Il Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park it is a wonderful protected area. In the largest natural park in Spain, the park covers an area of 190 thousand hectares, you can admire the beautiful scenery created by the lush wooded valleys, plateaus and jagged mountains. During your visit it will also be possible to spot numerous species of wild animals, such as wild boars, ibex, mouflons, fallow deer, and learn about 2300 types of plants.
Endemic to the park the Cazorla violet, the Valverde lizard, a narcissus believed to be the smallest in the world, and a particular carnivorous plant.
The park occupies the entire eastern slope of the province of Jaén and is crossed by the Guadalquivir, the longest river in Andalusia which also forms the artificial lake Embalse del Tranco de Beas then head to Seville and dive into the ocean waters.
We recommend that you visit the park during the summertime to be able to admire the landscapes and its colors and to make excursions to the most isolated and remote places. Often the hotels and campsites of the park organize organized excursions, even in the less accessible and more inaccessible areas. It is also advisable to travel with an autonomous means of transport.
To reach the Parque Natural, follow the winding A319 from Cazorla to the Puerto de las Palomas pass and then descend to the Empalme del Valle intersection and follow the Guadalquivir valley. About 15 kilometers from Empalme del Valle is the Centro de Interpretacion Torre del Vinagre, the Museo de Caza (Hunting Museum) and a botanical garden.
Itineraries in the park
Sierra de Cazorla
The itinerary develops near Cazorla for about 60 kilometers and touches the following places. From La Iruela, 1 kilometer from Cazorla, take the Carretera Virgen de la Cabeza up to the El Chorro gorge. From here, go up to the Puerto Lorente pass and then descend towards the Nacimiento del Guadalquivir, the sources of the Andalusian river. Go past the springs to reach the Canada de las Fuentes refreshment area. Go back and follow the wonderful Guadalquivir valley to Complejo Puente de las Herrerias, from here walk the Sendero de la Cerrada del Utrero. This circular route of about 2 kilometers touches along impressive rock walls and reaches the Cascada de Linarejos, crosses the river and returns to the road again. After a few kilometers to the west you will reach Empalme del Valle, about 20 kilometers from Cazorla.
Borosa River
The Rio Borosa River hike is the most popular in the park and takes about seven hours (round trip). Starting from Torre del Vinagre, go up the river, pass the Cerrada de Elias gorge thanks to a wooden footbridge and reach the Laguna de Valdeazores, the Laguna de Aguas Negras, an artificial lake, and the Laguna de Valdeazores, a natural basin.
Ovens and El Helmo
On a high rocky promontory is the village of Hornos, born around a small Arab castle that dominates the northern side of the Embalse del Tranco. From Hornos, through the Puerto de Horno de Peguera you reach the summit of El Yelmo. From here you can admire wonderful views or experience the thrill of paragliding and hang gliding.
Segura of the Sierra
On top of an 1100 meter high mountain, 20 kilometers from Hornos, is the most beautiful town in the park. Segura is dominated by a castle of Arab origin from which you can admire an unforgettable landscape on El Yelmo. Also worth seeing is the arch of the Puerta Nueva and the Bano Moro, an Arab bath from 1150.
The village of Cazorla
The medieval old town of Cazorla, about an hour and a half from Jaén, is characterized by stone houses and steep narrow, winding alleys opening onto three main squares, Plaza de Santa Maria, the heart of the city where the ruins of the Iglesia de Santa Maria are located , Plaza de la Corredera and Plaza de la Constitucion, the most modern.
Il main monument is the Yedra Castle, now a museum, which stands at 831 meters above sea level and displays various characteristics of Arab and Gothic architecture. Also noteworthy are the Convent of the Mercedarian Fathers, transformed into a town hall, the Convent of San Juan, now a hostel, the La Vicaria palaces, Plaza de Santa María and the churches of San José, San Francisco and El Carmen.
From Cazorla you enter the beautiful Parque Natural de Cazorla, a vast area of magnificent gorges and forests much loved by the Spaniards.
reach Cazorla you can travel by bus to the Plaza de la Constitucion station from Ubeda, Jaén, and Granada or travel by rental car.
