Las Bardenas Reales Natural Park was the first semi-desert we visited in Europe. We had previously stayed in semi-desert areas in the western USA, so we were looking forward to this European semi-desert. This unique and fascinating natural park in the Navarra region offers badlands, a dry terrain with eroded hills, ravines, and bizarre rock formations.
The most famous and photographed rock is named Castildetierra – a conical rock formation that looks like a standing woman in a broad and long skirt seen by our eyes.
However, official descriptions say it is a rock formation in the shape of a tower. This confirms that our perceptions are very individual.
Many hiking trails allow visitors to explore the landscape up close.
The area is also popular with cyclists, who can explore the extensive dirt road network that winds through the park.
The map below shows the circuit we drove through. It is the most popular part of the park. The circuit is approximately 35-40 km long, starting at the visitor center and depending on the length of the turns.
Some park areas can be visited by 4×4 vehicle tours, allowing access to more remote areas.
The Bardenas Reales is a Biosphere Reserve designated by UNESCO, which is protected by strict regulations to preserve it.
Conversely, its remote and barren landscape has made it an ideal location for military exercises and training.
So far-fetched, you could say that the protected area of Parque Natural Las Bardenas Reales shares the attention of two groups – on the one hand, travelers – auto tourists, hikers, and cyclists, and on the other – the army. We only learned that part of the area is a “military zone” at the visitor center. We were told we could only enter certain parts after the military exercise ended. It hit us that clear desert areas are often used for this purpose. Okay. The rules must be respected.
This shot captures the snowy peaks of the nearby Moncayo nature reserve, which we were heading to in the following days.
After visiting Las Bardenas Reales, we stayed overnight in a pleasant place near Cabanillas.
More photos from Las Bardenas Reales.
