Bird watching in the Coto Donana National Park

Bird watching in the Coto Donana National Park is one of the major attractions of this vast wetland area of Andalusia.

The Parque Nacional de Donana covers a huge area and combined with the surrounding Entorno de Donana park area it covers over one thousand three hundred square metres in the regions of Cadiz, Sevilla and Huelva. The vast wetlands are amongst the most important sites for migrating birds in Europe.

There is a wide range of species to be found in the park, some are permanent residents, in winter birds come from central and northern Europe then in the summer from Africa. Flamingo, geese and Spanish imperial eagles are among them.

The river Guadalquivir (the big river) delta held back from the sea by massive sandbars has formed vast stretches of land and marshes with the estuary itself confined to a small outlet near Sanlucar de Barrameda.

You can take half day trips with official guides (call 959 43 04 32 to reserve, some speak English) around the park or you can explore around the visitors centre at El Acebuche. There is a nature trail starting from the visitors centre which covers three kilometres by a freshwater lake and marshland, there are five hides where you can watch for herons, gallinules, warblers and others. It is a unique place well worth a visit particularly if you have a penchant for bird watching.

If you are travelling to Andalusia and are planning to visit Coto Donana you might like to consider staying in one of our self catering holiday houses in Andalusia, they are very reliable. There are many areas of great natural beauty throughout the country and we have many holiday homes in Spain which are suitable as a base whilst you explore them. If you would like any assistance choosing where to stay, how to get there or what to see and do then just contact us by email or telephone and we will be pleased to assist. You can trust us to give you reliable, informed responses.