The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Extremadura, Extremadura

Reviewed By JRAsFishBabe

We arrived in Lisbon, picked up our rental car from Centauro Rent a Car and then drove to Caceres, Extremadura. Here we would spend our first three nights on the Iberian Peninsula, exploring Caceres and Monfraque National Park. We were staying at the Casa Don Fernando, situated right on the Plaza Major, so visiting the old town was very handy. A visit to Monfraque, requires transportation, so having your own vehicle is a necessity. From our hotel to the park, via Ex- 390, the distance is 61 km., the time to get there is approximately one hour. You will pass through the small town of Torrejon el Rubio, here you turn left onto EX -208, which takes you into the park. Torrejon el Rubio is a small town, where, if you wish, accommodations and food can be had. As you come into town from Caceres, take note of the storks nesting on the tower. We were visiting in June and everywhere we drove, we observed hundreds of storks nesting in all sorts of towers, church towers, power poles, etc. You enter Monfraque via a winding EX-208, to the right, on top of a small mountain, you will see the Castle of Monfraque, built in the 9th century. As you continue, you come to Salto Del Gitano, here there is a viewpoint overlooking the gorge and the river Tajo. This viewpoint is an excellent place to see many bird species, including the Eurasian Black Vulture. The park hosts over 250 breeding pairs of this species, the largest colony, worldwide, Some of the species that we saw here were the White-rumped swift, Egyptian Vulture, Black Stork, Spanish Imperial Eagle, as well as the Black Vulture. Others species the park is home to, include Azure-winged Magpies, Eurasian Eagle Owls, Griffon Vultures, Golden Eagles, and Bonelli's Eagles. Indeed, the park is home to 15 regular breeding species of raptors. Monfraque is truly set up for the viewing of birds, as there are numerous viewing stations throughout. One of note is La Tajadilla, a spacious viewpoint which overlooks the river Tietar, and facing a craggy cliff, is bountiful with many nests of the raptors. Monfraque National Park's 18,396 ha., stretching along the rivers Tajo and Tietar, represents a great treasure of biodiversity. Its Mediterranean landscape and wildlife make it one of most remarkable natural areas in Europe. It has been recognized as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve since 2003. In addition to the wealth of natural history, there is also much human history associated with the area. In the park are many caves containing paintings dating back to prehistoric times, much evidence of Roman activity, bridges, roads, etc. historic events through the middle ages, such as Monfraque castle, and of course, right up to modern times. You must stop in at the Visitor Centre in Villarreal de San Carlos. This a very small village in the park, offering limited services. There is a small museum here, as well as restroom facilities. There is free entry to the park, and the park can visited at any time of the day. Also be prepared for heat, we were there in mid-June, temperatures were already in the low 40 degree Celsius range. We were told that these temperatures were perhaps 10 degrees above normal, but be prepared anyway. This would suggest, that perhaps an early visit in the day or a later visit in the day would be more appropriate. Also, I think, if it is possible, choosing a cooler time of year to visit would be better. This is such an amazing park, try to maximize your time here, making your experience as comfortable as possible! The park is close to Plasencia, Trujillo (Home of the conquistador Pizarro), and Caceres. These all have great services and are worthy of visits. P.S. You will enjoy this so much, and of course , "don't " forget your binoculars!