Guided Tours

There are 3 guided tours in the National Park, they all require booking in advance. The Park itself doesn't offer any guided services for the normal visitor. All the tours are carried out by private companies holding a concession or an authorization from the Park to do a particular route and activity.

The Boat Tour

This is a short boat trip of about 3 hours and a half and 13 km organized by the company Buque Real Fernando.

The boat, named the same as the company, has a capacity for nearly 100 passenger. It departs from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, on the eastern banks of the mouth of the Guadalquivir River and moves upstream to the traditional

village settlement of "La Plancha", on the western banks of the river.

A short walk there will take you to understand how people used live on the natural resources of the area and with a bit of luck to see some deer or wild boar in the "Llanos de Velázquez" (Velazquez Flat Grounds).

Back to the boat you will be taken up to the birdwatching hides in "Salinas de Monte Algaida" in the Natural Park, some traditional salt pans where flamingos, spoonbills and other aquatic birds are abundant.

The boat will then move back along the river down to Sanlúcar de Barrameda again.

They hire binoculars on board.

More information and bookings on 956 363 813 or info@visitasdonana.com.

The South Route

The Cooperativa Marismas del Rocío is a private company founded by local people who organize the south route tour.

In 21 seated large vehicles they introduce you to the ecosystems of Doñana. They will show you the 32 kms of sandy beaches from Matalascañas to Sanlúcar, where flocks of Gulls, Terns and Waders are common.

They will move along the Guadalquivir western banks up to the village of La Plancha. Home until mid last century for families of settlers who lived on the natural resources of the area. Charcoal making and Pine cone collecting were some of the last activities carried out. None lives permanently there any more.

Then they will drive next to the edge of the marshes and stop at "Vetalengua House" to invite you to enjoy the spectacular views of the marshes. Some days Spanish Imperial Eagle shows itself perched on a tall eucalyptus next to the marsh.

To finish the visit to the main ecosystems of Doñana they will take you across the mobile sand dunes back to the beach. This is one of the most beautiful sceneries in the park. It is like entering the African desert. Tall dunes of up to 35 metres alternates with green stripes of vegetation and pine forests as a result of a dynamic process that starts on the beach and ends in the marshes.

They do 3 or 4 fixed stops along the route, one for every section of the trip that lasts for about 3 hours and a half.

Tours depart from Acebuche visitor centre, near Matalascañas, twice a day. You can hire a pair of binoculars there.

Only one of the guide-drivers speaks other than Spanish properly. You might get him if you're lucky, he is not off and there not too may foreigners that day.

For more information and bookings call at +34 959 430 432.

The North Route

This tour will take you from El Rocío to Jose Antonio Valverde Visitor Centre along the traditional pilgrim track of La Raya Real, through the Pine forests of Coto del Rey, the Cork oak forests in Matasgordas and across the Hinojos Marshes.

There are several companies offering this tour for people with general interests mainly. Normally they do a 4 hour tour with one extra stop at the marshes edge in 8 to 16 seated vehicles.

This is one of the routes we offer in the area, using a 4WD for 8 people as a mean of transport and taking some 6 hours, to do as many stops as we need and have time enough to enjoy sceneries and wildlife. We complete the tour with a visit to other interesting sites further north and east like "Lucio de El Lobo", "Entremuros" stripe or the Isla Mayor rice fields among others.