El Hondo Nature Park
El Hondo (also confusingly known as El Fondo) has been a Nature Park since 1988 and is on the RAMSAR wetlands conservation lists and is classified as a Special Protection Area for Birds, or ZEPA. This park is part of what used to be the Elche Lagoon, almost completely drained from the 18th century onwards. Today there are two controlled reservoirs around which form a series of ponds and salt marshes and these in turn are surrounded by fields and palm plantations, making it a pretty place to visit at any time of the year.
The visitors centre is a great place to start. There are impressive oversized mock-ups of Flamingos and other species like the Marbled Duck. The huge picture-window means that you can bird watch in air-conditioned splendour, fantastic during the really hot months. The reserve was initially created to help boost the Marbled Duck and the White Head Duck population both of which had dropped to dangerously low levels with less than 30 pairs in 1994. The centre is glad to report that the initiative is working!
From the visitors centre, a walking trail of 4 kilometres has been built with information boards along its route. There is also an excellent 16 kilometre long cycle trail to be enjoyed as well.
Places of interest & ideas of things to do in El Hondo
- Visitors Centre: displays and exhibits about the nature reserve, bird watching window, toilets and picnic area.
- Walkway: 3.75 kilometre long flat walkway past one of the lagoons with information boards and observation points along the route.
- Cycleway: 16 kilometre long cycle route through the reserve.
Ideas of places to twin El Hondo with day or night
- Start with a visit to the Visitors Centre which opens at 10.00 everyday except Monday to find out all about the park, then take a leisurely stroll along the flat walkway to get a real feel for the park, enjoy your picnic lunch at the picnic tables beside the Visitors Centre before a rewarding stop in any of the nearby Vega Baja villages such as Dolores for a relaxing cerveza or vino!
- Visit the hustle and bustle of the market in La Marina on either Thursday or Sunday morning, then drive to El Hondo for some peace and tranquility as you make you way around the walking route listening to the chatter of the birds!
Places of Interest
El Hondo Nature Park Visitors Centre
N38°11.256 W0°47.451Parking: is in the car park and is free, it is best to park in the first car park (furthest away from the centre) as this never gets locked.
From here: walk to the Visitors Centre to find out more about the park, the toilets are on the opposite side of the building to the front door and the picnic area is to the far side of the building looking out over the reserve.
Top tip: pack a picnic and take the binoculars!
El Hondo Nature Park Walking & Cycling Route
N38°11.256 W0°47.451Parking: is in the car park and is free, it is best to park in the first car park (furthest away from the centre) as this never gets locked.
From here: go past the Visitors Centre and start on the wooden walkway, once this has finished follow the path to the small white building which is beside an irrigation canal and lots of palm trees, turn left and continue to the lookout tower, then turn left infront of the large irrigation canal following the white and green posts back to the car park.
Top tip: pack a picnic and take the binoculars!
