What ’is ecotourism, and what does it mean to us,

and our environment?
Ecotourism represents a whole new level in the relationship between the traveller and the natural environment. Ecotourism is destined to be the most viable option for the conservation of the natural and cultural heritages of the towns and ecosystems of Granada and Almería, contributing to the promotion of a wider concept of the sustainable economic development of the nature and the Natural Spaces of the Sierra Nevada.

What’s the Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park?

Sierra Nevada, Protected Natural Space
The Protected Natural Areas, such as the Sierra Nevada in Granada and Almería, are natural spaces of great interest where the visitor’s enjoyment is made possible in a way that is compatible withand the conservation of its values and with ecology. Sierra Nevada has diverse public use and visitor service systems that offer a set of basic services of free access such as information and the basic interpretation of the heritage, and complementary services such as guided tours to the National and Natural Parks. The recognition of the value of the Sierra Nevada’s natural and cultural heritage has been extensive since its declaration as National Hunting Reserve (1966), a Biosphere Reserve (1986), a Natural Park (1989), and a National Park (1999). It is also part of the Network of Spanish National Parks, where it is included as a representative of the Mediterranean High – Mountain Ecosystems.

Sierra Nevada, Reserva Nacional de Caza 1966. Sierra Nevada, Reserva de la Biosfera 1986. Sierra Nevada, Parque Natural 1989. Sierra Nevada, Parque Nacional, 1999.

Sierra Nevada. Adherido a la Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible

European Charter for Sustainable Tourism EUROPARC

Ecotourism is an internationally defined concept and its objectives are reflected in the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Natural Areas, which the Sierra Nevada joined in 2004.

The area of Sierra Nevada National Park

The Natural Space of Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park has an area of 172,318 hectares. It is the largest Park in the Network of National Parks and it comprises areas located betweenat 860 m above the sea level to the highest peak in the Iberian Peninsula, Mulhacen, at 3,482 m.

mapahectareas

Los picos más altos de Sierra Nevada.

More than 20 peaks that surpass 3,000 m of emotions

Within the Park, there are another 14 peaks with an altitude higher than 3,000 m (Caballo 3,015 m, Picón de Jeres 3,088 m, Atalaya 3,107 m, Puntal de Vacares 3,138 m, Puntal de la Caldera 3,225 m, Cerro de los Machos 3,329 m, Alcazaba 3,366 m, Veleta 3,392 m, etc.).

The land

The Sierra Nevada. All heart.

The Sierra Nevada National Park comprises the area of the highest summits and the Natural Park covers the peripheral territory around the first one. In the Natural Park, there are inhabited areas and villages that belong to the provinces of Granada and Almería.

The area of the National Park comprises the territories of 44 municipalities, 15 belonging to Almería and 29 to Granada. It has a population of 97,990 inhabitants (2012 census) and 108 urban entities, all of them located at the outside and on the periphery of the Sierra Nevada Natural Space.

These municipalities are located in the regions of Granada and Almería. The ones within Almería are: Abla, Abrucena, Alboloduy, Alhabia, Almócita, Alsodux, Bayárcal, Beires, Bentarique, Canjáyar, Fiñana, Fondón, Íllar, Instinción, Las Tres Villas, Laujar de Andarax, Nacimiento, Ohanes, Padules, Paterna del Río, Rágol, Santa Cruz, and Terque.
And in Granada: Aldeire, Alpujarra de la Sierra,
Bérchules, Bubión, Busquistar, Cádiar, Cáñar, Capileira, Carataunas, Cástaras, Cogollos de Guadix, Dílar, Dólar, Dúrcal, Ferreirola, Gójar, Güejar-Sierra, Huéneja, Jérez del Marquesado, Juviles, La Calahorra, Lanjarón, Lanteira, La Tahá, La Zubia, Lecrín, Lugros, Monachil, Nevada, Nigüelas, Órgiva, Padul, Pampaneira, Pórtugos, Soportujar, Trevelez, and Válor.

The ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada

A variety of environmental conditions allow for their development
  • Siliceous alpine ecosystems
    Cold and dry alpine pastures. Lakes and high-altitude meadows. Juniper and Broom stands.
  • Limestone alpine ecosystems
    Juniper-pine woodland
    Juniper woodland with stands of thorny shrubs
    Broom stands on limestone
    Pastures.
  • Middle-altitude ecosystems. Forests
    Predominance of Pyrenean oak woodlands and holm oak woodlands on siliceous substrates.
    Predominance of holm oaks on limestone
    Predominance of pine with Phoenician juniper on dolomite.
  • Riverine ecosystems.