{"id":2204,"date":"2020-01-20T16:51:10","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T15:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/parque-natural-los-alcornocales\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T11:49:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T10:49:07","slug":"cadiz-malaga-los-alcornocales-natural-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/blog\/cadiz-malaga-los-alcornocales-natural-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Alcornocales Natural Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>C\u00c1DIZ AND M\u00c1LAGA &#8211; The great cork oak forest: a green and humid island in arid Andalusia.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-4 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hyla-meridionalis-Andalusia.png\" data-id=\"18723\" alt=\"Hyla meridionalis Andalousie\" class=\"wp-image-18723 lazyload\" title=\"Hyla meridionalis\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" data-id=\"18723\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hyla-meridionalis-Andalusia.png\" alt=\"Hyla meridionalis Andalousie\" class=\"wp-image-18723\" title=\"Hyla meridionalis\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hyla-meridionalis-Andalusia.png 256w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hyla-meridionalis-Andalusia-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/phylloscopus-bonelli.png\" data-id=\"19867\" alt=\"phylloscopus bonelli C\u00e1diz\" class=\"wp-image-19867 lazyload\" title=\"Phylloscopus bonelli\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"426\" height=\"426\" data-id=\"19867\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/phylloscopus-bonelli.png\" alt=\"phylloscopus bonelli C\u00e1diz\" class=\"wp-image-19867\" title=\"Phylloscopus bonelli\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/phylloscopus-bonelli.png 426w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/phylloscopus-bonelli-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/phylloscopus-bonelli-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 426px) 100vw, 426px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/davallia-canariensis.png\" data-id=\"19839\" alt=\"davallia canariensis Los Alcornocales\" class=\"wp-image-19839 lazyload\" title=\"Davallia canariensis\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"438\" height=\"438\" data-id=\"19839\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/davallia-canariensis.png\" alt=\"davallia canariensis Los Alcornocales\" class=\"wp-image-19839\" title=\"Davallia canariensis\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/davallia-canariensis.png 438w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/davallia-canariensis-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/davallia-canariensis-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circaetus-gallicus-1.png\" data-id=\"19838\" alt=\"Circaetus gallicus Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-19838 lazyload\" title=\"Circaetus gallicus\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"355\" height=\"355\" data-id=\"19838\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circaetus-gallicus-1.png\" alt=\"Circaetus gallicus Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-19838\" title=\"Circaetus gallicus\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circaetus-gallicus-1.png 355w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circaetus-gallicus-1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Los Alcornocales is<\/strong> <strong>one of the largest protected natural areas in Spain<\/strong>, with more than 167,000 ha (1,670 km\u00b2). Located in the region of <a href=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/blog\/canton-campo-de-gibraltar\/\"><strong>Campo de Gibraltar<\/strong><\/a>to the north of Algeciras and the <a href=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/blog\/the-strait-of-gibraltar-natural-park\/\"><strong>Strait of Gibraltar<\/strong><\/a>south of the <a href=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/blog\/cadiz-malaga-sierra-de-grazalema-natural-park\/\"><strong>Sierra de Grazalema<\/strong><\/a> and to the west of the municipality of Cortes de La Frontera in the province of Malaga. This immense territory does not contain a significant urban center in its heart but is surrounded by 18 peripheral municipalities that host about 400 000 inhabitants. The Los Barrios &#8211; J\u00e9rez road is the main human infrastructure that separates the mountainous reliefs of the mid-mountains of the<strong> Sierra del Aljibe<\/strong>, the highest point with 1 092 meters, and the <strong>Sierra del Picacho<\/strong>.   <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1553-e1580928976623.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"Quercus suber, cork oak, uncorked, red\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1553-e1580928976623.jpg\" alt=\"Quercus suber, cork oak, uncorked, red\" title=\"\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The evocative power of recently uncorked cork oaks.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\" class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list has-accent-4-background-color has-background\">\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-1\">Cork oak forests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-2\">Wild river<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-3\">Subtropical climate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-4\">Canutos and laurisilva<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-5\">Medieval castles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The great forest of southern Europe<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The park is mainly covered by <strong>cork oaks<\/strong><em>(Quercus suber<\/em>), a native species that gives its name to the natural space and is greatly favored by the dominant <strong>sandstone rock<\/strong> (sand compacted and cemented by diagenesis). The traditional capital of cork is Cort\u00e9s de La Frontera, where you can visit a museum that will teach us about the use of cork oak and its problems. During the cork harvesting season we will see the trees that expose the inner part of the trunk, of a <strong>very striking orange-red color<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1210501-e1580929193610.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"Los Alcornocales, Jimena de La Frontera Castle\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1210501-e1580929193610.jpg\" alt=\"Los Alcornocales, Jimena de La Frontera Castle\" title=\"\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The Castle of Jimena awaits the treasures of the great forest of the natural park of Los Alcornocales.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The climate in this area is Atlantic Mediterranean, with a very pronounced marine influence near the coast, where the &#8220;barbas del Levante&#8221; phenomenon causes horizontal rains and <strong>humid conditions similar to a subtropical climate<\/strong>. In the streams, called &#8220;<strong>canutos<\/strong>&#8220;, for example, in the R\u00edo de La Miel, there is lush <strong>laurel forest vegetation<\/strong>, with <strong>noble laurels<\/strong><em>(Laurus nobilis<\/em>), <strong>Betic rhododendrons<\/strong><em>(Rhododendron ponticum <\/em>ssp. <em>. baeticum<\/em>), <strong>glutinous alders<\/strong><em>(Alnus glutinosa<\/em>) and <strong>rare ferns<\/strong>. A few meters away, arid Mediterranean scrub occupies the land. On the heights appear bare rocks, poor soils and <g id=\"gid_3\">Mediterranean heather<\/g> heaths. On the summits, so close to the Strait of Gibraltar, <strong>migratory birds of prey<\/strong> pass through during the migration seasons.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1190830.jpg\" alt=\"Rhododendron ponticum, canutes\" class=\"wp-image-3747 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1190830.jpg\" alt=\"Rhododendron ponticum, canutes\" class=\"wp-image-3747\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1190830.jpg 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1190830-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The inky freshness of Betic rhododendrons among the ferns: shiny young leaves and large attractive flowers.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wild <strong>Hozgarganta River<\/strong>, next to the municipality of Jimena de la Frontera, offers habitat for endangered <strong>dragonflies<\/strong>, such as the <strong>splendid dragonfly <\/strong> <em>Macromia splendens<\/em>. You can also find the spectacular <strong>Monarch butterfly<\/strong><em>(Danaus plexippus<\/em>). <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1220056-e1580929112798.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"Wild Mediterranean river\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1220056-e1580929112798.jpg\" alt=\"Wild Mediterranean river\" title=\"\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hozgarganta river in Jimena, the last frontier of wildlife in the Iberian rivers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, a cave, the <strong>Tajo de las Figuras<\/strong>, near Benalup, which dates from the Neolithic period and is famous for its representations of rock art<strong>(Arte sure\u00f1o<\/strong>), birds, mammals and anthropomorphic figures.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1349\" height=\"95\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png 1349w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11-380x27.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11-800x56.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1349px) 100vw, 1349px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Note<\/strong>.  <\/em><em>A threat, called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.europasur.es\/campo-de-gibraltar\/seca-alcornocal_0_1392761085.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>&#8220;la Seca&#8221;<\/strong><\/a>is looming over these forests. It is the combined action of climate change, a too dense pressure of large herbivores and pathogens is causing a serious problem of mortality and degeneration of cork oaks. <\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>To discover this immense forest, more than <strong>twenty trails<\/strong> have been authorized by the regional government, but distant from each other and quite variable in length and difficulty. For hiking enthusiasts, note that the stages of the GR7 have an unequal length between Tarifa and Montejaque (150 km). <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A green and humid island in arid Andalusia. Los Alcornocales : Cork oak forests ; Wild river ; Subtropical climate ; Canutos and laurisilva ; Medieval castles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[561],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-natural-protected-areas-in-andalusia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2204\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}