The Delta of the Ebro is one of the most curious places of Catalonia, declared Natural Park in 1983.
In this article go you to describe the most emblematic points of the Natural Park of the Delta of the Ebro, so that you can lose by you one of the most curious places of the Catalan geography:
- Observation of birds.
- Gastronomy.
- Cycling – Cicloturismo.
- Visiting the delta in Kayak.
- Walks in ship to the mouth of the Ebro.
- Illa Of Buda and Faro of the Fangar.
- Beach of the Trabucador and Tip of the Banya.
- And In the surroundings.
The Delta of the Ebro was declared Natural Park in 1983 and expanded in 1986. It is the humid zone bigger of Catalonia and one of the most important of the Iberian peninsula beside the national park of Doñana in the south of Spain.
In any period of the year in which you visit the Delta of the Ebro will find a distinct landscape. The crops of rice go through his different phases endowing to the park of a different environment according to the station. The show is sublime when the rice is already grown and the wind moves softly the paddies causing the effect of waves of sea of green colour that visit the extensive fields; a wonder for the sight and the senses.
If you are lover of the observation of birds, this place no can it to you lose since in him have identified more than 350 different species. Of special importance is the colony of Flemish in the Delta of the Ebro; in 2020 they arrived to contabilizaron more than 4.000 couples of Flemish in an only colony that months later increased in more than 3.000 chicks. This colony is easy to observe from the distinct observatories that find situated along the road. Only you need some binoculars and to enjoy of the show.
But no only the observation of birds is the only inducement of the Delta of the Ebro: gastronomy, sports, tourism, beaches… an infinity of activities that convert this rincón of Catalonia in a place that can not you lose.
1. Observation of birds
As we already have commented the observation of birds is one of the main inducements of the Natural Park of the Delta of the Ebro. More than 350 different species shelter, invernan, feed and reposan during the long travesías of migration.
His high diversity, the big concentrations that achieve in determinate periods of the year and the relative ease with which can observe are reason of attraction for the naturalistic in general, but also for the ornitólogos more demanding.
The observation of birds in the delta of the Ebro is feasible in any station of the year, so much in the paddies as in lagunas, humedales, marine waters, saltworks, etc.
You will be able to enjoy in small observatories easily accessible from the adjacent roads of the diversity of the avifauna of the delta of the Ebro. We leave you an image with the location of these observatories:
- Encanyissada (4)
- The Tancada (5)
- Riet Vell (6)
- Migjorn (7)
- The Garxal (8)
- Channel Vell (9)
- Them Olles (10)
- Tip of the Fangar (11)
- Tip of the Banya (12)
The colony of Flemish is used to to be situated in the observatory of The Tancada. It is a spectacular colony of big size, arrived to contabilizar in 2020 more 4.000 couples that months later increased in more than 3.000 chicks.
If you want to know in more detail the birds that can observe in the delta, can consult the pdf that link you to continuation. A publication of the Government of Catalonia with the list of the birds of the Delta of the Ebre: Llista Patro dels ocells of the Delta of Ebre (in Catalan).
Also they exist 8 itineraries established to realise the observation of birds in the delta and surroundings:
- South of the River Ebro
- The North of the River Ebro
- Horta Of Sant Joan - Them Gronses - Coll of Miralles
- Tortosa-Mont Expensive: From the city until the summit of the mountain
- The Perelló - Cabrafeixet
- Rasquera - Spa of Cardó - Creu of Santos
- Natural reservation of Sebes and Meander of Flix.
- Ascó - The Fatarella - Hermitage of Sant Francesc - Hermitage of Berrús - River Matarraña
We leave you a pdf where describe these 8 itineraries to guide to the visitors along the different points of main importance: Observacion Birds Delta Ebro
2. Gastronomy
The gastronomy always is a safe bet in any escape. In the Delta of the Ebro could not be of another way taking into account the place in which it finds .
They exist a big variety of typical dishes that have the rice like protagonist between which stands out the most typical of all they: Rice of duck of the delta. If you atravéis with the recipe: Recipe Rice of duck.
In addition to the rice the gastronomy of the delta has big local products and traditional recipes loaded of history and character: Eel, rumps of frog, mussels and oysters, bandana of rice (morcilla of rice), etc.
If you want to enjoy of the gastronomy of the zone there are several interesting points that can visit:
Restaurant Estany Marries of Fusta
The most typical of the zone and perhaps the most famous situated in full heart of the Delta of the Ebro. It was built to finals of the years 20 by a group of hunters that installed in the Delta attracted by the hunting that offered the zone.
It offers a big variety of rices as well as of typical dishes of the zone. Besides, in the outsides of the restaurant there is an oriel from which enjoy of the seen to the laguna of L'Encanyissada, one of the observatories of birds more privileged of all the delta.
Location Restaurant Estany House of Fusta.
More information Restaurant Estany House of Fusta: https://restaurantcasadefusta.com
Poble Nou Of the Delta
If you want to escape of the most tourist zones and reencontrar the essence of the delta, can not you leave to visit Poble Nou of the Delta.
It is a small municipality with white houses with inner playground organised around his church with his characteristic bell tower; it is born afterwards the Civil War to give receive to the agriculturalists that arrived to work in the paddies.
In this village, just in the pertinent entrance of Els Eucaliptus, can find a half dozen of restaurants with small terraces that offer spectacular rices and local food.
Location Poble Nou of the Delta
The Muscleres
From Sant Carles of the Ràpita can visit the muscleres of the delta where cultivate the mussels and oysters so typical of the zone.
The excursion consists in taking a small ship in the port of Sant Carles of the Ràpita that will carry us in some 15 minutes to any of the mejilloneras that can visit . Once there, in addition to a small explanation of the process of crop of the mussels and oysters and enjoy of the wonderful natural surroundings will be able to taste the mussels and oysters of the Delta of the Ebro.
The places to reserve the excursion find in the port of Sant Carles of the Ràpita, only have to choose the musclera of which can visit .
Elvers of the Delta
To finish, if you want to carry you a bit of the flavour of these earths home, propose you the visit to a criadero of elvers.
The most known is Angules Roset, situated in the heart of the Delta of the Ebro, are recognised to European level like specialists in the live transport, the transformation and the commercialisation of elvers and eels.
In the installations there is a small shop where can buy these products perfectly embasados so that you can enjoy them in your house.
Location Angules Roset
More information in the own web of the criadero: https://angulasroset.com
3. Cycling - Cicloturismo
The Delta of the Ebro is an ideal place to visit it in bicycle. The distances to visit are big but when being a so flat zone and with good lanes for bicycles is one of the most pleasant activities that can realise in these earths.
Two of the most emblematic routes of the zone are:
The Encanyissada:
Itinerary: Sant Carles of the Ràpita - Vilacoto - the Encanyissada.
Distance: 25 Km.
Approximate time: 4 hours.
Desnivel: Entirely flat.
Difficulty: Drop.
The Tancada:
Itinerary: Poblenou of the Delta - Beach of the Trabucador.
Distance: 17 Km.
Approximate time: 3 hours.
Desnivel: Entirely flat.
Difficulty: Drop.
You can find a sinfín of routes established or leave you lose by the footpaths between paddies. If you decantais by the first option, leave you a link where will be able to find from calm walks to routes more demanding: Terres of the Ebre Reserves of the biosphere.
In the zone also exists a sinfín of places where rent the bicycles, in high season is advisable to reserve previously:
- https://www.riualebre.com/alquiler-de-bicicletas/
- http://4camins.com/
- https://www.deltacleta.cat/es/
4. Visiting the delta in Kayak
Others of the very recommended activities is the route in kayak of the river Ebro in his mouth or some of his channels.
Sail in kayak by his calm waters is a fun way to see the river from another perspective and can enjoy of his fauna with tranquility and almost in solitude.
Physically the activity does not need any requirement. The flat waters and of scarce current in this zone does that it was apt for all the publics included the boys. There are individual and double kayaks, so if somebody does not dare to face this activity in solitary can rent a double kayak.
Only it is necessary to take into account a small detail: while we go in direction to the mouth, the current of the river helps us to sail without practically encourage any, but will arrive the moment to go back and all the visited of “descent” will have to do it of “rise”, in this moment yes that go to notice that we have to employ us more thorough to achieve our aim.
Many are the itineraries that can carry out in the zone, leave you two of the most emblematic:
Riu Of Migjorn or Gola of Migjorn
The Riu of Migjorn is an ancient mouth of the river Ebro that in the actuality is obstructed by a barrier of sediments. When arriving to the barrier that closes the ancient mouth will be able to leave the kayaks and access to an immense beach where will be able to give us a bathroom or even access to the small Xiringuitu Platja Migjorn and relax us in this glorious place.
The kayaks for this excursion can rent in Deltaventur (https://www.parcdeltaventur.com) situated in the same rio Ebro just in the birth of the Riu of Migjorn.
The Bay of the Alfaques or Badia dels Alfacs
The Bay of the Alfaques is a bay pantanosa that remains delimited by Sant Carles of the Ràpita, the Delta of the Ebro and The Banya (small peninsula situated in the meridional extreme of the delta). It is the natural port bigger of all Europe.
We can visit this bay in kayak enjoying of his calm waters and his spectacular landscapes, even can approach us to any of the mejilloneras where cultivate the mussels and other so typical of the zone.
If you prefer it also you can visit the bay in Paddle Surf. The feeling that provides to sail in Paddle Surf in a day of sea in calm is like walking on the sea, strolling on the water of a form relajante and calm, in contact with the nature that surrounds us.
The kayaks for this excursion can rent in Nature & Adventure (http://naturayaventura.com), situated in this bay in the coast of the part of the delta.
5. Walks in ship to the mouth of the Ebro
Another more comfortable way to sail by the mouth of the Ebro is to use one of the innumerable ships that visit this stretch of the river.
These routes are used to to last between an hour and hour and average. They collect you in some point of the river and sail until the mouth with a small explanation of his history and curiosities of the surroundings of the places by which go happening.
The ships are used to to have a plant covered and another discovered from where can avistar ducks, Flemish and birds of all type.
If quereis but information, leave you some of the webs of cruceros by the delta:
- Creuers Delta Ebre
- Cruceros Delta of the Ebro
6. Illa Of Buda and Faro of the Fangar
The Island of Buda is one of his better treasures saved of the delta, is a tongue of earth of some 1.000 hectares, of which around 250 are paddies, that adentra in the sea with a high ecological value and environmental.
The island of Buda has a laguna central of big extension and some small lagunas immersed in a dense cañizal, one of which receives saltwater contribution, called Drawer of the sea. The another, called Big Drawer, receives the freshwater of the paddies and of the channels.
This diversity of environments, allows that the Island of Buda was one of the zones of more natural interest of all the delta of the Ebro.
A part of the Island of Buda is private property and belongs to the same family from the year 1924. The main and familiar house is one of the most ancient of the Delta and is conditioned like accommodation of rural tourism.
In the Illa of Buda find the emblematic Faro of the Fangar. It has a height of 20 metres and a diameter of 3 metres. The current construction is of 1972, but his origins date of 1864.
The first construction of 1864 suffered the deterioration by the inclemencias meteorological and finally his destruction during the Civil War. Later it was substituted by a tower of iron of some eight metres of height, painted with white and black bands. That turret modernizó giving like result to the faro current.
To access to the Illa of Buda and his faro it is necessary to go in car until the Platja of the Marchioness and approach to the caseta that gives access to the zone. From this point the route realises on foot, since all the zone is protected, by an immense sandy area, the Platja of the Fangar, that will carry us until the emblematic faro of the Illa of Buda.
The faro finds to little more than 4 kilometres from the caseta of entrance, is a pleasant walk by the beach with inmejorables seen on the coast.
We leave you this spectacular video of the Island of Buda:
7. Beach of the Trabucador and Tip of the Banya
The beach of The Trabucador is a narrow tongue of earth of some 6,5 kilometres of length and with a width of some 50 metres that adentra in the sea until the Tip of the Banya.
It treats of a wild beach that allows to bathe us in two seas: in open sea and in the sea of the bay dels Alfacs. The waters of the inner bay are of little depth, by what result ideals for the practice of sports like the kitesurf or the windsurf.
From this point can observe some splendid put of sun on the Saw of the Montsiá and Sant Carles of the Ràpita.
At the end of this immense beach find the saltworks of Trinidad.
The saltworks of Trinidad produce every year near of 25.000 tonnes of salt that export mainly north of Europe. Between the types of salt more valued that they produce in these saltworks stands out the Flower of Salt. It treats of a pure salt, recolectada according to traditional technicians. The extraction of salt in this zone traces back to the period of the Arabs.
For being zone protected, the visit of this space is restricted and is necessary to request permission to the offices of the Natural Park of the Delta of l'Ebre.
8. And in the surroundings
In this article have described you the most emblematic points of the Natural Park of the Delta of the Ebro, but exist a big number of points of interest that are worthwhile to visit. So we encourage you to that visiteis the zones and lose by you his rincones to discover one of the most curious places of the Catalan geography.
If you have remained you with you win of more, in his surroundings exist innumerable places of big value and beauty paisajística, that is worthwhile to visit:
- The Saw of the Montsiá
- Sant Carles of the Ràpita
- The coastal villages of L'ampolla and L'ametlla of Mar.
- Cap Roig
- The city of Tortosa
- The Parc Natural dels Ports
So we leave you a small list of excursions and travesías by the zone.
High place of big beauty, situated between the municipalities of Alcanar, Freginals and Sant Carles of the Rápita, from where can enjoy of ones of the best seen panoramic of the Delta of the Ebro.
The excursion, of 9 kilometres, can do it in some two hours. With a desnivel of 400 metres, is one of the classical excursions of the zone.
GR 92 - Way of Round: From L'ametlla of sea until L'Ampolla
It is a stretch of the Way of Round that discurre by the coast between the populations of L'ametlla of sea and L'Ampolla.
It is an itinerary of low difficulty that will allow us freshen us and enjoy of the surroundings paisajístico and of the natural value that conform each one of the calas solitary that find us by the way and where the earth and the sea, combined, offer us spaces of big beauty.
The distance that separates L'Ametlla of Sea and L'Ampolla are some 16 kilometres. Practically without desnivel, can realise roughly in four hours.
Route of the Estels of the Sud
The travesía consists of five stages, in the macizo of The Natural Park dels Ports, being able to begin or finalise in any one of the five accommodations that work like start-final of stage. Can realise in both senses of the course indistinctly.
The stages are quite long, around 20 Km by stage and with throw off balance of 1.000 m. By stage. So in general it is a travesía quite hard and demanding.
Excursion that will allow us discover the lovely places of the zone of the Matarraña, south region of the band of Aragon.
This route will carry us to visit the incomparable landscape that the river Matarranya has forged to his go through the macizo of Els Ports. It is a route senderista emblematic no only of the Ports and of the Matarraña, but also of all the province of Teruel.
The route follows the course of the river Matarraña until arriving to the Narrow of the Parrizal, a place of big beauty in which the river fits between the high walls of rock limestone, that form a desfiladero so narrow that in some points is almost possible to touch both sides of the river pulling the arms.
The Route dels Refugis of some 80 kilometres of route and some 5.000 metres of desnivel accumulated, distributed in five days, discurre between the populations of Albarca, Mont-ral, Mussara and Siurana.
It is a travesía very demanding that allows us discover the very beautiful places of the Saw of Prades, very near of the city of Tarragona.
Ulldemolins – St. Bartomeu Fraguerau
This itinerary of 9 kilometres has it everything: forests, pozos, jumps of water, sources, rivers that discurren between surprising walls, grottos and the wonderful hermitage of Sant Bartomeu, situated in the hondonada of a throat.
In definite, can describe it like one of the most varied routes of the regions tarraconenses.
Although the itinerary is quite concurrido in his initial part, allows us enjoy of the nature, the silence and the meditation that offers splits it north of the saw of Montsant.