Getaway Travel
Rio Guadiana
From Vila Real de Santo Antonio, at the Atlantic Ocean on the banks of the River Guadiana, you travel northwards to Castro Marim where there is a large Nature Reserve where amongst others thousands of Flamingo´s spend their time feeding. Further upriver at Alamo there is an old Roman Village and the remains of Roman river works. A local museum at Guerreiros Do Rio tells the story of the river and the fishermen who work from its shore. The history of the border village of Alcoutim has always been linked to the river and it looks directly across to its Spanish neighbour, Sanlúcar de Guadiana. Visit the restored Castle which is an archaeological museum and the Church of St Salvador.
When you are alone on the way up the Rio Guadiana you get the feeling you're on expedition into something like the Orinoco, then suddenly a few other yachts are there as well: there are two villages here. The Portuguese one is called Alcoutim. The Spanish castle above the town is straight out of the Foreign Legion and looks very impressive. It's high on the hillside and dominates the area. In the villages storks are feeding their young on great nests on the bright white washed red roofed houses.
When you are alone on the way up the Rio Guadiana you get the feeling you're on expedition into something like the Orinoco, then suddenly a few other yachts are there as well: there are two villages here. The Portuguese one is called Alcoutim. The Spanish castle above the town is straight out of the Foreign Legion and looks very impressive. It's high on the hillside and dominates the area. In the villages storks are feeding their young on great nests on the bright white washed red roofed houses.
Rio Guadiana
Along the River Guadiana we find a breathtaking landscape with an extraordinary scenery. Being at the Spanish province of Huelva on the east side of the river, or the Portuguese banks at the west side, it is an experience never to forget. On this homepage you will find all sorts of information on some of the different areas that cover the eastern Algarve and the Spanish province Huelva:
Ayamonte
Monte Gordo
Alcoutim
Sanlucar de Guadiana
Donana National Park
Gibraleon
Punta Umbria
Ayamonte
The fishing port town of Ayamonte is located in the most western zone of Andalusia, on the mouth of the Guadiana river, that serves as a border with Portugal. Ayamonte has a population of more than 18,000 inhabitants, (which increases considerably during the vacation times) and is united by train with the capital of the province, Huelva; with the Andalusian capital, Seville and withPortugal.
On the banks of Ayamonte is the River Guadiana which is Europe's second longest river and is soon to be the site of Europe's largest reservoir. From its mouth at Ayamonte, the river is now only navigable for about 40 miles as far as Mertola.
Some of the towns along the river banks can be traced back as far as the Bronze Age and up until the middle of the last century, the river was an important commercial route bringing traffic from the sea to the interior of the Peninsular.
The port of Sanlucar de Guadiana gained prominence in the first half of the nineteenth century when it was used as a base to export such crops as rice, soap, lead and wood. Now, however, the only boats to be seen are those of visiting yachtsmen and the local fishermen who live in the village.
The surrounding areas are renowned for their now dormant mines and the Rio Tinto mines are reputed to be the oldest mines in the world. According to myth, these are the fabled mines of King Solomon.
Ayamonte unifies all distinctive features of a tourist city: excellent beaches, like those of Isla Canela and the Punta del Moral, splendid landscapes at the foot of the Guadiana an unbelievable artistic cultural asset with unique and privilege at the border to Portugal.
Nature is interesting in the area of Ayamonte. An absolute recommendation is the ascent as far as to the place Sa
car at the river Guadiana. An agreeable walk is the ascent at the Guadiana, with which one can enjoy the beauty of Spain and Portugal.
The swamps of the Isla Canela are populated by diverse birds. The seafaring quarter of the Punta del Moral has a quite particular charm.
The marina is adjacent to the village of Pinillos and is approached via a canal from the river. It is subject to some swell. There is an anchorage in the bay beyond the ferry terminal and fish quays, but landing is difficult from here.
Monte Gordo
Lying just 3 km to the west of frontier town Vila Real de Santo Antonio, the once sleepy fishing village of Monte Gordo is the last in a long line of popular beach resorts in the Eastern Algarve.
Bright and cheerful, the town has developed considerably as a holiday destination in recent years, catering for Portuguese and foreign visitors alike.
Its fishing tradition lives on as wives in housecoats emerge from newly-built houses to receive the best of the fresh catch from local fishermen, who still ride bicycles through the streets to deliver their orders.
What to see. Opened in July 1996, the towns glittering casino features a modern gaming room, more than 200 slot machines and a nightly floorshow.
Alcoutim and Sanlucar de Guadiana.
From Vila Real de Santo Antonio, at the Atlantic Ocean on the banks of the River Guadiana, you travel northwards to Castro Marim where there is a large Nature Reserve where amongst others thousands of Flamingoas spend their time feeding. Further upriver at Alamo there is an old Roman Village and the remains of Roman river works. A local museum at Guerreiros Do Rio tells the story of the river and the fishermen who work from its shore. The history of the border village of Alcoutim has always been linked to the river and it looks directly across to its Spanish neighbour, Sanlacar de Guadiana. Visit the restored Castle which is an archaeological museum and the Church of St Salvador.
When you are alone on the way up the Rio Guadiana you get the feeling you're on expedition into something like the Orinoco, then suddenly a few other yachts are there as well: there are two villages here. The Portuguese one is called Alcoutim. The Spanish castle above the town is straight out of the Foreign Legion and looks very impressive. It's high on the hillside and dominates the area. In the villages storks are feeding their young on great nests on the bright white washed red roofed houses.
Donana National Park
Donana is the most important Natural Park in Spain. Travel through the nature horsebacking the wonderful "marismas", with an exclusive fauna and flora. The is to be found deep in the West of Andalucia, in the South of Spain. The national reserve is managed at present by the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, with 50.720 hectares and it is caracterized by the presence of three tipes of ecosystems:
Forest and mediterrenian bush
Mobile Dunes
Swamps
In this area we find Mediterranean bush, seasonal swamps, aridity and watered cultives and humid zones transformed in rice fields. Hectares of rivers, pools, canals and lagoons, 7.000 Ha of coast dunes, 43.000 Ha of pine forests and 24.000 Ha of bush.
Donana is a habitat for 875 plant species and 226 animal species (birds, fishes, amphibious, reptiles and mammals famous for its wild horses-, all protected). Donana is a winter area for more of six millions of migratory birds: espain, flamencos, moritos, avocetas o ¡nsares. Of this last specie there are until 60.000 units, coming from European countries like Holland, Germany, Sweden or Denmark. In Donana we can find the last Lince iberico (most threatened in the world feline) and the Imperial eagle, both of endemic species in extinction danger
Punta Umbria
The swamp of the Odiel are the second big moist area of Huelva and is 7.150 hectares, that the natural reserves of this read, of Marismas del Burro and de la Isla de Enmedio big integrates. In order to visit this area, it is necessary to announce with the authorities, then, one can a trip on foot or per boat undertakes. After this area, we find Punta Umbria, at another beach of the coast of Huelva.
With boats or canoes, one can reach Punta Umbria over the waterway from also Huelva from. At the fishery harbor, one can watch their catch property like the fishers daily pure-brings. The Salts Factory from the time of the Roman Imperial (La Peguera) with a watchtower from the year XVII is artistically appears. From English colonial time, even many constructions of this area come. The near situated highway allows the visitor to reach the capital in about 15 min. Also the airports Sevilla and Faro are to be reached fast over the highway.
The Paseo Maratimo, on the estuary side of the peninsular, has a bustling port which houses one of the largest fishing fleets in the area. Along this promenade, bobbing fishing boats of all shapes and sizes can be seen, there is even an old riverboat, the Chimbuito, which has been refitted as a cafe bar. The Paseo Maratimo culminates in the Plaza Parez Pastor, lined with delightful seafood restaurants.
Gibraleon
Marismas del Odiel Natural Beauty Spot and Nature Reserve, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, this interesting marshy area of 7,185 hectares, is situated at the mouth of the river Odiel, between the towns of Huelva, Gibraleon, Aljaraque and Punta Umbria, from which places access to the park can be gained. In the interior there are the Nature Reserves of the Salt Marshes of El Burro, of 597 hecta¡res and that of Isla de Enmedio, 480 hectares, which are notable for the degree of preservation of their ecosystems.
Flora and Fauna
Flora
In the sandy ecosystems of the wetland areas there are salt cedars (Tamarix canariensis), black juniper (Juniperus phoenicea), kermes oak (Quercus coccifera), lentiscus (Pistacia lentiscus), Halimium halimifolium, rockroses (Cistus salvifolius) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). In areas of low recent salt marshes Spartina maratima and Salicornia ramosissima appear. In the high salt arshes there are such characteristic species as Arthrocnemum macrostachyum and the singular Spartina densiflora. At the points of origin of the streams and in the peripheral swamps a marshy vegetation grows, made up principally of rushes (Juncus acutus y Juncus maritimus), bullrushes (Thypha dominguensis) and tamarisks (Tamarix canariensis).
Fauna
Odiel is an obligatory stopping place for thousands of migratory birds. It is home to 30 % of the European population of spoonbills. Also there is the grey heron (Ardea cinerea), the purple heron (Ardea purpurea) and the marsh harrier (Circus aeroginosus). During the wintertime thousands of aquatic birds gather here; especially a large number of flamingos, about 2,000. Occasionally the black stork (Ciconia nigra), the Plegadis falcinellus and the crane (Grus grus) can be seen. We can also find the chameleon (in the sandy parts of the Saltes islands) and the lynx (in the wooded area Campo Coma).
Marismas
coastal marshes along the Guadalquivir estuary in Andalusia, southern Spain. For centuries the region, noted for its birdlife, served as a hunting ground for the dukes of Medina-Sidonia. In 1963, at the suggestion of the World Wildlife Fund, it was established as a nature reserve, and in 1969 it became part of the Doñana National Park.
Algarve - History
Due to the importance of its position on the world map this province has been invaded and fought over by the Phoenicians, Romans and Moors. Closely associated with the sea throughout its history this was the base of the famous Henry the Navigator who, from the point at Sagres organized the successful 15th Century exploration of the New World.
The Algarve has been inhabited for thousands of years but the first developed society was probably the Phoenicians in 1.100 BC and then followed by the Tartessus tribe to about 600 BC. In the same century there is also evidence of a tribe by the name of "Conii" being found around the area of Vila Real de Santo António followed by another tribe named "Turduli" in the same area in 400 BC. In between these two tribes the whole area had been inhabited by a wave of Celts. Another tribe from this same period was the "Cynetes".
Somewhere around 235 BC the Romans moved up from their base in Cadiz to occupy the Algarve and were eventually removed by the invading Visigoths in about 410 AD. here they were to stay until 711 when the Umayyads from North Africa took possession of the southern Iberian Peninsular. The Moors were to stay in possession of the Algarve until 1185 when Sancho I and his Christian army briefly captured most towns with Silves holding out to 1189. However, by 1191 the Moors had these same towns back in their possession. Finally, King Sancho II and his Christian army helped by Crusaders retook the Algarve in 1236. The first time that the Algarve was referred to as a part of the Kingdom was when Afonso III was crowned in 1249 he took the title of "King of Portugal and all Algarve". However, it was not until 1272 that Afonso III eventually took Faro which was the last stronghold of the Moors in the Algarve.
The King of Castile did not at first accept Afonso III's claim to the Algarve and it was only in 1267 at the Treaty of Badajoz that this situation was temporarily resolved. The situation was again settled in 1297 at the Treaty of Alcañices when the actual boundaries between the two countries was agreed. The Algarve inhabitants remained for nearly 300 hundred years without any further change in their rulers but subject to raids from pirates. This situation changed when the throne of Portugal fell vacant in 1580 and the nearest relative in line was King Felipe II of Spain who soon crowned himself as King of Portugal.
Shortly after this the Algarve fell prone to attacks from passing English vessels. In 1596 the Earl of Essex invaded Faro and removed amongst other things the historic library belonging to the Bishop of Faro. Francis Drake who was harrying the ships that were preparing for the Armada failed in his attack on Lagos in 1597. He moved westward and landed in Sagres to destroy what he could find which included the supposed house in which Henry the Navigator had been living although he is recorded as residing in Lagos.
In 1640 the Portuguese decided to rid themselves of their disliked absent ruler and successfully reclaimed their Kingdom and placed João IV, (the House of "Duque de Bragança"), on their throne.
The Algarve nearly became a separate Kingdom when the ambitious prime minister of Carlos IV of Spain, Manuel Godoy, was involved in the Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1807. In the agreement created by the Emperor Napoleon and agreed by Carlos IV of Spain was that Portugal would be carved into areas to be governed by France and Spain - Manuel Godoy to assume the Algarve. However, the Wars that followed between Portugal that were supported by England and Spain resulted in the plans of Napoleon turning into a complete failure.
The Algarve was also to play a part in the problems once more caused by the claims to the throne of Portugal in 1822. Two royal brothers, Pedro and Miguel, warred against each other with liberal minded Pedro winning against the hardliner Miguel. The Algarve towns, as in most of the country, were at the time divided in their support. From the village of Estombar appeared a rebel Miguel supporter named "Remexido" with a strong band of followers. His support for Miguel was brutally applied to his enemies and extending especially to robbery. In 1833 Pedro had to send some 2.500 men to the Algarve to successfully capture this elusive and troublesome bandit.
The Algarve has been inhabited for thousands of years but the first developed society was probably the Phoenicians in 1.100 BC and then followed by the Tartessus tribe to about 600 BC. In the same century there is also evidence of a tribe by the name of "Conii" being found around the area of Vila Real de Santo António followed by another tribe named "Turduli" in the same area in 400 BC. In between these two tribes the whole area had been inhabited by a wave of Celts. Another tribe from this same period was the "Cynetes".
Somewhere around 235 BC the Romans moved up from their base in Cadiz to occupy the Algarve and were eventually removed by the invading Visigoths in about 410 AD. here they were to stay until 711 when the Umayyads from North Africa took possession of the southern Iberian Peninsular. The Moors were to stay in possession of the Algarve until 1185 when Sancho I and his Christian army briefly captured most towns with Silves holding out to 1189. However, by 1191 the Moors had these same towns back in their possession. Finally, King Sancho II and his Christian army helped by Crusaders retook the Algarve in 1236. The first time that the Algarve was referred to as a part of the Kingdom was when Afonso III was crowned in 1249 he took the title of "King of Portugal and all Algarve". However, it was not until 1272 that Afonso III eventually took Faro which was the last stronghold of the Moors in the Algarve.
The King of Castile did not at first accept Afonso III's claim to the Algarve and it was only in 1267 at the Treaty of Badajoz that this situation was temporarily resolved. The situation was again settled in 1297 at the Treaty of Alcañices when the actual boundaries between the two countries was agreed. The Algarve inhabitants remained for nearly 300 hundred years without any further change in their rulers but subject to raids from pirates. This situation changed when the throne of Portugal fell vacant in 1580 and the nearest relative in line was King Felipe II of Spain who soon crowned himself as King of Portugal.
Shortly after this the Algarve fell prone to attacks from passing English vessels. In 1596 the Earl of Essex invaded Faro and removed amongst other things the historic library belonging to the Bishop of Faro. Francis Drake who was harrying the ships that were preparing for the Armada failed in his attack on Lagos in 1597. He moved westward and landed in Sagres to destroy what he could find which included the supposed house in which Henry the Navigator had been living although he is recorded as residing in Lagos.
In 1640 the Portuguese decided to rid themselves of their disliked absent ruler and successfully reclaimed their Kingdom and placed João IV, (the House of "Duque de Bragança"), on their throne.
The Algarve nearly became a separate Kingdom when the ambitious prime minister of Carlos IV of Spain, Manuel Godoy, was involved in the Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1807. In the agreement created by the Emperor Napoleon and agreed by Carlos IV of Spain was that Portugal would be carved into areas to be governed by France and Spain - Manuel Godoy to assume the Algarve. However, the Wars that followed between Portugal that were supported by England and Spain resulted in the plans of Napoleon turning into a complete failure.
The Algarve was also to play a part in the problems once more caused by the claims to the throne of Portugal in 1822. Two royal brothers, Pedro and Miguel, warred against each other with liberal minded Pedro winning against the hardliner Miguel. The Algarve towns, as in most of the country, were at the time divided in their support. From the village of Estombar appeared a rebel Miguel supporter named "Remexido" with a strong band of followers. His support for Miguel was brutally applied to his enemies and extending especially to robbery. In 1833 Pedro had to send some 2.500 men to the Algarve to successfully capture this elusive and troublesome bandit.
Marismas
The marshland nature reserve of the Marismas de Isla Cristina is situated between the northern edge of Isla Cristina village and the Carreras estuary to the east and Ayamonte and the Guadiana estuary to the west. Within its 2.1 sq km is a variety of habitats and an impressive range of birds.
The dunes and beaches have been somewhat spoilt by increasing tourist development at Isla Canela and the neighbouring Playa del Moral. Due to the large amount of visitors to these areas and Isla Cristina during the summer months, the dunes and beaches are best visited outside of this time, but the marismas are uncrowded all year round.
Access
The dunes, estuary and beaches at Isla Canela and Playa del Moral can be accessed from the coast road south of Ayamonte. East of Isla Canela is a stone tower, the Torre de Canela, which has fine views over the marshlands.
From the beach at Playa del Moral are good views across the estuary. North of Playa del Moral is a track that leads to a causeway to the marshlands, where you can view abandoned salt pans.
You can see the eastern part of the marismas from the H-412 road that crosses a creek and runs north of Isla Cristina towards Pozo del Camino and the A-49 motorway.
Flora and Fauna
The nature reserve is made up of salt marshes, creeks and disused salt pans. Around the shores of the marshes, which are colonized by glasswort, are sand dunes, covered by pine and juniper trees.
The marismas are full of a good variety of waders, terns and gulls all year round, although winter is the best time to see them. There are big flocks of spoonbills and Kentish plovers. Storks, spoonbills, flamingoes, black-winged stilts and marsh harriers are among the birds that can also be spotted. Breeding birds include Montagu's harriers, bee-eaters and hoopoes.
The beach at Playa del Moral is the best place to see gulls and terns near the beach, as well as seabirds out to sea.
Walks
Two kilometres north of Isla Cristina is a marked footpath and cycleway. This is the Sendero de Molino Mareal de Pozo del Camino, a so-called vía verde (green route), which follows the route of a disused railway line from Pozo del Camino to Ayamonte.
The dunes and beaches have been somewhat spoilt by increasing tourist development at Isla Canela and the neighbouring Playa del Moral. Due to the large amount of visitors to these areas and Isla Cristina during the summer months, the dunes and beaches are best visited outside of this time, but the marismas are uncrowded all year round.
Access
The dunes, estuary and beaches at Isla Canela and Playa del Moral can be accessed from the coast road south of Ayamonte. East of Isla Canela is a stone tower, the Torre de Canela, which has fine views over the marshlands.
From the beach at Playa del Moral are good views across the estuary. North of Playa del Moral is a track that leads to a causeway to the marshlands, where you can view abandoned salt pans.
You can see the eastern part of the marismas from the H-412 road that crosses a creek and runs north of Isla Cristina towards Pozo del Camino and the A-49 motorway.
Flora and Fauna
The nature reserve is made up of salt marshes, creeks and disused salt pans. Around the shores of the marshes, which are colonized by glasswort, are sand dunes, covered by pine and juniper trees.
The marismas are full of a good variety of waders, terns and gulls all year round, although winter is the best time to see them. There are big flocks of spoonbills and Kentish plovers. Storks, spoonbills, flamingoes, black-winged stilts and marsh harriers are among the birds that can also be spotted. Breeding birds include Montagu's harriers, bee-eaters and hoopoes.
The beach at Playa del Moral is the best place to see gulls and terns near the beach, as well as seabirds out to sea.
Walks
Two kilometres north of Isla Cristina is a marked footpath and cycleway. This is the Sendero de Molino Mareal de Pozo del Camino, a so-called vía verde (green route), which follows the route of a disused railway line from Pozo del Camino to Ayamonte.
Isla Cristina the family home
Isla Cristina is a city and municipality located in the province of Huelva, Spain. According to the 2006 census, the city has a population of 19,875 inhabitants.
Isla Cristina remains one of the most important fishing ports in Huelva province, its catch being highly prized throughout Spain.
It is a popular summer holiday resort, particularly with the Spaniards themselves. Sevillianos flock to the area in July and August, much of the attraction being the kilometers of 'Blue Flag' standard beaches.
Isla Cristina remains one of the most important fishing ports in Huelva province, its catch being highly prized throughout Spain.
It is a popular summer holiday resort, particularly with the Spaniards themselves. Sevillianos flock to the area in July and August, much of the attraction being the kilometers of 'Blue Flag' standard beaches.
Something Different
TERRA EXOTICA - CROCODILE PARK
is located on Exit 122 - Isla Cristina of Highway E-1
is located on Exit 122 - Isla Cristina of Highway E-1
TERRA EXOTICA
TERRA EXOTICA” is a reptile breeding farm and sanctuary. In large, nature like outdoor exhibits Europe´s largest (Over 2000 reptiles) collection of Crocodiles, aquatic turtles and landtortoises, snakes and lizards are kept in breeding projects. Future off- spring will go to zoo´s, parks and collections.
This parks allows you an interesting inside view how such a farm works and operates.
WHAT TO SEE
- Caimans, (dwarf-) crocodiles, alligators and their off – spring.
- Europe´s only breeding group of African giant tortoises, (Geochelone sulcata) and their babies.
- Unique collection of aquatic turtles and tortoises from all parts of the world.
- Iguana´s (Spanish endemic) chamaleons, blue tongue lizards, in their free outdoor exhibits.
- Breeding groups of Boa´s, Python, Anaconda and other interesting snakes.
POINTS OF INTEREST:
Daily crocodile feedings at 12:00 and 18:00 hours. Feed your own giant tortoise.
Touch a crocodile, feel a real live snake, hold an iguana.
Lots of rare photo and video opportunities.
Have yourself photographed with a snake or iguana. Free of charge!!!
This parks allows you an interesting inside view how such a farm works and operates.
WHAT TO SEE
- Caimans, (dwarf-) crocodiles, alligators and their off – spring.
- Europe´s only breeding group of African giant tortoises, (Geochelone sulcata) and their babies.
- Unique collection of aquatic turtles and tortoises from all parts of the world.
- Iguana´s (Spanish endemic) chamaleons, blue tongue lizards, in their free outdoor exhibits.
- Breeding groups of Boa´s, Python, Anaconda and other interesting snakes.
POINTS OF INTEREST:
Daily crocodile feedings at 12:00 and 18:00 hours. Feed your own giant tortoise.
Touch a crocodile, feel a real live snake, hold an iguana.
Lots of rare photo and video opportunities.
Have yourself photographed with a snake or iguana. Free of charge!!!
Living and Working in Southern Spain and Portugal
This Summer we will be exploring some of the more out of the way and hidden sides of the South. In former years that has lead me to the Tuna Matanzas, El Rocio, and the Portugese National Parks.unfortunately the spread of the concrete jungle or should I say Tourism has spoilt some of these areas, but there are areas still unspoilt. areas where you can marvel at the eagles playing in the sky talon to talon or get the fright of your life from a low flying eagle owl
This Summer we will be exploring some of the more out of the way and hidden sides of the South. In former years that has lead me to the Tuna Matanzas, El Rocio, and the Portugese National Parks.unfortunately the spread of the concrete jungle or should I say Tourism has spoilt some of these areas, but there are areas still unspoilt. areas where you can marvel at the eagles playing in the sky talon to talon or get the fright of your life from a low flying eagle owl
