Birdland: S’Albufera Natural Park

Tall reeds on the banks sway gently in the wind. Canals cut through the wetlands as far as the eye can see. Until, in the distance, the silhouette of the Tramuntana stands out clearly against the sky. Out of the blue, the call of a bird is heard. The S’Albufera Parc Natural is the largest and most important marsh in the Balearic Islands. And it is a unique biotope with a rich diversity of native flora and fauna.

The park feels like an oasis, a place of peace and tranquility. But what’s this strange sound from the undergrowth? While you are still looking for the source, suddenly a coot runs across the water. In the next moment, you spot an osprey circling right above you. S’Albufera is a paradise for birdwatchers. In any case, it’s worth bringing your binoculars.

You can keep a lookout on one of the watchtowers. Or you observe the surroundings through the narrow windows of a wooden hide. Slowly, your eyes sharpen to the fascinating diversity of nature, often hidden in the small things. Like the cute little grebe that loves to dive or the funny stilt that enjoys splashing around and taking a long bath. Fish and frogs, reptiles and bats populate the grounds. During the summer you can even find blooming lilies and orchids.

S’Albufera derives from the Arabic word for lagoon, al-buhayra. It’s the wetland of a silted up lake. Water has always been the basis for its ecological wealth. But the parc in its present form is the result of a number of futile endeavors to use the area for agriculture. Among them the attempted draining to eradicate malaria. In 1988, S’Albufera was finally declared a Natural Park. Thanks to the preservation it’s all yours to discover on various trails, today, some of which even allow cycling.