, silver thistle..The most important species in the park are the invertebrates. More than 700 species of insects are listed, 50% of which are endemic to the area. There are several species of reptiles (such as the tizon lizard) and birds (Egyptian vulture, sparrow hawk, kestrel, red kite). Mammals are scarce, but there are mouflons, rabbits and 5 species of bats.

La Gomera and ancestral nature
This National Park contrasts with the rest of the Canary Islands. Here the volcanic landscape is not so dominant, but there are laurel forests almost permanently enveloped in fog.

Walking through Garajonay is like returning to the past, since its countryside is truly unspoilt. It is the meeting point between clouds and ground, which brings with it constant humidity and the so-called horizontal rain that translates as a leafy, dense forest. The forest landscapes are a leading feature in the Park, since the different plant formations can be seen, from the above-mentioned laurel to white heather, visnea mocanera or the strawberry tree. Numerous species of birds and two species of reptile, the Gomeran lizard (Gallotia galloti gomerae) and the Gomeran skink (Chalcides viridanus coeruleopunctatus), as well as a species of amphibian, the green frog (Hyla meridionalis), live inside the park.

Canary Island landscape with character
The steep landscape of Caldera de Taburiente is crossed by a multitude of streams.

The steep landscape, a result of the vertical drop, is the National Park's top attraction. It is crossed by streams and waterfalls. The presence of endemic plant species such as the Canary Island pine stands out, and extends throughout its territory forming important masses. Caldera de Taburiente is a vast sunken area caused by erosion. It is one of the world's biggest and is surrounded by a circle of summits 8 km in diameter, in which the greatest heights on the island can be found: El Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m), Pico de la Cruz (2,351 m), Piedra Llana (2,321 m), Pico de la Nieve (2.236 m), Punta de los Roques (2.085 m), etc. From these heights, the relief slumps inwards inside the Crater in almost vertical escarpments of no less than 800m, until reaching the summit 430 m above sea level in its lowest part, which involves drops of about 2,000 m.