Monfragüe National Park

The Monfragüe National Park, located in the province of Cáceres, became a national park in 2007.

Its 17 thousand hectares of treasures, forests, oaks and bushes house a great variety of birds and animals that live in freedom and protected. Still, on several occasions, groups of environmentalists have reported cases of illegal hunting.

The park is a valley where the Tiétar River flows into the Tajo River, giving it new energies in its path toward Lisbon. Besides its ecosystem and orography, it is interesting to notice the great rocks that give the place an interesting look.

Despite the magnitude of the park, you don’t have to worry yourself with a compass, since there are signaled routes, paths, guides and monitors that are available to accompany groups along the park.

The Monfragüe National Park, the first established in Extremadura, covers an area of 18,000 acres and is a haven for both birds and birdwatchers. Black storks, owls, vultures, and golden eagles are just some of the over 200 species that call Monfragüe home, not to mention mammals like otter, mongoose, wild cats, and foxes.

We went with the "Monfragüe Vivo" tour company for a 4x4 trek around the park. For between 30 and 55 Euros, you get a 7-hour tour that includes both the transport and the equipment used to spot animals. The Salto del Gitano viewpoint, Peña Falcon, and Portilla del Tiétar Viewpoint are only a few of the many unforgettable stops along the way.

De Monfragüe Natural Park, located between Plasencia and Trujillo, very near Torrejón el Rubio, is a magical place. It is one of the few sanctuaries left for Spanish fauna. There are many species that pass through this place throughout the year: black vultures, black storks, imperial eagle, Egyptian vultures, to name a few. There are several viewpoints along the park from where you can observe these birds.

The Salto del Gitano is one of the most emblematic places of the park, and from here you can observe hundreds of vultures that nest in this place. They frequently fly from one mountain to another, crossing the Tajo River.

A Biosphere Reserve is a place that achieves a harmonious balance of human activity and the surrounding countryside. In 2003, UNESCO decided that Monfragüe and its surrounding area was worthy of this distinction for its environmental, social, and economic harmony.