Five Stunning National Parks To Visit Across Spain

While Spain is equipped with vibrant cities like Barcelona, Sevilla, and Madrid, there’s a lot more to explore across the country than just its urban oases. From the laurel-covered peaks of the Canary Islands to the rugged Pyrenees, there’s a wealth of spectacular natural destinations scattered all across the nation, each one packed with its own unique array of flora and fauna. If you’re planning a quiet countryside escape during your next trip to Spain, don’t miss out on these picturesque national parks.

Parque Nacional de Los Picos de Europa

Established in 1918, the iconic Los Picos de Europa is one of Spain’s oldest national parks, created at the behest of politician Pedro Pidal. A popular destination for hiking and mountain biking, the preserve offers an opportunity to explore a large portion of Spain’s Cantabrian Mountains, with one of its most prominent features being Torre Cerredo, the tallest peak in the entire range. In between the small pockets of civilization scattered across the park, a wide variety of animals can be found flourishing along the slopes, with Cantabrian brown bears, Iberian wolves, and Cantabrian chamois serving as some of the most sought-after fauna.

Doñana National Park

There’s no shortage of stunning natural destinations to visit across Andalusia, but for wildlife lovers in particular, it’s tough to beat Doñana National Park. This sprawling preserve is famed for its high concentration of pristine marshland, which plays host to a massive array of both resident and migratory birds. During a visit, guests can spot a wealth of fascinating species ranging from white storks to greater flamingos—and there’s a lot more to see around Doñana than just birds. While there’s a wealth of reptiles, insects, and mammals to find, truly fortunate visitors may catch a glimpse of the Iberian lynx, a wild cat that was once in imminent danger of extinction.

Garajonay National Park

Spain’s Canary Islands are famed for their abundant natural beauty and large number of volcanoes, and Garajonay National Park serves as one of the archipelago’s most stunning natural features. Centered around the highest point of La Gomera island, the preserve is famed for its vast expanses of native laurel forest—a quality that earned the park UNESCO World Heritage status back in 1986. While Garajonay is best known for its wealth of Macaronesian flora, a wide array of animals also call the area home, with indigenous species like the Gomeran lizard, laurel pigeon, and Bolle’s pigeon all residing within the park’s boundaries.

Monfragüe National Park

In the western reaches of Spain, one of the nation’s finest ecotourism destinations exists in the form of Monfragüe National Park. This craggy expanse of land is equipped with towering rock faces, ancient rivers, and close to 300 different animal species, but Monfragüe is perhaps best known for its abundance of iconic raptors. Upon arrival, newcomers can head to the 984-foot-tall Salto del Gitano vista point, where Spanish imperial eagles, cinereous vultures, and griffon vultures can all be found soaring through the sky. Though the park serves as a prominent birding destination, there’s also a wide array of non-avian species to spot as well, with foxes, mouflons, polecats, and even Eurasian otters found across the region.

Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park

Located in the heart of the Pyrenees, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park offers spectacular views of the third-tallest mountain in the region—the 11,007-foot-tall Monte Perdido. Charming villages abound across the region ranging from Bielsa to Torla-Ordesa, but humans are far from the only animal that inhabits the park. Iconic Iberian mammals like the chamois, red fox, and brown bear can all be spotted during a hike, while tiny cold-blooded creatures like the Aesculapian snake and Pyrenean brook salamander also call the park home. On a clear day, visitors can keep their eyes on the skies in hopes of seeing a bearded vulture, a massive raptor that’s also native to China, India, and Ethiopia.