Trails in Valencia's L'Albufera

Not sure how to start exploring L'Albufera? Began at La Devesa, a section of the spit separating the park's lagoon from the Mediterranean Sea. You can choose from six trails to investigate the local flora, landscapes and history. There are also various trails to explore the entire park whichever way you like: on foot or by bicycle. And if you download one of the audioguides (available in Spanish and English) to your mobile, you can enhance your visit with valuable information and appreciate this incredible natural environment even more.

1. Botanical Trail

La Devesa offers a wealth of botanical varieties, with dense brushy vegetation and pine woods. This trail provides the opportunity to experience a diversity of species, including heather, Aleppo pines, mastic trees, rosemary and honeysuckle.  
LENGTH: 800 metres 
TIME: 45 minutes 

2. Trail of the Senses 

Engage all your senses to take in the varied colours of the scenery, smell the aromatic plants along the route, enjoy the contrast between rough pine bark and fine sand, listen to the singing of the birds, and sample tender asparagus or even the chewable resin of the mastic tree.  
LENGTH: approx. 300 metres 
TIME: approx. 20 minutes 

3. History Trail. El Saler 

This trail will reveal the origins of the name of El Saler, a village whose inhabitants have utilized the local natural resources throughout their history, and the custom of visiting Muntanyar de la Mona for the traditional Easter cake.  
LENGTH: approx. 600 metres 
TIME: approx. 30 minutes 

4. History Trail. Gola de Pujol 

This trail will reveal how to guess the age of the trees using the rings in their trunks. Discover what the sluice gates of L'Albufera are used for, how the golas (canals) are formed, and the importance of eel fishing and rice farming in the park.
LENGTH: approx. 730 metres 
TIME: approx. 40 minutes 

5. Beach Recreational Trail 

The line of dunes you see has not always been there. Efforts to restore the dunes, vegetation and fauna have been underway since the late 1990s. Enjoy a walk along the beach, respect your surroundings and take the opportunity to sample the traditional local cuisine at one of the restaurants with a direct sea view.  
LENGTH: approx. 2,000 metres 
TIME: approx. 45 minutes 

6. Scenic Trail 

The longest trail in La Devesa includes one of the area's most characteristic features: the malladas. These are depressions between the dunes among the pine woods that usually fill with water during the rainy season, but the water evaporates, and they dry up in the summer months, changing the landscape enormously. This trail also features some curious structures, including the Casa del Forestal (ranger's house) and Venta de Toros (corral for fighting bulls), no longer in use.
LENGTH: approx. 4,000 metres 
TIME: approx. 1 hour, 45 minutes