Natural Park El Fondo, or as the Spanish say, Parque Natural el Hondo, is located in the beautiful region of Valencia, near cities such as Alicante, Valencia, La Mata, Torrevieja, and a bit further south, Murcia.
It is a place that has captivated each of us. After a few hours of walking and absolute relaxation, We decided that the Natural Park El Fondo must be included in Our Trails. So that you are to have the opportunity to plan a trip to the future to a world of wild nature, full of birds, plants, and aquatic creatures, living in this enclave of greenery and tranquillity.
Natural Park de El Fondo near La Mata and Torrevieja short history and information
The growing demand for areas designated for tourism has forced the authorities of Valencia and Alicante to exclude certain areas from urbanization plans. To preserve selected areas for the living birds, animals, and plants, a series of parks and protected areas have been established by law.
One such place is the Parque Natural de El Fondo. It is located just a few dozen kilometres from the beautiful beaches in Torrevieja and the famous pink lakes in La Mata.
The park was established in 1989, created right next to the eastern part of the Beticas mountain range, in a place called La Plana d’Elx by the locals, which means the Plain of Elche. It covers an area of about 23 square kilometres. The park includes two reservoirs that regulate the groundwater levels in the area. Besides that, there are several lagoons and areas with salt lakes and arable land.
Due to the proper distribution of different types of land, the park has become home to extremely rare and valuable species of fauna and flora. The inhabitants of the Natural Park El Fondo include many species of birds, including those that are endangered.
Residents of the Natural Park El Fondo in Valencia, Spain
Natural Park El Fondo is home to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, fish and other creatures, often found only in this area.
Birds in Natural Park
Birds are the greatest biological treasure of the park. The abundance of wetland birds makes the park in Valencia one of the most valuable breeding areas in Europe.
Species found here include:
Roseate flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) – A species of large wading bird in the flamingo family. This is the most widespread species of flamingo. It lives in Africa and the Mediterranean basin. It can be found in the famous salt lakes in La Mata, Spain.
Common Helmsop (Oxyura leucocephala) – A bird from the Anatidae family, which also has no subspecies. It occurs on the Iberian Peninsula and Asia. Only a few birds have been recorded in Poland over the last 20 years. Like Marbled, Common Helmsop is threatened with extinction. Spain is the only country where the breeding population of this species has increased. In El Fondo, the Common Helmswoman has the largest population centre in the world.
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) – A species of wading bird that has found a home in El Fondo Park. It occurs in the Middle East and Eurasia. In Poland, the Purple Heron appears extremely rarely and is strictly protected. Only a few nests are recorded each year. The wingspan of this bird can reach up to one and a half meters.
Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) – A large wading bird from the heron family. It inhabits all continents except Australia and Antarctica. It occurs sporadically in Poland. Furthermore, it can be found in the upper Vistula valley, which is why it has become a symbol of the Oświęcim region. Although this bird is considered a species of the least concern worldwide, it is strictly protected in Poland.
Marbled duck (angustirrostris) – A species of medium-sized bird that has no subspecies and is at risk of extinction. It is estimated that the world population of this creature is no more than 60,000 individuals, and the population trend recently has been downward, despite the strenuous efforts of scientists and naturalists to change this situation. This bird has its main breeding point in El Fondo and is found nowhere else in Europe.
Ardeola (Ardeidae) – A bird from the heron family found in Eurasia and Africa. Its name comes from the Greek word βουφος bouphos, meaning a bird that calls loudly at night. As the name suggests, Ardeola feeds at night and in the morning, and can be very noisy. It is not known why this is and how it helps her find food. In Poland, Ardeola is under strict protection.
Common helmeted duck (Netta rufina) – This is a species of duck called the helmeted duck because it looks as if it were wearing a helmet. It is very colourful, and I must admit that it is one of the prettiest ducks I have ever seen. It occurs throughout the Mediterranean and Asia.
In addition to the above-mentioned birds, in the park you can also see ospreys, greater spotted eagles and meadow hawkers.
Other animals living in Natural Park
Spanish carp (Aphanius iberus) – This is a fish living in some parts of Spain and Algeria. It needs slightly brackish and warm coastal waters to exist. It is a popular aquarium fish that does well in breeding.
European comb-toed (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) – A reptile from the lizard family found on the Iberian Peninsula and in north-west Africa. Adult individuals can grow up to 25 centimetres in body length. This lizard is dependent on temperature and sun. It achieves full mobility and speed only on hot days and in the scorching sun. The special feature of this reptile is a very long tail and a completely white belly.
Variable shrimp (Palaemonetes varians) – A European species of shrimp found in slightly salty waters. This creature is bred to feed large fish.
The park also grows plants such as palm trees, eucalyptus trees, pomegranates, and many others.
Natural Park El Fondo and our impressions
We visited the Natural Park El Fondo somewhat by chance, while looking for a wholly different attraction near the city of Elche, known for its vast Palm Grove. However, the time spent there turned out to be extremely pleasant and surprisingly interesting.
Our visit took place in February, which is the coldest period in this part of Spain. Nevertheless, it was hot, and a big bonus was the small number of people visiting the park. Thanks to this, we were able to wander along the designated trails without encountering other tourists.
This situation, however, led to us enjoying the company of almost the entire group of Our Trails, laughing and shouting like children. At one point, it turned out that someone else was indeed on the trail. It was a gentleman hidden in the reeds, who was using binoculars to spot a particularly rare bird.
Our careless behaviour must have irritated the dedicated ornithologist, as he politely but firmly pointed out where we were and how we should behave. Of course, we agreed with him and apologized for the noise. The rest of the hike passed in silence, but we still had a great time.
This adventure might also serve as a warning for you to behave appropriately for the place you are wandering through.
The park has fantastic charm, and the number of birds, animals, and greenery is stunning. When you visit one of the towns of Costa Blanca in the summer, remember the hidden Natural Park El Fondo in the back roads of Valencia, and I promise you will have as much fun as we did.
How and when to arrive at Natural Park El Fondo
- From Alicante, stay on the AP-7 motorway, take exit 730 and continue towards Sant Felip Neri.
- When coming from Torrevieja, also stay on the AP-7 motorway until exit 730.
- From Murcia, take the A-7 motorway to the Crevillent exit and continue towards Sant Felip Neri.
- Once in Sant Felip Neri, continue until you reach the parking lot at the park’s Information Center.
- Address: 56Q5+5G Sant Felip Neri, Spain.
Hiking trails in El Fondo park near La Mata and Torrevieja
The park is crossed by four main walking routes. They vary in length and difficulty level.
- Yellow Route – This trail is less than a kilometre long. It is easy to navigate, even for people with limited mobility. The path starts at the information centre and runs around a nearby pond.
- Red Route – This trail is called the ornithological path and runs along the main canal of the park. It is designed for bird lovers who will certainly not get bored while walking this nearly 3 kilometre path. Along the way, you encounter a diverse landscape. There are salt areas, water reservoirs, reed beds, wetlands, and marshes. Remember that before setting out on the trail, you must arrange such a visit at the information centre or by calling +34 966678515.
- Green Route – This trail is almost 4 kilometres long and takes about an hour to complete. It is easy even for people with mobility issues. The path starts at the information centre and initially overlaps with the yellow trail. The route leads through wetlands, salt marshes, and the Raco lagoon. There are many observation points along the trail, allowing for bird watching without disturbing them. An interesting feature is the reed weaving, which serve as screens with cut-out holes for viewing. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the famous pink flamingos of Costa Blanca. The green trail ends where it started, at the information centre.
- Blue Route – This is the longest trail, 8 kilometres long. However, keep in mind that it is a linear route, so upon reaching its end, you will have to return the same way, meaning you will cover a total of 16 kilometres. Due to its length, the blue route is ideal for cyclists. After quite a long walk, you will reach a reserve where two new observatories have been set up. The route is picturesque, easy, and very pleasant to walk.
Natural Park El Fondo near La Mata and Torrevieja information and interesting facts
- Natural Park El Fondo can boast membership in the brand of Natural Parks of the Valencian Community. This badge is awarded by the General Directorate of Valencia to organizations managing natural areas of great environmental significance.
- Natural Park El Fondo covers an area of 23 square kilometres.
- Some water basins were created artificially, but the marshes and wetlands are the work of nature.
- The park is criss-crossed with wooden walkways and bridges so that walkers do not damage the plants, which are sometimes very rare and valuable.
- The park was established in 1989.
- Walking the longest trail can take several hours. However, the most popular path in the park is the one marked in green.
- Natural Park El Fondo is located on the former shallows of the Mediterranean Sea.
- Interesting cities near Costa Blanca:
- Cullera, located on the Valencia coast, is a resort town known for its beautiful beaches with light and fine sand.
- La Mata is a small town in the south of Spain, located on the Costa Blanca coast.
- San Pedro del Pinatar is a town located on the Costa Calida coast in the province of Murcia, southern Spain.
- Torrevieja is a coastal city and municipality located on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante.
- Attractions near Costa Blanca:
- Bodegas Luzon is one of the oldest and largest vineyards in the Spanish municipality of Jumilla, located in the Region of Murcia.
- Cullera Castle (Castell de Cullera) is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating attractions of the city.
- Dino Park Algar on the Costa Blanca coast, is a land ruled by prehistoric dinosaurs.
- El Palmeral Park in Alicante, a place where you can relax and regain strength.
- L’Oceanogràfic is the Spanish name for the Oceanarium in Valencia, the largest aquarium in Europe, located in the southern part of Spain by the Mediterranean Sea.
- Las Salinas de Torrevieja is an industrial plant that extracts sea salt from a shallow but vast lake in Laguna Salada de Torevieja.
- Natural Park El Fondo, or as the Spanish say, Parque Natural el Hondo, is located in the beautiful region of Valencia, near cities such as Alicante, Valencia, La Mata, Torrevieja.
- Palm Grove of Elche largest palm grove in Europe.
- Rio Safari Elche is a zoo located on the Costa Blanca coast of Spain.
- The Science Museum in Valencia is part of a massive project called the City of Arts and Sciences.
- The goal of our today’s trip is the Valor chocolate factory and museum.
- The Castle of Santa Barbara (Castillo de Santa Barbara), also known as the Alicante Fortress, looms over the city like an unconquerable defender.
- The Church of the Virgin Mary in the Spanish city of Murcia is one of the biggest attractions of the city and an undeniable symbol of it.
- The Naval Museum in Cartagena is a fascinating attraction in the city that anyone with even a slight interest in European history
- The Museum in Torrevieja is an interesting attraction in the port part of the city.
- The Ducal Palace of Gandia is a tourist attraction in the city and a fascinating monument worth visiting during your stay on the Costa Blanca in Spain.
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