Today is Natural Parks Day, those spaces of exceptional wealth from the environmental point of view that have a special protection. There are strict regulations when it comes to carrying out human activities in them, such as the construction or exploitation of their soils, but thanks to this protection, families can enjoy them, as long as we do it in a way Oenology.
On the other hand, beyond the environmental value, Natural Parks have a scientific value. In them there are native species and typical of the area. In most of them, family workshops are organized to get to know these species. Do not stop informing yourself in your autonomous community or in which you are going to spend the holidays about what these proposals are.
Examples of Natural Parks in Spain
Spain is a country with 132 Natural Parks, distributed throughout its entire geography, including the Canary and Balearic Islands. Some of these are also declared Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage Sites and National Parks. Added to these categories is the protection, respect and care that we must take when visiting them.
In the South, for example, we find the Doñana National and Natural Park, with a great variety of ecosystems and landscapes. There are marshes, coasts, forests, plains, dunes, a large amount of flora and fauna, species in danger of extinction, such as the Iberian lynx. And it is also a World Heritage Site since 1994.
In the North, in the Cantabrian mountain range, between Asturias, Cantabria and León, is the Natural and National Park of the Picos de Europa. It is also declared a Biosphere Reserve. It has a wide variety of flora and fauna. All of it is covered by routes and trails so that it can be traveled in a sustainable and responsible way. You will also meet the odd pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago.
How to visit the Natural Parks as a family
Natural Parks are areas of special protection, and within them also there are population centers they have to save a series of measurements. This does not imply that you cannot carry out activities such as horse riding, caving, hiking, visits to interpretation centers, fauna and flora workshops and many others. Always with a limited capacity and being respectful with the environment.
Therefore, if you decide to visit a National Park with your family you will not find a great resort in which to stay. It is rather a sustainable and repetitive tourism of rural houses, even cave houses, or other accommodation, such as camping. The characteristic of all of them is that I am strict about the activities that can be done and the capacity of them.
Keep in mind that there are inland natural parks, it is the idea we have of the sierra and the mountains, but also coastal parks. In this case the protection includes the coasts and of course the beaches. For example, in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, you will not be able to use jet skis or dive in depending on which areas.
Some activities that can be done
This day of the Natural Parks, like everything that is happening since the confinement, will also be special. There are autonomous communities in which visit is allowed, whether or not they are in the province in which you live. It is very significant the recovery that the ecosystems of these areas when they have stopped receiving visitors.
In general, and long before all this happened, the activities that were proposed in the parks are:
- Routes Guided on foot, on horseback or by bike.
- Visits to visitor centers where there are numerous workshops for families.
- Sighting of fauna and flora, with an emphasis on birds and cetaceans. Sometimes they are seen and sometimes they are not.
- Adventure sports.
- Wine tourism, visiting wineries and vineyards.
- Contemplation of skies at night.
And more activities depending on the area. In addition, all these activities have to be adapted.