Dehesa de Abajo The Birdwatching Paradise in Seville

La Dehesa de Abajo is a natural preservation located only a few kilometers from the city of Seville and is apart of the Doñana Natural Reservation located between the provinces of Cadiz, Seville, and Huelva.

This small natural paradise is the perfect place to spend a morning surrounded by vegetation and wildlife, specifically a huge variety of bird species.

The mystically wild and beautiful preservation of Doñana Natural Park is home so the largest breeding colony of White Storks in Europe.

This specific portion of the Natural Reservation is home to an abundance of different breeds of birds.

dehesa de abajo trekking seville
family nature dehesa de abajo seville birwatching

The over 1500 acres of La Dehesa de Abajo is where you will witness the threatened black coot, flamingos, booted eagles, red kite, endangered marbled duck, and many more species of beautiful birds including, of course, the  white storks the park is known for.

La Dehesa de Abajo offers a truly breathtaking view of the flamboyance of flamingos that flock along the meadow: an iconic, picture-perfect scene.

Additionally the preservation is home to the handsome and endangered Iberian Lynx whos numbers are growing annually due to the care and preservation of La Dehesa de Abajo and Doñana Park.

Where is the Dehasa de Abajo and how do I get there?

The reservation is located between the towns of La Puebla del Rio and Isla Mayor. Unfortunately you will not be able to get here by public transportation from Seville so the only options are to book an excursion to Doñana that stops at Dehesa de Abajo before entering the heart of Doñana, or by renting a private car and driving from Seville to the park.

On your way you will cross through the cities of Gelves, Coria del Rio and Pueblo del Río. We recommend you use a GPS tracker of some kind to navigate through the complicated 30 foot roads that are not indicated very well.

dehesa de abajo visitors centre seville

The Visitors Center of the Dehesa de Abajo

The natural reserve is completely public and free of charge, although there is a privately managed car parking lot requiring 2€ per vehicle. Additionally the car park ticket offers you a complimentary drink at the bar restaurant inside the park’s visitors center.

Inside the center is a gallery with interpretations, maps, books, photographs, and typical foods and ingredients of the area.

gallery dehesa de abajo seville visitors centre

The cafeteria and restaurants make for an amazing breakfast or lunch based on the typical products and gastronomy of the region, especially rice. In fact more than 50% of Spain’s rice is produced locally here in the Bajo Guadalquivir.

Rice accompanied with duck, venison, or mushrooms are some of the specialties and popular options offered here and are perfect ways to regain your strength and energy after wandering the park!

breakfast dehesa de abajo seville
restaurant dehesa de abajo seville

La Dehesa de Abajo

La Dehesa de Abajo is a natural reservation that the Acebuche wild olive trees call home, in fact they are the largest olive grove in Spain. THe region has an ideal ecosystem for grazing cows and maintain an abundance of different species of animal from beautiful flamingos to the Iberian Lynx.

Even better, due to the park’s number of rabbits and hares, the Iberian Lynx has been spotted more regularly and their numbers are growing, as they are unfortunately the most endangered feline on the planet. Doñana National Park is one of the best, but one of the few, ecosystems that can maintain the Lynx.

flamingos birdwatching seville
friends birdwatching seville

The park is famous, however for its host of beautiful birds who are the true stars of Dehesa. Home to the largest colony of White Storks in Europe, the park boasts over 300 different birds throughout the year, namely Flamingos, Coots, Herons, Moritos, and Calamones, all of which can be seen fairly easily.

The reservation is equipped with several wooden pathways and observation areas and pavilions throughout the park, allowing for the best opportunities and pictures around the great lagoon.

birdwatching area seville
birdwatching dehesa de abajo seville

We recommend you bring binoculars, telescopes, or a camera with impressive zoom-in options in order to get the most from the park and see the best parts of its ecosystem. Additionally you will have a much more comfortable experience if you bring mosquito repellent, especially if you plan to visit the park during sunrise or sunset.

We wish you a happy and beautiful experience!

Remember to be clean inside the park, respect the nature and wildlife and enjoy yourself. Together we can all take care of our planet and the environment we inhabit!