Free walking tours in Almonte and what to see

Must-sees

Almonte is a municipality in Huelva with three very different faces: the town, the village of El Rocío and Matalascañas beach. Much of Doñana National Park lies within its boundaries, and that's the main reason to visit. In the town it's worth strolling the main square and seeing the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, in a quiet white centre surrounded by vineyards and fields.

El Rocío is something else: sand streets, brotherhood houses with wooden porches and horses tied to the railings. The hermitage of the Virgen del Rocío overlooks the marshes, where flamingos and other birds are easy to spot. For Doñana, the visitor centres of La Rocina, the Palacio del Acebrón and El Acebuche have short trails and hides. Matalascañas adds kilometres of open beach next to the park.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours as such in Almonte. The star activity is the guided visit to Doñana, done in an off-road vehicle with a guide, as the interior of the park can only be explored with authorised companies. It's the way to reach dunes, marshes and pine forests that are off limits on your own. The rest, El Rocío and the visitor centre trails, you can see by yourself.

How long to spend

One day is enough for the town and El Rocío, with a walk along the marshes at sunset. If you add the guided Doñana tour and the visitor centre trails, two days is ideal. In summer you can add a beach day at Matalascañas. Bear in mind that the El Rocío pilgrimage takes place at Whitsun, drawing enormous crowds, so those dates change the visit completely.

Where to stay

El Rocío is the most original and practical base for Doñana, with rural accommodation and small hotels near the marshes, though during the pilgrimage it fills up and prices soar. Matalascañas has the most accommodation, mainly apartments, and is the option if you want to combine the beach and the park. If you want more of a town feel, Almonte itself is quiet and a few minutes from El Rocío.