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Breña y Marismas de Barbate Natural Park
By Jo Williams
Created in 1989, the Breņa y Marismas de Barbate park is Andalucia's second largest coastal reserve and has one of the most spectacular stretches of rocky cliffs along the Andalucian Atlantic coastline, with stunning views over the sea and to the rocky headland of Cape Trafalgar and its lighthouse.
Ancient watchtowers stand guard along the cliffs overlooking the sea, where local fishermen catch tuna used in the nearby canning factories and to produce the delicacy of mojama, cured tuna.
Although it is the smallest out of the 22 natural parks in Andalucia, it contains a rich variety of habitats: pine forest, wetland, mobile dunes, sea cliffs and a marine section, which, with 940ha, occupies around a fifth of the total protected area of 4,863.
The Pinar de la Breņa is an extensive densely wooded area that stretches from the cliffs inland, between Barbate and Caņos de Meca. The umbrella pines provide shade for a rich variety of Mediterranean wildflowers. Apart from fishing, one of the park's main natural resources are the pine nuts collected from the Pinar de la Breņa.
The park includes an major wetland area, the 2,500ha Marismas de Barbate, which was added to the park later, in 1994. It attracts numerous migrating birds, as well as many waders and gulls.
Phoenicians used this coastline as a base for exporting their fish and introduced their system of fishing (almadraba) and salting their catch.
Access
The pine woodland is easily accessible from the CA2143 that links Caņos de Meca with Barbate. Minor roads and forestry tracks lead off this road into the pine trees.
There is no road along the cliffs between Barbate and Caņos de Meca, but you can walk along the coastal path between the two villages. See our section on walks.
The marismas can be seen from the bridge south of Barbate, on the CA2223 road that leads to Zahara de los Atunes. There is also a walk, the Sendero Marismas de Barbate, around the marshland.
Villages nearby:
Barbate
Caños de Meca
Vejer de la Frontera
