El Valderejo Natural Park It is part of a group of steep mountain ranges, river canyons, and well-preserved forests in the Valles Alaveses region. The area includes the Valderejo Natural Park and extends eastward to the spectacular Hoz de Sobrón, forming a continuous ecological unit alongside the Montes Obarenes-San Zadornil Natural Park in Burgos.
The rugged terrain, crowned by karst plains and limestone cliffs, is home to a remarkable diversity of Mediterranean habitats, home to holm oak groves, oak forests, relict beech forests, heathland, and mountain pastures. Its rock-dwelling raptor community is notable, with golden eagles, Egyptian vultures, eagle owls, peregrine falcons, and the largest colonies of griffon vultures in the Basque Country.
The area is ideal for hiking, birdwatching, or nature photography, and allows you to immerse yourself in a low-density environment where biodiversity remains in an excellent state of conservation.
The best time to visit this area is from spring to autumn, when the weather conditions are most favorable and allow you to fully enjoy the network of trails, limestone cliffs, forests, and open panoramas.
In spring, vegetation sprouts vigorously and the cliffs are filled with activity, although the mating season and nesting of many cliff-dwelling birds of prey already begins in mid-winter, making this season also an interesting time for birdwatching.
Summer, although drier, allows access to higher altitudes and comfortable exploration of the heathlands and high-altitude grasslands.
Autumn, for its part, offers a particularly attractive atmosphere, with the beech, oak, and holm oak forests undergoing a complete color transformation, and the opportunity to observe the rut.
Thanks to the Mediterranean influence that permeates this corner of the Basque Country, winter also brings a heightened sense of intimacy and tranquility, ideal for exploring the region through a different lens.
El Valderejo Natural Park and its protected environment offer a wide variety of opportunities to enjoy nature in a well-preserved setting. It is a highly recommended destination for hiking, with well-marked trails that traverse canyons, cliffs, and forested slopes. Birdwatching is one of the main activities in the area, with notable colonies of griffon vultures—the largest in the Basque Country—as well as the presence of golden eagles, Egyptian vultures, eagle owls, and peregrine falcons, and species linked to forest habitats such as the goshawk, short-toed snake eagle, and European honey buzzard. The karst plains and high-altitude grasslands offer good opportunities to spot species such as the red-backed shrike and the hen harrier.
The botanical diversity also allows for plant interpretation trails and flora photography, especially in the rocky and chasmophytic vegetation zones. Family tourism and educational activities are well-served here at the Lalastra Interpretation Center, while hiking and guided themed trails complement the experience.
The Valderejo Natural Park It is a space certified as DStarlight destination, making it a privileged place for astrotourism, thanks to the low light pollution and the quality of its night skies.
Among the most notable places to visit is Lalastra, the nucleus of the Valderejo Natural Park and home to its interpretation center, from where several hiking trails depart and offer sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding area. One of the most interesting routes is the Purón River Gorge route, which allows you to explore a spectacular landscape of limestone cliffs and mixed forests, accessible only on foot.
It is also advisable to arrange a visit to get closer. to the Valderejo dump, which has a bird observatory from which you can observe carrion birds such as the griffon vulture, the Egyptian vulture, and even the golden eagle. In the eastern sector of the ZEC, in the Sobrón area, there are several hot springs and the GR 99, which offers a beautiful walk to enjoy the views of the Ebro, framed by the canyons carved by the river. Don't forget to visit the recently opened Ekoetxea Water Museum in Sobrón. The entire area combines nature, biodiversity, and cultural heritage in an environment of great ecological value.
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The Green Spain Ecotourism Reserve is an invitation to experience northern Spain in a different way. It's not a network of accommodations.
