Marismas del Odiel Route

A paradise in the city

On the banks of the Huelva estuary, between the municipalities of Gibraleón, Aljaraque, Punta Umbría and Huelva, lies the Marismas del Odiel Natural Area, classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. This is the second largest wetland in Huelva, a category to which it is relegated by its size, since its beauty and environmental value are incomparable. The protected area covers some 7,185 hectares and also includes the Marismas del Burro and En Medio Island Natural Reserves. The Marismas del Odiel are the result of the interaction between the dynamics of the Odiel riverbed and the contributions from the Atlantic Ocean, which generates an ecosystem that encourages a large presence of waders and makes them an important wintering site for various species of aquatic birds. The faunal wealth of the marshes includes the largest breeding colony of spoonbills on the continent, which is home to around a third of the European population. The marshes are also the habitat of grey and imperial herons, black storks, cranes and flamingos, as well as birds of prey linked to marsh ecosystems such as the osprey and the marsh harrier.

In addition to the network of freely accessible trails, which have several viewing points, and the interpretive areas, there is also a range of guided tours. These can be done on foot, by train or by boat, and they run through different restricted areas in the company of an expert guide who provides information on the particularities of the environment and the different birdlife. The tours around the salt flats allow such close-up sightings of birds such as flamingos that visitors will undoubtedly appreciate visiting this superlative corner of Huelva’s nature. This Natural Site can be enjoyed on boat trips or on foot.

After these natural landscapes, which rise slightly above the mouth of the Odiel, we find Punta Umbría, another beach on the coast of Huelva. Punta Umbría is located near the capital on the banks of the Odiel, converted into an important tourist centre thanks to its wonderful beaches of fine, golden sand. It has its origins in the watchtower built by the Huelva council in the 16th century, however the population did not arrive until the 19th century.

Punta Umbría can also be accessed by means of passenger boats (canoes) that make the journey through the Huelva estuaries. From an artistic point of view, this Huelva area has a salting factory from the time of Imperial Rome (La Peguera) and a watchtower from the beginning of the 17th century. Its oldest summer houses respond to English architectural models with a certain colonial air.

Type of Routes

– Walking routes
– 4×4 routes
– Boat routes
– Agreed visits with or without a guide

Check conditions at reception