Huelva, in Andalusia
Huelva, a province in the southwest of Andalusia, is one of my favourite spots in Spain. An ancient culture combined with kilometres of white sandy beaches and gorgeous corners of unspoilt scenery makes this a star attraction for nature lovers. Moreover, the region is off the beaten track, thus mostly undiscovered by mass tourism. Even the Spanish refer to this region as ‘La España profunda’, the real Spain.
Huelva, unspoiled nature
Huelva is not the place to go for a city break. On the other hand, if you are interested in excellent wines, bird watching, mountain sports, golf, surfing and Jamon Iberico, you will find all of this in abundance in Huelva. A third of the land is either a national park or otherwise protected by law, making Huelva an ideal destination for the great outdoors. You need at least a week and preferably a car to explore the province.
The province consists of several regions; the most important ones are:
- The Doñana national park, south of the provincial capital of Huelva.
- El Andévalo on the east side of the Guadiana river between the mountains and the coast.
- The north of the province, the mountainous Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche.
Doñana National Park in Huelva
Doñana Park is a protected area, a magical place. It stretches over the two provinces of Seville and Huelva. With more than fifty thousand hectares of spectacular scenery, including marshes, lagoons, beaches, forests and rivers, which form the breeding grounds for hundreds of bird species, the endangered Iberian lynx, deer and wild boar.
El Rocío
In the middle of the park is El Rocío, the best-kept secret of Andalusia. A place that has no paved roads but has plenty of places to tie up your horse while enjoying a drink at a local pub. From El Rocio, you can take several excursions into the park, either by horse, 4WD, boat or on foot.
To book a tour, or explore the possibilities, click here.
El Rocio is also the final destination of Spain’s largest Romería (pilgrimage) Romería (pilgrimage) in Spain. More than one million pilgrims participate in this event every year. Most of those travel on horseback. The tradition has existed since the year 1653.
Matalascañas
Matalascañas is the regional beach resort, with seven kilometres of sandy beaches and restaurants. If you want a quieter place, look north for the breathtakingly beautiful Asperillo beach with massive dunes. This little piece of heaven is located ten kilometres to the north (towards Huelva) of Matalascañas.
Even though the best part of the year this region is quiet, in the summer months, especially on weekends, expect traffic jams from the city of Huelva towards the coast, as locals are trying to escape the city heat. Plan your visit in the usually mild autumn, and you will find most of the waterfront deserted.
Wine tourism
If you are more into the pleasures of Bacchus, you are also in the right place. Huelva has been producing wine for more than a thousand years. The Tourist Office gladly assists you in experiencing Huelva through a wine tour. Yes, the grape drink is the main ingredient of this tour; but bulls, horses, nature, landmarks and local cuisine are the enjoyable incidentals.
The route starts with a visit to a wine centre – Centro del vino Condado de Huelva in the village of Bollullos Par Condado on the Calle San José 2 – followed by a visit to one of the many bodegas. I visited Contreras Ruiz, a hundred-year-old wine cellar, where traditions are passed on from father to son. Almost a century later, the bodega still produces wine with the harvest of 1918.
Muelle de las Carabelas
To go even further back in time, call on Palos de la Frontera, a village just below Huelva. Here is the Carabelas yard. Christopher Columbus ultimately departed on his famous expedition to find a sea route to Asia from this place.
In the yard are replicas of the three ships that Columbus took first to the Americas, the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa María. In the museum are various accessories (replicas) on display and explanatory videos in English and Spanish. It includes a fun and educational tour for children.
Columbus is buried in the Seville Cathedral.
Accommodation
- Toruño Hotel enjoys a prime location in the heart of El Rocío marshes. From your (modest) room, you can hear and see flamingos, wild horses, deer and birds of prey a few meters away. Enjoy your alfresco dinner at the hotel restaurant with your feet in the sand under ancient olive trees.
- If you prefer to camp, go to Aldea Camping, which also has bungalows, a pool and a restaurant located on the outskirts of El Rocío.
- For a safari feel and look, try hotel Ardea Purpurea in Villamanrique de la Condesa, which lies on the other side of Doñana, in Seville province.
El Andévalo in Huelva
On the east side of the Guadiana river, you will find the Andévalo region between mountains and the coast. The Guadiana is the natural border between Portugal and Spain. You’ll find the Rio Tinto mines in the north of this region.
Ayamonte & Isla Canela
Ayamonte, a small border town, has only twenty thousand inhabitants. The city has a picturesque pedestrian medieval centre, a port where the ferry departs for Portugal and is the base for Isla Canela.
Golf Paradise Huelva
During my last visit, I stayed at the**** Hotel Isla Canela Golf. A beautiful resort with wooden floors, decorated in an eclectic style with Arabian and Asian influences. The friendly staff speak surprisingly good English, which is still a minor miracle in this part of the world.
The guests are mostly a middle-aged crowd from northern and western Europe, the type that still dresses for dinner. The rooms are tastefully decorated, with a view of the golf course. Unfortunately, the walls are relatively thin, so it is probably not suited for your romantic getaway.
The hotel is located between the 17th and 18th hole, i.e. an excellent base for a round of golf or two. A few kilometres from the hotel are endless white sandy beaches and a promenade with several restaurants. During our stay in November, it was tranquil. I suppose it is a lot busier in summer.
You can park your car near the beach, or you can rent a bike.
Portugal, on the border with Huelva
You can take a bicycle on the ferry, crossing over to the Portuguese Algarve. The ferry runs every hour (till 19.00 hours) from the Spanish port of Ayamonte to Vila Real de Santo Antonio in Portugal. A single ticket costs € 1.55 per person and for the bike you have to pay € 1.15.
Once on the other side, you will find a beautiful little town. From Vila Real de Santo Antonio, it is a few kilometres cycling to picturesque Castro Marim, which hascrossing two castles.
Rio Tinto mines
Near the northeastern border of the province of Huelva, a bizarre moonscape appears. The site was created by a joint effort between nature and man. In the Rio Tinto, or Red River, the minerals, iron and copper produced the typical colour, and miners sculpted the landscape.
A visit to the Rio Tinto mining complex will take you the best part of a day: the museum, the mines and the railroad can also be visited separately. The ride in a vintage train takes approximately one and a half hours.
For more information, see the website of the park.
Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche
In the extreme west of the Sierra Morena Mountains, in the north of the province of Huelva, the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche and Sierra Pelada y Ribera del Asserrador form together 200,000 hectares of nature. Huelva peaks here at 962 metres on the Cerro del Castaño.
The area has extensive forests, high rainfall, a mild climate and a distinctive cultural heritage (including Alajar). The vegetation consists of cork oaks, chestnuts and holm oaks. Along the river, you will find the famous willow and alder. Common birds are vultures and black storks.
Mountaineering
The mountainous terrain is perfect for all kinds of mountain sports: hiking, via Ferrata, spelunking, rock climbing and horseback riding. Visit andalusia.org for information in English.
Gruta de las Maravillas, the miracle cave
The Gruta de las Maravillas in Aracena is a complex of caves with underwater lakes. During weekends and holidays, it attracts hordes of tourists.
Visit the caves
In the caves, it is forbidden to take pictures. The cave is in the centre of the town of Aracena, in the north of the province of Huelva. Access is via the N – 433 roads from Seville or Portugal and the N – 435 from Extremadura or the same N – 435 of Huelva.
Calle Pozo de la Nieve, 21200 Aracena
Accommodation
We slept at Posada San Marcos in Alajar. The ecologically-built hotel has a pool and charming rooms. Lucy and Angel, a British/Spanish couple, own the place. We were served tasty food during our stay, including a casserole of cerdo Iberico with pepper, rosemary with a surprisingly delicious chocolate sauce.
Practical advice
- Summers in Huelva, especially July and August, are scorching with temperatures that fluctuate on the coast around 35° C. A holiday in the spring or fall is usually a lot more comfortable in temperature. However, certainly in winter, it can be bitterly cold due to the influence of the Atlantic.
- Distances are deceptively large because of the many rivers and mountains that make detours necessary.
- The nearest international airports are Seville (113 km) and Faro in Portugal, 112 kilometres from the capital Huelva.
Disclaimer
This article is a compilation of several visits to the province of Huelva and Seville. Three trips (of seven) were sponsored (transport, accommodation, tours, food) by Huelva, Seville province and the organisation Andalusian Wilderness. I slept in all recommended (affiliate links) overnight accommodations. The hotels/campsites have their qualities in location, quality and atmosphere.
Hotel Fuerte El Rompido (not visited) was one of the sponsors of my last trip to Huelva.
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