The Best Donana National Park Tour & Tips For Visiting
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Even though this is a sponsored post with Naturanda, in this guide, we share our honest thoughts and opinions after being hosted on their Donana National Park Tour. In this review, we share the best tips for visiting, why we personally feel that Naturanda is the best company to go on this tour with and share our real-life experience from the tour.
One of the best day trips from Seville that you can go on is definitely taking a trip to Donana National Park. A main highlight of this day trip is getting to watch out and try to spot a lynx within the national park.
We went on this incredible day trip from Seville with Naturanda tours and it was honestly a huge highlight of our time in Seville. Throughout this travel guide we will share some of the best tips and advice for anyone planning to visit Donana National Park as well as review our tour with Naturanda.
We also share details on the 3 different tours that Naturanda offer to visit Donana National Park so that you can see which tour would be the best option for you and make the most of your time in the National Park.
If you’re stuck on the fence on whether you should add this tour to your Seville bucket list then this travel guide will help you decide whether Donana National Park is worth visiting and everything you need to know!
Best Time to Visit Donana National Park
Depending on what you want to see whilst you’re visiting Donana National Park will depend on the best time to visit for you. Whether you’re planning to spot some wildlife in the National Park, looking for some beautiful photographic spots or learning more about the environment around us, there is a little something for everyone by visiting Donana National Park.
Similar to when you’re planning the best time to visit Seville, you won’t want to visit during the Summer months (June – August) because it is much too hot to do anything and a lot of places close down during the heatwaves. It is always worth checking the expected temperatures before planning your trip so that you can decide on what will be possible during your travels.
Another reason that we advise not visiting during the Summer is that the marshlands start to dry up and it is unlikely to see much wildlife during this time.
If you’re looking for a unique experience from Seville then you may want to consider a two-day trip to Donana and get up early in the morning to appreciate the beautiful sunrise across the national park.
This is one of the best tours to really get to experience Donana National Park and increase your chances of spotting a lynx too! However, these are not the only animals that you will want to try to spot whilst taking a trip to the National Park.
If you’re an avid bird-watcher or potentially trying this for the first time then it is recommended to try and visit during the spring time as this is the mating season for the birds so this will increase your chances of seeing different breeds.
In comparison, the lynx mating season is during the winter so you will have more of a chance of seeing these incredible animals during the winter instead. Due to this, if possible we would recommend trying to visit during the winter as seeing a lynx in the wild is truly a once in a lifetime experience!
We were lucky enough to visit Donana National Park when we were in Seville during September and we personally found this a really good time to go. Even though we weren’t able to spot any lynxes, our Naturanda tour guide was explaining that the weeks prior, there had been a lot of sightings of these magnificent animals.
If you can’t visit Donana National Park during the winter then you may want to try and visit just after the Summer as this is when the Lynx kittens will begin to explore around the National Park and get to know their territory. This is why at the end of August and the start of September there were quite a few different Lynx sightings.
However, there is something to see around the Donana National Park all year round, it just depends what you want to see whilst you’re there!
How to Get from Seville to Donana National Park
There are quite a few different ways to get from Seville to Donana National Park as it is only a 45 minute drive to get there. Even though you can visit Donana National Park independently, we would advise against this as there are only certain zones of the park that you will be able to visit.
Due to this, we would recommend booking a guided tour of Donana National Park with Naturanda as they are an authorised tour company for Donana and can visit areas of the park that you would be unable to do if you were taking yourselves on a self-guided tour.
The best way to get from Seville to Donana Park is definitely by taking a guided tour because not only will you be able to access the restricted sections but you’ll also be given a fountain of knowledge from your local guide and be able to spot animals more easily.
A Review of Donana National Park Tour with Naturanda
Whilst we were in Seville, we knew that we wanted to visit Donana National Park and hopefully catch a glimpse of a lynx. We were lucky enough to find Naturanda and realised very quickly that they were one of the most knowledgeable tour guides for visiting Donana National Park.
We met our tour guide early in the morning and left Seville around 07:30am and drove straight to Donana National Park. On the drive, our Naturanda tour guide spoke to us about what we could expect throughout the day and gave us plenty of knowledge about the different animals we would be looking for and the environment of the National Park.
When we arrived at Donana National Park, we drove through watching out for different animals. A big highlight for us was when we stopped off and our tour guide could spot different animal tracks on the ground. We got to see lynx and rabbit tracks which the guide explained to us that you could tell that the lynx was in pursuit of the rabbit and was even able to give us approximate time periods on how soon before we were there that the animals were there.
One of the best things about touring Donana National Park with Naturanda is that our tour guide’s knowledge was impeccable and he was able to spot a variety of different birds and animals from afar.
We drove around Donana National Park for quite a while looking out for the lynx especially, using our provided binoculars to spot different wild birds that inhabit the National Park and learning about the plants and trees. Throughout the tour, our guide was very informative about the importance that different plants and trees made to the animals that live in the National Park and the overall ecosystem.
After spending the morning exploring through the different areas of Donana National Park, we were taken to a restaurant close by where we got to enjoy some brunch. Our tour guide recommended a typical Sevillian breakfast of bread, jamon, tomatoes and lots of olive oil. It was absolutely delicious!
We then headed off to a small nearby village called El Rocio which for us was a true highlight as we got to see a unique side of Spain and a place that we wouldn’t have otherwise visited. Wandering around the small village, we got to enter the small sanctuary within the village where locals were praying and tourists were admiring the beauty of the sanctuary.
This was a great spot for stopping off to enjoy a refreshing cerveza and chatting with the rest of the group about the tour so far.
We jumped back in the 4×4 and went back to Donana National Park where we set off for a guided walk through the park. This was a really educational experience as our Naturanda tour guide taught us about the different trees and wild berries. We were also handed fresh berries that were safe for us to eat and they were absolutely delicious.
As we walked through the National Park, we stopped off at El Acebrón Visitors Centre where we were shown a few of the exhibits and then given free time to wander around. We decided to go right to the top which gave some magnificent views of the surrounding Donana National Park.
It was quite a warm walk around the National Park so this stop gave us some time to get some water and use the bathrooms before heading off again. This is one of the other reasons we wouldn’t recommend visiting during the summer is because if you’re not used to the heat, it can be much too warm. Even in September, it was very hot wandering around Donana National Park.
We then went to a viewpoint where you could see the beautiful surroundings and take in the wonderful nature around you. Before heading back to Seville, we were taken to a different kind of ecosystem, Donana Beach.
You can either stop off at one of the restaurants to grab a bite to eat or if you’ve brought some food with you then you can stop at a lovely location to enjoy your lunch whilst appreciating the surroundings.
After lunch, we were given more free time so that we could wander around the beach at our own pace and visit the lighthouse. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day.
One of the things we loved the most about coming on this tour with Naturanda is that not only was our guide incredibly knowledgeable but he had such a sincere love and care of the environment, it was really refreshing to learn from him.
We could not recommend visiting Donana National Park with Naturanda enough as they truly are the most knowledgeable and interesting tour company to explore with!
We found that our guide really took the time to explain things to me especially as we learnt so much about the different trees and plants that are within the National Park also. What shocked us the most is that there would be a particular bird in the distance and our guide would be able to spot them whilst driving around on the rocky terrain without any binoculars.
Despite this, we felt completely safe the whole time we were on the tour and loved looking out to see what different animals we could spot. We were lucky enough to see a variety of deer on the tour especially and for a while we got to just sit and admire them in the wild.
If you’re looking to join Naturanda on one of these incredible tours of Donana National Park then we’ve listed a couple of the tours that they offer in the section below so that you can decide what would be right for you!
Donana National Park Tours with Naturanda
If you’re planning to do a Donana National Park tour then Naturanda is definitely one of the best companies to guide you through. As we mentioned in our review of our time with Naturanda, they are the knowledgeable companies to visit the national park with and you are given plenty of time to explore around the areas. Not just that but you will be leaving the tour with lots of information and a deeper understanding of this incredible National Park in Spain.
No matter which of these Naturanda Donana Park tours you choose, you will be given lots of opportunities to try and see the infamous Iberian lynx and lots of other wonderful creatures.
Donana National Park Day Trip with Naturanda
This is the day trip that we chose to go on with Naturanda and it is highly recommended because even though you visit the National Park for only a day, you are shown some of the best highlights to really get to know the environment.
You will be taken through Donana National Park in a 4×4 to spot some of the beautiful wildlife that inhabits the area. One of the main highlights is looking out for an Iberian lynx.
Stopping at the small village of El Rocio you will see the Shrine of Our Lady of the Dew and learn more about the meaning of the shrine to the locals.
Another main highlight is when you will hike through Donana National Park and get to be immersed within nature hopefully spotting birds and creatures along the way.
Follow your tour guide around the beautiful Donana Beach and stop off for some lunch. If you have time, it is definitely seeing the lighthouse as it affords some great views of the beach from this area.
Your guide will then drive you back to Seville to complete your informative and interesting tour of Donana National Park. This was the tour that we went on ourselves and we would highly recommend this if you’re only spending 3 days in Seville.
Donana National Park Two Day, One Night Trip with Naturanda
If you have more time in Seville then we would really recommend joining Naturanda on a two day, one night trip to Donana National Park.
Not only will you get more time to explore the national park but you will also have more opportunities to spot the different wildlife that inhabit Donana, in particular the Iberian lynx.
This in particular is a really great tour to Donana because you can really immerse yourself within nature and learn more about the environment.
To start off the trip, you will be taken to the wetlands which are in the northern area of Donana National Park and is a perfect place for any bird enthusiasts so that you can spot some of the 300 species that inhabit the national park.
You will then be taken to the small village El Rocio where you can venture around the streets and appreciate its unique charm.
Continuing on your tour around Donana National Park, you will go to Palacio del Acebron and wander around this area. Your tour guide will be teaching you about the ecosystem along the way where you will gain a wealth of knowledge.
Overnight you will be staying in El Rocio in very rural accommodation which is a great way to experience the culture of this unique village. You and the group will settle in for a delicious traditional meal and speak with one another and locals to learn more about the area.
In the morning, you may want to wake up to watch the sunrise over the village before enjoying some breakfast to prepare you for the remainder of the day.
Following this, you will head back to Donana National Park for one of the main highlights of the trip; spotting an Iberian Lynx. The Naturanda tour guides really are experts in their field and will show you tracks along the way to increase your chance of spotting these incredible animals.
Another main highlight of the tour is that you will then enter a restricted zone which only authorised tour guides can take you into. This is one of the reasons why we don’t recommend going to Donana National Park independently as this particular area is where you tend to find a lot of the larger animals which is a breathtaking experience.
Following lunch, you will then head back to Seville to complete your tour. This is truly a bucket list experience that you should not miss when you’re visiting Seville because you can really immerse yourself into nature and the culture and enjoy some unique experiences whilst you’re travelling!
Donana National Park Private Day Trip with Naturanda
If you’re not quite convinced that a group tour is for you then you may want to consider going on a private day tour to Donana National Park with Natuanda instead!
These tours are a great way to get some 1-on-1 time with the guides and ask all the burning questions you have about the National Park.
These tours follow a very similar structure to the day trips we mentioned within the first section but as they’re private, they can be a little more flexible as you won’t need to worry about waiting for other group members.
This is also a perfect option if there are quite a few of you travelling to Seville and would prefer to have this unique experience for just your own group!
Things to See in Donana National Park
When you’re visiting Donana National Park, there are a lot of different highlights that you will want to see during your day trip. With this in mind, we have created a list below of some of the main things to see in Donana National and animals that you should keep an eye out for!
There are so many other things that you should watch out for and see whilst you’re wandering around the impressive grounds of Donana National Park but for us, we found that these animals and sights were the true highlights of our trip!
- Iberian Lynx
- European Fallow Deer
- Wild Boar
- European Stonechat
- Iberian Imperial Eagle
- Black Kite
- Greater Flamingo
- Dune Park
- El Rocio Village
- Palacio del Acebron
Plan Your Trip to Donana National Park Now!
No matter what tour you decide to go on to Donana National Park, it is truly an unforgettable experience especially if you get to see some of the animals within the wild!
If you decide to plan your trip to Donana National Park from Seville after reading this article then it is worth keeping your fingers crossed that you will spot an Iberian Lynx whilst you’re exploring around the park!
We really would recommend using Naturanda to go on this tour purely because their guides are experts and really knowledgeable about the environment and ecosystems. You will find that you walk away from this day trip with a completely new perspective on nature and with information that you can take with you.
If you’re spending more time in Seville then don’t forget to check out the many other tours that Naturanda offers so that you can really make the most of your time in Seville!
