8 Essentials: what to see in Sierra de Cazorla (Jaén) in 2 or 3 days

There are few places in Spain and Mountain range of Cazorla in which you have so many things to do in the middle of nature.

And is that this parque natural de Andalusia It has impressive diversity.

If you are a nature lover, you surely have Mountain range of Cazorla, In the province of Jaén, on your list places that are essential to visit.

We are talking about nothing more and nothing less than largest natural park in Spain and the second in Europe.

The union of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas They make up an authentic ecological sanctuary where you can see a multitude of animal species, especially birds of prey and large mammals.

But also the flora of this Mediterranean forest It is overwhelming, with 20 percent of the country's species.

Specifically, this parque natural It contains 2.170 species of plants, of which 34 are endemic, that is, they cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

But in addition to nature, its people have had great historical importance.

As a curiosity, at the time of Ferdinand VI the region was named maritime province, and that despite being many kilometers from the coast.

What to see and do on the Sierra de Cazorla tourism visit

And it is in these mountains that the Guadalquivir river, which was used to transport the wood necessary to build the ships that would end up sailing towards the Americas.

We are going to highlight you in this article everything you can do to enjoy this natural environment so spectacular, with the best nature activities.

• What to eat in the Sierra de Cazorla

Torre del Vinagre Interpretation Center

A place that is essential to visit is the Vinagre Tower Interpretation Center.

Behind this strange name is an information point dedicated to the natural park which shows, for example, how these mountains were formed and everything it means for Andalusia This mountain range located to the southwest of the Jaén province.

You will be able to understand how man adapted his life to the climate, learn about the characteristics of the mountains and, of course, discover What are the species that live in the Sierra de Cazorla natural park? and what are the habits of your life.

Many animals that you can see in the Sierra de Cazorla such as roe deer, deer, wild boar, ibex, mouflon, fox and many more.

Bird watching in Sierra de Cazorla

When you visit this Andalusia natural park, you should not be surprised to see foreigners from many parts of the world with large binoculars and expensive cameras with huge lenses doing therapy. .

And here they coexist some of the most spectacular birds in the world; The Sierra de CazorlIt is a place of worship for bird lovers.

Above all, we refer to raptors, but the variety is enormous, reaching up to 185 species, among which the five pairs of osprey, as well as various types of vultures, eagles and falcons.

Since nature is so peculiar, you can spend hours waiting for them to appear and not see them, or be lucky enough, as happened to us, to see them next to the road.

Yes, there is nesting areas prepared for the observation of these majestic birds.

In any case, if you spend several days around the natural park, it is likely that you will see quite a few birds of all kinds, especially griffon vultures.

Most beautiful towns in the Sierra de Cazorla

La Mountain range of Cazorla, like that of Segura y The villas, being integrated into a parque natural, are characterized by the low presence of populations.

La difference between natural park and national park is that in the former you can practice activities such as fishing or hunting, and there may be houses with small crops, while in national parks it is totally prohibited.

Therefore this Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park Life is allowed inside, although in practice there are hardly any towns.

Of course, both the towns within the parque natural, like those at the foot of the mountains, are really beautiful.

Conclusion white house towns built on the slopes of mountains, many of them with castles on top.

Towns full of history and relevance in certain times, with battles and power struggles.

If you are looking for most beautiful towns of this area, without a doubt they stand out Cazorla, Segura de la Sierra, Quesada, Hornos or La Iruela

• Most Beautiful Towns in the Sierra de Cazorla

Route of the Borosa River in Sierra de Cazorla

One of the most spectacular places in the Mountain range of Cazorla is without a doubt the Borosa River Route.

This small river is a tributary of the Guadalaquivir river and in addition to being an area full of pools and bathing areas, has a path that surprises everyone who walks along it.

It is a route of several kilometers with waterfalls and a gorge really impressive, and it is one of the most beautiful corners of the entire mountain range, suitable even for families.

In fact, it is a very popular place on holidays and weekends.

In the different mountains there are springs of water with continuous flow all year round, which makes traveling through some section of one of its rivers an essential activity to do.

How to kayak and canyoning in Embalse del Tranco

And since we are talking about the importance of water in all this parque natural, we cannot forget some of their activities star, the kayaking and canyoning.

At the heart of parque natural is the Tranco reservoir , which is the result of the embalming of the Guadalquivir river and supplies water to all the populations in the area.

For the less adventurous we recommend doing a Kayak route , which is one of the best ways to enjoy this place of nature.

We are talking about a privileged enclave of nature and tranquility where it is a pleasure to paddle in the calm waters of the reservoir while listening to the sound of the birds.

It is even possible to see the animals in the rutting season, which makes this environment something special.

And for the most daring, without a doubt the most adrenaline-inducing activity is doing canyoning at one of the numerous points suitable for this.

En towns inside the park as cold stream, it's possible hire these activities in which you access corners and landscapes that cannot be reached any other way.

As a recent novelty, it is possible to take a ride in a ship electric that makes circuits from the reservoir area.

How to visit the Source of the Guadalquivir

In this mountain range is where it is born one of the largest rivers in Spain, el Guadalquivir.

That is why one of the visits that are usually made is to see the exact point where the water flows from the interior of the earth.

Don't expect to see an immense waterfall, it is a very modest place that, more than being spectacular, is a place full of symbolism.

At the beginning of spring, with the thaw, is the best time to enjoy the enormous flows that form both in the Guadalquivir as in its tributaries, some of which carry more water.

For reach the source of the Guadalquivir, you have to go on a dirt road, so it is most common to visit this place within a tour.

In this regard, I can tell you that it is a very bumpy path and it is not advisable to take your own car if you do not want to run the risk of breaking down.

Hiking routes through Sierra de Cazorla

With so many kilometers of nature, they could not miss as a recommended activity to visit some of the s that the park has.

This Jaén natural park has the enormous circular path the GR 247 of 21 stages that run through the most beautiful corners of the mountains.

It can be done on foot, on horseback or by bicycle, and along it you will find hostels and mountain refuges where you can enjoy the impressive starry landscapes that occur in the area.

That is if you don't intend to do it in a single trip unless you are going to spend at least a month.

The most common thing for lovers of Hiking It is to do some of the sections and reserve others for another trip.

With such a large area, there are obviously trails of all levels and for all audiences, from the flattest ones to some with large slopes.

If you are interested in the topic, we recommend that you visit one of the interpretation centers o information points, like the one found in the town of Cazorla, where they will give you all the necessary information.

We warn you that the variety is enormous.

Climbing and skydiving in El Yelmo in Sierra de Cazorla

Although the type of rock is not ideal for climbing, in the surroundings of The Helm There are some areas set up for this, with rock walls that are a real temptation for lovers of this sport.

But if there is an activity only suitable for the brave, that is the skydiving, and The Helm It is the ideal place.

So much so that for more than 20 years this place has been celebrating a air festival which has become a global benchmark.

There are many different disciplines practiced here, with competitions and exhibitions held by some of the best athletes in the world.

And the good thing about this festival is that it is not necessary to participate by doing any of the activities, but you can also enjoy it in a big way from land.