Today we want to tell you about El Fondo Natural Park, also known as El Hondo, a fantastic natural environment in the southeastern part of our country. If you feel like exploring this special place, you should head to the province of Alicante, more specifically to the border area between the municipalities of Elche and Crevillente. It is a wetland of great ecological richness, a refuge for numerous bird species and a protected area well worth visiting.
El Fondo Natural Park is part of an ancient lagoon that was gradually transformed by human influence and today is made up of many lagoons, salt marshes and ponds with water from the Segura River. It is a kind of sanctuary for rich and varied wildlife: if you enjoy birdwatching, you’ll have plenty to see here. We should highlight that this park is part of the European Natura 2000 network, is declared a Special Protection Area for Birds and is also included in the Ramsar International Convention for the protection of wetlands.
These are more than enough reasons to justify a visit to El Fondo Natural Park. In addition, this entire region offers fantastic opportunities to disconnect and live life at a slower pace, even if only for a few hours. We’ll tell you everything you need to prepare your visit.
What to see in El Fondo Natural Park
In El Fondo Natural Park, what surprises you first is the wetland, due to the large expanse of water that can be glimpsed from a distance and is surrounded by vegetation. There are two main reservoirs: Levante and Poniente, artificial lagoons built in the 20th century that have become an important natural ecosystem in Alicante.
Throughout the park you can discover salt marshes, ponds, agricultural fields and, in general, a combination of landscapes and contrasts that strongly catch your attention. You can head to the park’s information center, where they’ll explain what you can see and do there, as well as the available routes and the location of the bird observatories. The sunsets with flocks of birds crossing the skies are impressive.
The flora and botany of El Fondo Natural Park
You should bear in mind that this park has very particular conditions due to the high humidity and salinity of the terrain. Thus, we can find plants that have adapted to survive in this place, called halophytes. Throughout the landscape of El Fondo Natural Park you’ll see reed beds and rushes on the shores of the bodies of water, which serve as refuge for several animal species. In the salt marshes, on the other hand, we find a type of vegetation with the same name and capable of living in high salt concentrations.
If we move away from the center of the park, we’ll start to see cultivated fields, palm groves and other types of vegetation associated with the agricultural tradition of the region. The combination of all these botanical variants of El Fondo Natural Park and all its landscapes forms a unique mosaic that attracts many visitors from all over the country.
Recommended routes and trails
To truly connect with El Fondo Natural Park and explore all its wonders, the best option is to walk. There are several signposted trails designed to take us through all the different landscapes of the park, safely and with complete peace of mind. The most common starts at the park’s information center and is a 1-kilometer route along walkways built over the salt marshes and wetlands. It’s an easy route for the whole family.
For bird lovers, there is an ornithological itinerary that connects observation points where birds rest and feed, making it perfect for photographing them or simply observing how they behave. There are more than 170 species: flamingos, herons, teals, white-headed ducks and others. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars!
Complementary suggestion
If you want a plan to complement your visit to El Fondo Natural Park, we have a perfect suggestion for you: the Pink Lagoon of Torrevieja. It’s about 30 minutes by car from the park and offers a totally unique landscape. We’re sure it will delight the whole family.
Tips for your visit
To ensure everything goes smoothly, we’ll give you some tips for your visit to El Fondo Natural Park:
- Try to visit the park during the early morning hours or at sunset. These are the times of greatest bird activity and when the light offers the most spectacular landscapes.
- You should wear comfortable walking shoes, several layers of clothing to adapt to possible temperature changes, sun protection, water and something to eat, so you won’t lack anything during your walks.
- Binoculars and cameras with good lenses are essential if one of your goals is to observe the park’s birds. Although the observatories are located at points where birds are usually present, they are often at a great distance.
- Keep the area as clean as you find it: collect all your waste, don’t touch the flora or interact with the fauna, so that the park continues to function in the best possible way. Remember that this is a protected natural area.
Discover El Fondo Natural Park: Visit us!
Despite not being a very well-known place, El Fondo Natural Park greatly surprises its visitors and deserves more prominence as a point of interest in the province of Alicante. Its tranquility, its ecosystem full of beautiful birds and special landscapes, the water and its importance for the agricultural tradition of the region are more than enough reasons for a visit. If we add to this the proximity to such interesting places as Alicante, Elche, Guardamar del Segura or Torrevieja, we realize that a getaway or vacation in this area can be a great plan.
For your accommodation in the region, don’t hesitate to take a look at the selection of villas and apartments from Fidalsa Holidays, where you’ll find the perfect space to rest and spend good times with your loved ones during your stay in this part of the country. Decide if you want accommodation with a pool, pet-friendly, with a gym or with a work area, among other options, and book online at the best price, without complications. We look forward to offering you a unique experience during your visit to El Fondo Natural Park.
