Monfragüe National Park is a must-see spot in Spain for any nature lover, so naturally (pun intended) it’s been on my radar for a while. Although I knew of its reputation as a birdwatching paradise, the park, including the Monfragüe Biosphere Reserve, has much more to offer. In this post, I’ll share my experience visiting the park, with a 3-day itinerary in Monfrague with mandatory stops and tips, including where I had one of the best meals of my life so far!
Monfragüe National Park: A 3-Day Route
1. Day 1: North Visitor’s Center, Tomb of The Princess, and Views
The first meeting point of this blog trip was Malpartida de Plasencia, a charming small town in the province of Cáceres, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, located in Southwestern Spain. From the get-go, I was very excited for the opportunity to visit Extremadura for the first time, thanks to ADEME Monfragüe.
I first took a train from the Atocha station in Madrid to Navalmoral de la Mata. Then, after a 2-hour journey, I hopped on a bus to Malpartida, which took an extra 45 minutes. Once I arrived at my destination, I walked towards Apartamentos Rurales Cielo de Monfragüe, a beautiful, rural, and locally owned accommodation. I was the first to arrive and got to know the owner, bonding over our mutual love for movies, specifically those by Kubrick, and was immediately drawn to the peaceful atmosphere of the apartments.
After an excellent first impression, I met the rest of the bloggers and reunited with my friend Miriam from the blog Princesa Viajera. We then received a warm welcome from Alejandro, the trip’s organizer, and Raúl from Viendo Verde, one of our guides, who would become our most trusted and beloved driver over the following days. With all greetings and salutations complete, we headed west and then south to the North Visitor’s Center, located just 12 minutes away by car.
Along the road, I was (pleasantly) surprised by how green the landscapes were compared to the predominantly brown pictures of Extremadura you find online. But the surprises didn’t stop there. The visitor center’s facade has a super modern design, while its interior took inspiration from a bird nest. It reminded me of 2001: A Space Odyssey, as all roads lead back to Kubrick if you love cinema as much as I do.
Inside the Centro de Visitantes Norte de Monfragüe, you can learn about the species you can encounter in the park through an interactive visit involving all the senses. I was particularly impressed by the owl sounds, which differed from what years of movies and cartoons had led me to expect. All these features will definitely catch a kid’s attention, making the center a perfect stop in Monfragüe for a family trip. Plus, you don’t need a guide to visit the center.
We also learned about the park’s transformation from a total Mediterranean forest to one that now features several dehesas. A dehesa is a unique type of ecosystem found in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. These ecosystems stand out because of the human intervention that created them in the past for free grazing.
After spending some time indoors, we returned to the van and drove for 20 minutes northeast to the Princess’ Tomb. The tomb is located on top of a rock formation in Castillejos Hill, so we tied up our hiking boots and walked uphill, following an easy trail. The hill is part of the Robledos dehesa.
This tomb’s location and small scale led to speculation about its use for burying a princess. However, others say that the Vettones used it for human sacrifices. For my mental health, I prefer to go with the first theory. That said, the best part of visiting this site was when a herd of goats magically appeared beneath our feet, with bells filling the air. This stroke of serendipity was so perfect that you could almost believe the organization had planned it. Maybe the goats were paid actors.
After such a special moment, we continued to explore other areas of the park, including the Embalse de las Covachillas. This reservoir, in the Tagus Basin, dates back to 1981 and is used for water supply purposes.
We had our first encounter with black storks, a migrant bird, here. This location was also our first opportunity to birdwatch through telescopes during the trip, so please excuse the photo quality.
Lastly, we witnessed even more breathtaking views, such as those from the viewpoint of the Canchal de la Lobera.
I also took the time to take selfies with cows along the way because why not? We headed towards our accommodation, had dinner, and called it a day.
2. Day 2: Salto del Gitano, Birdwatching and Ham Tasting
We had breakfast in our apartments on day two of our three-day stay in Monfragüe National Park. Then, we headed to one of the park’s most popular destinations: Salto del Gitano. This mountain’s name originates from a somewhat problematic legend and is a birding epicenter.
Hence, you can expect many tourists from all over Europe who often bring professional cameras and telescopes. We were lucky to have César as a guide. He knew exactly where and when to look for majestic birds, such as the griffon vulture or the red kite. It seemed he had a knack for aiming the telescope at a nest at just the right moment. Similarly, we were blessed with fewer crowds than you would typically expect in the area.
Personal tip: Arrive early at Salto del Gitano to enjoy the views without the crowds.
You will undoubtedly appreciate this activity even if you’re not a birder. Witnessing the mighty vultures circling the air while feeling the breeze and looking at the river is unforgettable. Other birds you can watch in Monfragüe include the colorful Blue rock thrush, Egyptian vultures, Black storks, Short-toed snake eagles, and Black vultures.
Personal tip: Bring binoculars to have a closer look at the birds soaring through the sky or nesting on top of rocks
On the other hand, if there’s one thing travel bloggers can never get enough of, it’s viewpoints. So we convinced our guides to take us to the Castillo de Monfragüe. You can hop on a free bus from the castle’s base to get there. When you get off the bus, you’ll have to climb 134 stairs, but the views are well worth it. You can see most of the park from the top of the castle.
That said, don’t expect much from the IX-century Arab fortress since not much of the original structure remains.
We left the castle and went to another viewpoint, this one overlooking Puente del Cardenal. Ironically, after an exceptionally rainy spring, the bridge was obscured by the Tagus River, making it impossible to see. However, the view, with many regional flowers and trees in bloom, was still worth it.
After hiking (and especially after so many stairs), we were starving. Fortunately, the next stop on our three-day trip to Monfragüe was an Iberian ham farm. Even as a jamón enthusiast, I had high expectations, and they were more than exceeded during this part of the trip.
Marta received us at the farm, which is in a dehesa. Marta’s husband, Pedro, owned the farm, which had been in his family for many generations. Meanwhile, she was responsible for the logistics of raising Iberian pigs and the rigorous process behind producing ham. We walked around the farm and saw the pigs eating nonstop, frolicking, and bathing in a stress-free environment.
We learned about the importance of acorns in these pigs’ diet, a determining factor in the quality of the ham, along with genetics. For example, if you breed two 100% Iberian pigs, their offspring are more likely to produce a high-quality ham.
Then, we joined an outdoor jamón tasting. Although it was initially a strange experience spending time with such happy pigs to eat some of their relatives, a ham tasting is a must-do activity in Extremadura. Plus, if you’re not a vegetarian like me, you will find the flavors simply heavenly.
Besides ham, we also had different grilled pig meat cuts, and, like Eve, we started with ribs. Gradually, we moved to the most sought-after parts of a pig, until we got to the pluma, a triangular cut in the animal’s back that’s a favorite in Spain. We paired all the meat with wine, which, surrounded by beautiful nature, made for a delightful lunch I’ll never forget.
We also had a fun game of placing the name of the cut in the anatomy of the pig, which I aced! You can get in touch with Marta through the Sierra de Monfragüe website to book a tour and tasting.
With a full tummy, we crawled back into the van and drove back to Malpartida. We had a relaxed dinner in our apartment’s garden. I didn’t miss the city at all!
3. Day 3: South Visitor’s Center
For the final day of this three-day trip to Monfragüe, we had breakfast in our apartments again and hopped on the van. Raúl drove us smoothly to Torrejón el Rubio, a small town 45 minutes south. However, since I slept from point A to B, I may not be a reliable narrator of this journey.
Once in Torrejón del Rubio, we stopped at the South Visitor’s Center (Centro de Visitantes Sur). Outside the center, I saw sheep, completing the list of animal species on the trip. Extra points because they seemed to be shepherded by a cat.
Our guide taught us even more about the birds that travel and live in the area. We saw feathers, skulls, and even stuffed specimens and replicas.
Then, we moved to an area dedicated to astronomy, with a model of the solar system and telescopes. There is also an observatory, but it was sadly closed during our visit.
The South Visitor’s Center also has replicas of the old huts that once dotted the park. Inside these replicas, you can see the tools used by the people who lived in them for eating and sleeping.
We also saw a short film about the 107 cave paintings in different parts of Monfragüe. These prehistoric paintings, typically made with minerals like iron oxide, represented everyday life. For example, in this schematic art, you can see depictions of hunting, gathering, battles, and giving birth. However, our guide cautioned us about the difficulty in accessing most of these paintings, so booking a tour is necessary.
After this learning lesson, we got on the van for the last time and drove back to Malpartida. We got bocadillos to go and headed back to our cities. For the trip back, another blogger was kind enough to give me a ride to Madrid. As a result, it only took two hours to get home!
What to Know Before Visiting the Monfragüe National Park
Although the park is beautiful all year round, the best times to visit Monfragüe are during spring and fall. These seasons bring less extreme temperatures and an array of gorgeous colors. Monfragüe National Park is worth staying at least three days to explore its impressive landmarks and unwind.
Although I was beyond happy with my apartment, Malpartida doesn’t have as many options for accommodation around the park. Hence, you could book a hotel in Plasencia, the nearest big city to the park. From Plasencia, you can take a scenic 15-minute train to the park for only 2-3 euros. Another great option is renting a car. This way, you’ll be able to discover other parts of the Cáceres province or the rest of Extremadura, like Jerez de los Caballeros.
As for final tips, be mindful of your surroundings. Respect the park’s rules, even the cute flowers are meant to stay in the park. Furthermore, you could even receive a fine, as a large part of the park is a biosphere reserve. If you decide to travel with your dog, keep it on a leash to avoid your pet having altercations with wild species.
For more eco-friendly tours in Spanish cities, visit my posts about Ciudad Real and Albacete.