On the north coast of Spain lies the Ordesa National Park, the jewel in the crown of the Pyrenees and haven for any eco traveller looking for an idyllic destination to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The area itself has been a national park for almost a century but it wasn’t until 1997 that it was upgraded to a UNESCO world heritage site in the interests of conservation.
A beautiful site all year round green travellers would likely find it most appealing between the beginning of July and mid-September as this is the only time of the year when cars are prohibited from entering the area.
This is a good thing as there really is no better way to explore the Ordesa National Park than on foot. Whether a lover of the sun or the snow there are guided walks to suit with most levels of fitness and experience being taken in to account.
One of the most beautiful aspects of the park are its four imposing canyons that tower above the landscape beneath. Made predominantly of lime and the result of millions of years of flowing rivers, the canyons are something to behold.
Nature lovers should look out for the Lammergeier which rule the skies overhead. The beautiful vultures are only found in a few places outside of Africa and Asia and are renowned for the way that they drop bones from up high in order to break them and expose the bone marrow that they live on.
The Pyrenean Chamois is another creature to look out for when exploring the countryside. This beautiful member of the goat family is protected due to being endangered for much of last century and can now be found thriving in the area.
A beautiful national park, Ordesa offer peace, tranquillity and any eco-tourist will most likely leave invigorated after their visit.
Photo by x@ray