Los Alcornocales Natural Park

Between the Grazalema mountain range and Punta de Tarifa, there are a series of medium-height mountain ranges (ranging from a few hundred metres above sea level in the vicinity of Tarifa to 1,091 metres in the Aljibe), within which lies “the kingdom of the cork oak”, which has its most important formation in the Iberian Peninsula.

Although this territory is not very rugged, narrow river valleys, known as “canutos,” are formed in the southern area. These are absolutely unique enclaves in Europe with relict vegetation remains from the Tertiary period. Not only the cork oak, but other species such as the Andalusian gall oak form valuable forests, which also contain other species such as rhododendrons, wild olive trees, ash trees, carob trees and fan palms.Visitors can discover the area that becomes the “kingdom of the cork oak” at an altitude of 200 to 900 metres above sea level, where they can find the largest formations in the Iberian Peninsula, mixed with heather, rockrose, heath, broom, mock privet, buckthorn, etc. These thickets constitute one of the best and most extensive examples of the primitive Mediterranean forest.The fauna is also very varied (up to 250 species of vertebrates can be found) and there are many representatives of mammals (mongoose, roe deer, genet, otter, wild cat, deer, wild boar, etc.) and birds of prey (booted eagle, short-toed eagle, Bonelli's eagle, Egyptian vulture, eagle owl) among which there is a significant colony of griffon vultures.