Andalusia largest wetland

See a unique landscape as you travel Stages 17 and 18 of the Great Málaga Path aboard a sustainable means of transport

CDiscover Andalusia’s natural areas on an unforgettable adventure, teeming with sensations. Do you know that the biggest wetland in Andalusia is in the province of Málaga? The Fuente de Piedra lagoon stands in the centre of the region, among olive groves and fields of cereals.

Stage 17 of the Great Málaga Path runs from the village of Alameda to Fuente de Piedra, an 18.6 km lineal route through the Mollina and the Camorra mountains. From Fuente de Piedra, part of Stage 18, it leads to Campillos, covering 15.7 kilometres, which starts skirting this very important wetland.

The area is known for being a favourite haunt of Spain’s largest colony of flamingos. These wading birds live in a six-kilometre-long lagoon that covers 1,400 hectares, making it one of Andalusia’s natural wonders.

There are many ways to discover the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra. However, we suggest you do it aboard an ancient means of transport: a mule-drawn cart.

Travelling this way gives access to places that most visitors will never get to see. In the company of guides specialised in ornithology, you will marvel at the numerous birds that live or visit this wetland.

On the way you can stop for a spot of twitching, binoculars provided, and enjoy the sight of the birds living free in their natural surroundings.
How about gastronomy? Enjoy a picnic of local products washed down by local wines in this haven of peace and tranquillity, the perfect addition to an unforgettable experience in the natural environment, and all totally sustainable.

Treat yourself to this experience: discover the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra. An environment where birds are ringed every year by the many volunteers and students who inventory up to 20,000 breeding pairs of flamingos. But the flamingo is not the only inhabitant of the lagoon: the white-headed duck, the heron and slender-billed gull also frequent this important wetland, which is fed by heavy rain and an underground aquifer.