Guide with 5 Tips to visit the Sierras de Cazorla and Segura (Jaén)

When we think Jaén, we all have the image of its impressive expanses of olive fields, the land of best olive oil in the world.

But this province It keeps an impressive secret for those who dare to know it.

Probably Jaén is the most unknown province all Andalusia.

It is not easy to compete with Andalusian cities with impressive monuments such as The Alhambra of Granada, la Mosque of Cordoba or the monumental city of Sevilla.

However, everyone who travels through natural park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and las Villas, returns with the idea that here is one of the great jewels of Andalusia.

An oasis of nature y wild life, where some of the bird species most spectacular in the world.

La largest continuous extension of forests in Spain which houses a varied wild Fauna.

La city ​​of Jaén It is one of the areas with the least rainfall in Spain, but nevertheless in this parque natural The extreme west of the province is where 4% of the water in the rivers of Andalusia originates.

And it is in these mountains where the largest and most emblematic river in Andalusia, the river Guadalquivir.

It is not surprising that this parque natural was one of the great enclaves where Happy Rodriguez de la Fuente developed his legendary documentaries The man and the earth.

For those of you who like nature and beautiful towns between mountains, put this trip on your agenda because you are going to enjoy it.

Visit the natural park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and las Villas

We have to recognize that before visiting the Natural Park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas, we were not aware of how impressive this environment is.

It is important to clarify for those who do not know the area, that although the fame goes to the Mountain range of Cazorla, the natural park located to the west of the province is made up of three saws, Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas.

The union of these three mountains makes up the largest Natural Park in Spain and the second in Europe, after the Black Forest of Germany 70 kilometers long.

Although we all have the image of its olive tree crops and quite dry and hot climate in summer, this province has almost a third of its territory protected, which makes Jaén in a green lung in the interior of Andalusia.

In the Mountain range of Cazorla The rainfall is much more abundant than in the crop area, and it is the third place in Spain with the highest rainfall.

The contrast that this natural park represents with its surroundings is truly shocking, since 30 kilometers away is a desert, the Hoya de Guadix-Baza, already in the province of Granada.

We are going to break down the entire area to show you how to enjoy it as much as we did during our visit to this privileged enclave.

What to see and do in the Sierra de Cazorla

When we talk about the environment of Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park, we refer to an enclave where nature dominates everything.

Therefore, all activities What can be done are related to enjoying and understanding this place with so much biodiversity.

If it is the first time you visit this territory, our advice is that you do guided visits or excursions, because this parque natural It is huge and the roads are not the best.

You can find dirt roads that can be accessed by car, but you wouldn't be the first to leave your feet on a rock along the way.

Distances are very deceiving since traveling 20 kilometers can take up to an hour since the roads overcome large unevenness and are full of curves.

Whether you are going to sign up for an excursion or not, we are going to recommend the activities which in our opinion are essential things to do in the Sierra de Cazorla.

As essential visits we would highlight, to begin with, the Torre del Vinagre Interpretation Center, where you can get an idea of ​​all the features of the park.

Of course, spot birds as griffon vultures who live in this territory, navigate in kayaking in the Tranco reservoir, tour the impressive Borosa River route or some of his trekking They are highly recommended activities.

Here we leave you an article where we explain everything there is to see and do in the Cazorla mountain range.

• What to see and do in the Cazorla mountain range

Beautiful Towns in the Sierras of Cazorla and Segura

Although we are talking about a parque natural, the towns that you can visit in this place are spectacular.

There are some towns throughout the area that are worth visiting, which are located on the slopes of the mountains offering privileged views.

Towns like Cazorla, Iruela o Segura of the Sierra They should be an important part of your journey.

Here we leave you an article where we explain which towns are worth visiting when you travel to Mountain range of Cazorla

• The 6 most beautiful towns in the Sierra de Cazorla

What to eat in the Sierra de Cazorla

Eating is one of the great pleasures of traveling, and if we talk about Andalusia We know that we are going to eat well for sure.

In the Mountain range of Cazorla, evidently, the most typical are game dishes such as deer, but in reality, on this trip we have discovered that the gastronomic variety is enormous.

La trout It is one of the great dishes you can eat, or the traditional and ubiquitous Rin Ran.

But the variety of traditional dishes that you probably haven't heard of will surprise you.

Tatters, pipirrana, ajoatao, garlic flour o crumbs rollers are some of the specialties that you have to try.

• Here we leave you an article where we advise you the best to eat and in which restaurants on your route through the natural park.

Where to sleep in the Sierra de Cazorla

As we have mentioned, this Jaén natural park It has a huge extension and the place of accommodation It is a very important decision especially to plan the route.

The most normal thing is to stay in Cazorla because it has good access to the natural park, but we are going to give you several options.

Keep in mind that it does not hurt choose two hotels in different areas, especially if your route includes towns like Segura of the Sierra y Cazorla.

The distances in kilometers are relatively small, but in time taken to travel them they are much greater.

if you stay in Cazorla and visits in the afternoon Segura of the Sierra You need two hours to return, so you have to take that into account.

Accommodations in Cazorla

It is probably the most touristy town and, therefore, where you can find the most accommodation.

In the center of town you have the Cazorla hotel, which is a traditional hotel, but if you want something more personal and characteristic, we recommend the Hotel Villas de Cazorla y, of course, the Cazorla Parador.

Whenever there is a parador in a city we visited, one option is to sleep there since the buildings of Paradores They are usually spectacular and full of history.

Three styles, three prices.

Hotel El Curro in Sierra de Cazorla

If you want a well-located hotel with a good restaurant, we once again recommend the Hotel El Curro.

It is a good option if you are going to be visiting the natural park and do not want to return to Cazorla every day, a hotel that we would always recommend, especially to families.

Camping in the Sierra de Cazorla

Another option is one of the numerous campings What's inside the mountain range?

If you like campings These are going to amaze you, especially because being inside the natural park, you save a lot of time traveling and because you live with all the fauna that lives there.

You shouldn't be surprised to be in your store and that you can see boars o deer a few meters away, in addition to griffon vultures in search of food crossing the sky at dawn.

Rural Houses in Segura de la Sierra

As we have commented, Segura of the Sierra It is a must-see as it is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, and a place where we recommend you stay to save time traveling.

And in this case the best option is a country house, because you will also sleep at the foot of the castle and it will be very easy for you to visit it.

The views of this town Sierra de Segura They are impressive.

Festivals and events in the Cazorla and Segura mountains

It is curious, but in the surroundings of the natural park there are two events that have great importance worldwide.

Blues Cazorla

El blues It is not a musical environment typical of Spain, but, nevertheless, the town of Cazorla It brings together year after year some of the best musicians and, of course, lovers of this genre.

Blues Cazorla It is one of the greats blues festivals which can be attended all over the world, which grows and improves every year.

International Air Festival, FIA de Yelmo

Inside the natural park, next to the town of Segura of the Sierra, has been celebrating for 20 years a very peculiar festival.

We are talking about a parachuting festival and other aerial disciplines, which was born with the idea of ​​reproducing an event that takes place in the city Grenoble in the French Alps.

Crowds of athletes climb to the top of the mountains and, taking advantage of the impressive location, they jump from the top to give a colorful spectacle.

Over time, it has brought together the best in each discipline to end up creating a true aerial festival.