Bardenas Reales: the "Death Valley" of Navarre

The Bardenas Reales is one of the most unique natural sites in the north of the region, a semi-desert area in the heart of Navarre that offers visitors breathtaking landscapes and corners. Also available, there are many hiking routes that you can do to get to know the corners of the area.

The Bardenas Reales of Navarre could be defined as an enormous tapestry in which ravines, plateaus, deserts and forests are intermingled, giving rise to one of the most unique and spectacular natural parks in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. Its variety of habitats and wealth of fauna and flora make the park an essential destination for any lover of rural tourism or ecotourism. In addition, numerous outdoor activities and sports can be practised, from canyoning to segway routes, one of the most original ways to get to know in depth all the areas into which the bardenas are divided. 

The Bardenas Reales de Navarra are divided into two main areas: the Bardena Blanca and the Bardena Negra. The former is notable for the presence of salts and gypsum in the ground, which give the area its characteristic white colour, and is divided into two areas: the Blanca Alta and the Baja. In the Bardena Negra, an area bordering Aragon, the landscape of Caídas de la Negra stands out, the best area for bird watching, where ornithologists will be able to see birds of prey such as the vulture and birds such as the great bustard.

Another of the emblematic spots in the Bardenas Reales is El Plano, a small plateau just over a hundred metres above the rest of the terrain. Finally, we must point out the Rincón del Bú spot, the hill or "cabezo" of the Virgen de Nuestra Señora del Yugo (Virgin of Our Lady of the Yoke) and the Vedado de PeñaflorThe area is a wooded area that could be considered the oasis of the Bardenas Reales.

Practical guide

• Reference city: Tudela
• AccessOne of the accesses to the Park is via the asphalted track that starts at the petrol station at the exit of Arguedas. Another access route is a dirt track from the road to Carcastillo-Figarol (el Paso) and, and which reaches the track that surrounds the estate.

Routes and walks in Bardenas Reales

Routes with children in Bardenas Reales:

You can go and see Castildeterra and take a walk in the surrounding ravines. The "Barranco de las Cortinas is a very pleasant little circular walk that is well worth the effort to explore the intricacies of the erosion that has shaped the site.

Another interesting walk is to access the Cabezo de las CortinillasThe viewpoint is reached by means of concrete steps that resist nature's attacks. We can appreciate the characteristic morphology of the Bardena in all its splendour.

It should be noted that, except for the marked and authorised routes, it is not possible to walk on other trails. The military zone is also marked off.