Free walking tours in Matalascañas and what to see

Must-sees

Matalascañas is Almonte's beach resort and lives facing the Atlantic. Its beach is long, wide and of fine sand, and at the water's edge you can see the remains of the Torre de la Higuera, an old watchtower that fell onto the sand and has become the symbol of the place. Next to the town is the Parque Dunar, with boardwalks among pines and dunes, and the Museo del Mundo Marino, devoted to coastal wildlife and life.

What makes Matalascañas special is its neighbour: Doñana National Park, which starts practically where the town ends. To the west, Cuesta Maneli beach has a wooden boardwalk crossing a very well-preserved landscape of dunes and pine forest. About fifteen kilometres away is the village of El Rocío, with its sandy streets, its white shrine and the marshes where birds can be seen almost all year round.

Free tours and guided visits

There are usually no free walking tours in Matalascañas. The norm here is guided visits and nature trips. The best known is the guided 4x4 route through Doñana, covering beach, shifting dunes, marshland and Mediterranean woodland. There are also birdwatching outings, guided visits to El Rocío and day trips to the Columbus sites or Seville. Book park routes in advance, because access is limited.

How long to spend

Two or three days give you a good balance. Keep a morning for the Doñana trip and the afternoon for the beach. Spend another day on El Rocío and the marshes, best at dawn or dusk, when there are more birds and less heat. If you have time left, visit Cuesta Maneli or take a trip to the Columbus sites. In high season, plan visits for first thing.

Where to stay

The nicest choice is to sleep near the seafront promenade or on the front line, so you can walk to the beach and the restaurants. The area near the Parque Dunar is quiet and well placed for heading out to Doñana or El Rocío. Outside summer the town is very quiet and many businesses close, so check what is open. If you want a different atmosphere, El Rocío also has places to stay a few minutes away.