Category: Almonte

The surroundings of the walk, in the heart of the village of El Rocío, are spectacular, as it is located next to the marshes and you can see horses and foals all year round, as well as spoonbills, flamingos, glossy ibises and herons. It is a must for birdwatchers and nature lovers, and for watching a wonderful sunset.

At the marsh viewpoint, there is a tribute to the figure of the drummer, an indispensable character in the Romería del Rocío pilgrimage, with a life-size representation of him playing the flute and drum, dressed in the classic rociero costume and wide-brimmed hat. The sculpture is by José Manuel Díaz Cerpa.

This walkway connects to the Votive Chapel and the Sanctuary via a footbridge, so that it can be accessed by people with reduced mobility or in wheelchairs.

This 2.3 km trail, which is easy to walk, starts next to the last observatory on the left side of the Acebuche Lagoon trail. The Huerto and Pajas lagoons, together with other small temporary lagoons, form a complex that also includes the Acebuche lagoon and originates from the emergence of groundwater, as the water table is practically at the surface in this area.

The entire trail runs through the reserves, thick scrubland dotted with small groves of stone pine and scattered junipers, which provide an ideal habitat for small and large mammals. Although they are quite elusive, it is not difficult to find traces of deer, wild boar, mongoose, fox, badger… or perhaps even spot them in the thick scrub. The small pine forests also provide ideal nesting areas for various species such as red kites, booted eagles, common kestrels and azure-winged magpies.

The flora, which is greatly influenced by the level of flooding and therefore has a marked seasonal character, includes species such as bulrush, bayunco, cattail, buttercup, grass or millet, and the so-called marsiega. In the most exposed areas, other Mediterranean species appear, such as lavender, rosemary, and almoradú.

Ribetehilo (a row of riverbanks) marks the meeting point of two different geological substrates. This 2.4 km trail, which is easy to walk, runs along a wooden walkway and follows the boundary that was once a riverbed, barely recognisable today, where water finally came to the surface. This group of lagoons, accompanied by a sea of stone pines and white mountains, contrasts with the predominantly sandy landscape of the surrounding area. Cork oaks, strawberry trees and broom are replacing the eucalyptus trees with which the area was repopulated years ago.

Along this route there are explanatory signs on different topics of interest: the reforestation of eucalyptus and pine trees; peat and carnivorous plants; the strawberry tree and its fruits; the palm tree and its uses; the geological substrates and the colour of the sand; and the restoration of the landscape and its future vision, which can be seen little by little along much of the route. The linear trail runs directly over the sand until it reaches a footbridge that crosses the lagoon and allows you to enjoy one of these wetlands from within.

The comfortable wooden footbridge allows you to explore one of these lagoons, the Galápago, and the vegetation that today aims to restore the appearance of these lands as our ancestors knew them.

This 5.4 km route, which is easy to walk, runs parallel to the lagoon from which it takes its name and leads to various observatories from which you can discover the aquatic fauna that frequents these wetlands. Different species can be seen depending on the time of year. One of the most unusual species, which can be seen throughout the year, is the purple swamphen, a bird with intense blue plumage and long red legs that nests in wild olive trees.

In spring, it is easy to spot other resident or summer birds that also breed in the lagoon, perhaps with their chicks: mallards, common pochards, little grebes, great crested grebes and black-necked grebes, among others. During the autumn and winter months, it is possible to spot wintering species that arrive from the north in search of milder climates: gadwalls, wigeons, red-crested pochards…

The wildlife that can be seen is in the wild, so you may need to concentrate all your attention to spot it. Discovering the birdlife of the lagoon will require paying attention to the movements of the vegetation, sounds and songs, changes in shapes and colours…

The trail runs along wooden boardwalks, which adapt to the terrain and make the route comfortable and safe. There are no slopes to negotiate, as the entire trail is practically at the same altitude. From the boardwalks, you can access some cabins, which serve as viewpoints and have observation posts at a lower height.

The trail ends by retracing our steps back to the visitor centre, where the route ends. At the start of the route, before entering the El Acebuche Visitor Centre, and accessible via a small adapted ramp that overcomes a 5 cm difference in level, there are adapted public toilets.

Along the trail, there are various elements that refer to traditional uses, some of which have now disappeared, that the inhabitants of the area made of the resources offered by the territory. Also pay attention to the construction type of the observatories; in the past, huts similar to these, built with palustre vegetation, were the usual dwellings of many workers and their families.