The best things to see and do in Monfragüe (Extremadura) in 1 or 2 days

One of the pleasant surprises that you can get in a tourist trip through Extremadura is to discover the Monfragüe National Park.

I admit that when I had the opportunity to visit this place for the first time natural area, I had almost no references about it.

But now, after having visited it a couple of times, I can affirm that it must be a must-see if you are considering a tourist route through the lands of the north of CaceresNear Plasencia.

Apart from enjoying your landscape beauty, it is interesting to know the great importance of this natural enclave that has led it to be declared national park.

Curiosities history Monfragüe national park

The origin of Monfragüe National Park It is found in the declaration in 1979 of the entire area as parque natural at the autonomous level.

Later in 2003 it became considered Biosphere Reserve by the Unesco.

La statement like national parkl was carried out in 2007, and affects a strip 30 kilometers long by 6 kilometers wide (18.000 hectares), around the confluence between the Tagus and Tiétar rivers.

The total extent of the national park and the pre-park that makes up the aforementioned natural park, is 116.000 hectares.

Birds and fauna in the Monfragüe national park

The large characteristic of Monfragüe is that, together with Doñana, Its about national park with the greatest diversity in Europe.

Precisely in relation to the fauna of the Monfragüe national park, its three main icons are the black vultures, of which about 250 pairs nest in this natural area; the imperial eagles; and the black storks.

But, also, in your visit to Monfragüe You will be able to see Egyptian vultures, eagle owls, Bonelli's, short-toed and royal eagles, kites, herons and, above all, griffon vultures.

In the 18.000 hectares of the Monfragüe National Park There is only one population center.

It is the small and historic village of Villarreal de San Carlos. where you should go to go to the Tourist Office and National Park Information Center.

Best tips for visiting the Monfragüe National Park in Extremadura

Next I will give you the best tips for visiting the national park Monfrague in Extremadura.

Best viewpoints to see birds of prey in Monfragüe

As I have already mentioned, the A big attraction of this natural enclave is the great quantity and diversity of birds of prey that you can see in it.

To do this, you must go through the various viewpoints that are distributed in Monfrague to facilitate the sighting of birds of prey.

Gitano Falls, Monfragüe National Park from víctor manuel pizarro / City- on Vimeo.

The most important and spectacular is the one called Leap of the Gypsy, which is wrapped in a curious legend which you can learn about by watching the attached video, with a pleasant explanation from the tour guide Raul Virosta, from the nature tourism company Monfragüe Live.

But others viewpoints that you should visit are Monfragüe Castle, without a doubt, the most important and a key place in the national park for watching birds of prey, but you can also know the Portilla del Tiétar, Tajadilla and castor.

These viewpoints are equipped with designated areas for sighting and information panels.

Go up to Monfragüe Castle

If you are going to be able to dedicate some time to your Monfragüe visitIt is undoubtedly essential go up to Monfragüe Castle.

If you go during the high tourist season or on a weekend, you will not be able to go up by car, but rather you will have to walk along a path, which will take you a little less than an hour.

Outside the tourist season you can find the trail open to go up by car almost to the castle.

On top of the tower of tribute of the Monfragüe Castle you will have incredible panoramic views of the Monfragüe national park, and it is the best place to be able to see birds of prey up close, especially vultures, with its orientation towards the aforementioned Leap of the Gypsy.

In that place you can also see the main hermitage of Monfragüe.

This is the hermitage of the Virgin of Monfrague, which every Easter Monday becomes the place where the inhabitants of the surrounding towns meet, such as Torrejón el Rubio, on the occasion of the Pilgrimage of the Virgin of Monfrague.

Furthermore, this hermitage houses the image of the Virgin of Our Lady of Monfrague, which was brought in the 13th century from Jerusalem by crusader knights.

It is a size of byzantine style of polychrome wood.

Cave paintings in Monfragüe Castle

You should also know that until recently there was the possibility of seeing some paintings in a cave located very close to the tower of tribute.

These cave paintings of Monfragüe They date back to 1.600 BC and the cave was opened for public visits in May 2007.

Admission was free and could be picked up at the Visitors Center of the national park, but currently, due to conservation problems, the cave can no longer be visited.

Visit Villarreal de San Carlos in Monfragüe park

As I mentioned, in the small village of Villarreal de San Carlos is the Visitors Center of the Monfragüe National Park.

The history of this district dates back to the end of the 18th century, at the time of Carlos III, times when bandits abounded and which led to the establishment of a barracks.

Currently, in Villarreal de San Carlos Very few inhabitants live, but it is where you find the Visitor and Interpretation Centers of the national park.

Therefore, a key point in your visit of Monfrague.

Villarreal de San Carlos It barely has two streets in which houses with characteristic stone facades are distributed, but the corner that will catch your attention the most is, without a doubt, the hermitage of the Virgin of Socorro, also from the 18th century, one of the two that you can see in the national park.

This small hermitage that is located at the entrance of the village, each September 24, date of patron saint festivities Our Lady of Perpetual Help, becomes the meeting and pilgrimage place in Villarreal de San Carlos.

How to see the Salto del Corzo in Monfragüe

In addition to the places mentioned above, the Monfragüe National Park has a hidden gem of a landscape that is difficult to access, but there is a way to get to know it.

Indeed, while in places as prominent as the Leap of the Gypsy as the Porthole of the Theater It is accessed by road, in one of the most inaccessible areas of the country. Park of Monfrague, there is the one known as Roe Jump.

It is a large cliff with great ornithological wealth located in one of the meanders that form the Tagus River when it crosses the heart of Monfragüe.

How to take a boat trip in Monfragüe

Located in the southeastern area of ​​the park, there are very few privileged people who until recently have agreed to see this corner that is best reached by sailing on a boat excursion through the calm waters of the tagus river.

But you also have the option of signing up for a 4×4 excursion through Monfragüe which includes access to the private estate where you can see this very peculiar place.

Once you access said property from the town of serrejon, you will go up a path in quite poor condition to the mountain that extends on the southeastern limit of the national park.

From there you have excellent panoramic views (as you can see in the photos that accompany this topic) of the meander that makes up the tagus river.

In front of you you will have the great Salto del Corzo cliff, and although you are at a great distance from it, surely you will see some birds of prey fly over and, furthermore, with the help of special lenses you will be able to see the birds that nest on said cliff.

FIO Ornithological Tourism Fair in Monfragüe

If you travel to this park at the end of February or beginning of March, you can visit the FIO Ornithological Tourism Fair which is celebrated every year in Villarreal de San Carlos.

It is one of the main international events on this topic of nature tourism., which is easy to understand if you know that every year thousands of tourists come to Monfragüe from European countries to enjoy the great wealth and variety of birds to photograph.

Dates of the FIO Ornithological Tourism Fair in Monfragüe

La FIO International Ornithological Tourism Fair (Extremadura Birdwatching Fair) It is celebrated every year in the second half of February in the aforementioned village, and with a mainly professional character, the Fio It is considered the most important in Europe among fairs on this topic.

Specifically, the activity sectors of the participating companies are travel and tourism, optics and cameras, and art and nature (painters, sculptors, photographers...).

During it, they are carried out professional workshops, guided routes, And a photography contest.

This competition is carried out within the framework of the section PHOTOFIO, conferences in which national and foreign experts participate.

In the FIO Extremadura official website you can check the list of exhibitors, with companies and official entities participating in each edition, as well as the professional workshop program and of FOTOFIO activities.

4×4 excursions in Monfragüe National Park

If you are passionate about nature and fauna, and want to deepen your knowledge of this natural area, it is best to sign up for a 4×4 excursion through Monfragüe.

You have several options that also vary depending on the time of year, but the most important thing is a tour of the raptor viewpoints, and also delve into the typical Extremadura pasture.

First of all, if instead of going on your own you prefer to take an excursion with the advice of a expert guide in ornithology, you have the option to sign up for this excursion to Monfragüe from Plasencia.

This tour, which is carried out in Spanish, will allow you to discover the secrets of the great diversity of birds of prey that can be found in this national park known throughout Europe for this wealth.

This way you can see black storks, Egyptian vultures, black vultures, peregrine falcons o imperial eagles with the optical material that they will provide you.

And here you also have other alternatives excursions through Monfragüe with an agency with a long tourist history in this national park, including a excursion in the Berrea era.

What to eat and where to sleep in Monfragüe

A visit to Monfragüe is not complete without tasting the typical Extremaduran gastronomy, with delicious specialties such as extreme crumbs, venison loin or the Iberian prey.

Here you have information with suggestions on what to eat and where in Monfragüe.

And finally, to sleep very close to the national park, you have the option of Hospedería Parque Monfragüe belonging to the network of Extremadura inns.