Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park

Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park is of enormous biological and scenic interest and is the ideal place for family and nature tourism.

The wetlands are on the northern Costa Brava, between the villages of Castelló d’Empúries, Empuriabrava and Sant Pere Pescador, and once covered almost the entire plain of the bay of Roses. This extensive area decreased in size particularly owing to agricultural expansion, in the form of rice fields, and to livestock farming, with enclosures for cattle.

Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park is an area of great biological interest, but it also has an enormous scenic, cultural and economic value. It offers various services including the information centre, the documentation centre and a wetlands natural history museum. The area is mainly characterised by the presence of alluvial materials that become marine after passing through a transition area. 

It is an extensive area of interesting plants and wildlife which attracts numerous migratory birds that feed there as it is a resting place on the migratory path of a large number of species from Central Europe and the African continent in search of better environmental conditions during the periods of harsh weather and scarce food.

The best times for birdwatching are first thing in the morning and at nightfall, in March, May and August, during the migration period.

The area is great for pleasant walks to discover the great variety of animal species and the wealth of vegetation, thanks to the contrasts created by the proximity of the sea.

There is a wide array of options and routes available to help you spend an unforgettable day there.

The park has almost 5,000 hectares and numerous pools and marshes and it is the permanent home and resting place for hundreds of species of migratory birds. 

The park is a perfect spot for family and nature tourism. The 40 kilometres of signposted routes running through it, like the Ponds Route or the River Muga Natural Path, are ideal for hiking, cycle tourism and birdwatching, from specially designed hides.

El Cortalet is the park’s information and documentation centre. It is the starting point for various itineraries suitable for all ages and it’s the place to go to sign up for activities and guided visits.