Parque Natural de la Albufera

The essentials of Parque Natural de la Albufera

  • • 2,800 ha lagoon with whiskered tern colonies and endangered marbled duck breeding
  • • Birdwatching hides at Tancat de la Pipa (SEO/BirdLife), Pujol and Matats
  • • Traditional perxa boat trips from El Palmar and El Perelló
  • • Rice fields flooded in autumn and winter as complementary waterbird habitat
  • • Dehesa del Saler: stone pine strip between the lagoon and the Mediterranean
RelaxationEcotourism

Description

Parque Natural de la Albufera de Valencia is the largest wetland in the Valencian Community and one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula. The Albufera lagoon, covering around 2,800 hectares of open water, is surrounded by rice fields extending over a further 15,000 hectares that transform the landscape during the growing season into a shimmering green grid. The whole system forms part of a coastal dune-lagoon-marsh sequence stretching some 21 kilometres south of Valencia, separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow sand strip known as la Dehesa. On October and November nights, when the rice fields are flooded after harvest, the lagoon merges visually with the fields and the line between water and land disappears.

La Albufera is one of the main waterbird breeding and wintering areas on the peninsula. More than 350 species have been recorded in the park, with wintering populations exceeding 90,000 individuals in the most favourable counts. The endangered marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) breeds in the lagoon; the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) nests in the extensive reedbeds on the western shore; and the whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybrida) forms breeding colonies on floating macrophyte islands. Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) are regular visitors during passage. Observation hides at Pujol, Matats and Tancat de la Pipa — the latter managed by SEO/BirdLife with set opening hours — are the main birdwatching points.

The lagoon connects to the sea through three channels or golas — Gola del Pujol, Gola del Perellonet and Gola de El Perelló — which regulate water levels and allow fishing vessels to pass. Albufera fishermen maintain a centuries-old tradition using fixed nets (nanses) and eel (Anguilla anguilla) fishing, whose smoked flesh is a historical ingredient in Valencian paella. Traditional flat-bottomed boats called perxes are the most common way to access the interior of the lagoon; embarkation points at El Palmar and El Perelló offer guided outings year-round.

Rice is the dominant crop in the marsh surrounding the lagoon, and the flooded fields provide complementary habitat for waterbirds in autumn and winter. Tancat de la Pipa, an 87-hectare restored estate on the lagoon's northern edge, has been converted into an ecological restoration zone with shallow lagoons and reedbeds reproducing original marsh habitats. The Dehesa del Saler to the south is a strip of stone pine (Pinus pinea) and dune vegetation acting as a barrier between the lagoon and the sea, accessible on foot from the village of El Saler and several sandy beaches.

Practical information

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How to get there

How to get there

By car Public transport
From Valencia, 11 km south along the CV-500 to El Saler or El Palmar. Bus line 25 from Colón (Valencia) to El Saler. Cycle path from central Valencia via La Devesa beach (10 km). Parking at El Palmar, El Perelló and beside the hides.
Area Information
El Palmar is the most visited hub, with traditional paella and eel restaurants. El Perelló gives access to the beach and the southern channel. El Saler is connected to Valencia by cycle path. The park visitor centre is at Racó de l'Olla, next to the main hide.
Geography
Coastal lagoon of 2,800 ha south of Valencia, separated from the Mediterranean by the Dehesa del Saler. Surrounded by 15,000 ha of rice fields and marsh. Connected to the sea through three channels. Elevation virtually at sea level.
Flora & Fauna
Common reed (Phragmites australis), bulrush (Typha sp.), cattail, aquatic macrophytes. Wildlife: marbled duck, bittern, spoonbill, glossy ibis, whiskered tern, eel, fartet (endemic fish). Over 350 recorded bird species.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Traditional boat (perxa) trips from the El Palmar or El Perelló jetties cost between €6 and €12 per person depending on the operator and duration. The most common outings last 30 to 45 minutes and cover the lagoon's interior channels. Some operators offer special sunrise or sunset trips aimed at nature photographers, at slightly higher prices. No booking is needed for regular departures, but groups and special outings should reserve in advance.
The richest period for species and numbers is autumn and winter. In October and November the harvested rice fields are flooded and attract tens of thousands of ducks and waders. December to January sees the highest wintering bird counts. In spring (March-May) migratory birds arrive and marbled duck, whiskered tern and bittern begin breeding. Summer has the lowest ornithological interest, though the lagoon is never empty of birds.
Tancat de la Pipa is an 87-hectare estate managed by SEO/BirdLife on the lagoon's northern edge. It has several wooden hides overlooking artificial shallow lagoons where waders, herons and ducks concentrate. Access is free but requires advance booking through the SEO/BirdLife website. Opening times vary by season; in autumn and winter it typically opens on weekends and public holidays. Bring binoculars or a telescope, as birds are usually seen at medium to long range.
Yes. A cycle path connects central Valencia with the Dehesa del Saler along La Devesa beach over about 10 km of nearly flat terrain. From El Saler you can continue by bike or on foot along tracks inside the Dehesa to the village of El Palmar (about 5 km further). This is a very practical option on weekdays; summer weekends can see heavy cyclist traffic on the first sections.
Traditional Valencian paella is made with chicken, rabbit, flat green beans (bajoqueta), garrofó (large white bean), tomato, oil, paprika and irrigation-channel water, cooked over orange wood. In El Palmar restaurants you will also commonly find eel and bean paella, considered equally traditional in the lagoon area, as eel was for centuries the Albufera's dominant catch. Both versions use senia or bomba rice varieties grown in the park's own rice fields.