Is southern Spain a sun-drenched land with a palette dominated by ochres? The Parque Natural Los Alcornocales, a nature reserve in southern Andalucia near the Strait of Gibraltar, seems to prove otherwise. The area, home to the largest mass of cork oaks (alcornoques) on the Iberian Peninsula, looks like an oasis all year round. It also contains the largest and best preserved remnant of laurel forest in continental Europe.
Alcornocales Viewpoints
Los Alcornocales is basically a low mountain range. However, there are some excellent viewpoints, from which you can see most of the province of Cádiz. Its highest peak, Pico del Aljibe, reaches 1,100 meters above sea level. The nature reserve has some attractive hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty.
