The Bardenas Reales Natural Park constitutes the most characteristic landscape of the Ribera.

The Bardenas constitute a priveligious area with a high naturalistic value, in which we can enjoy, trekking, cycle tourism and other open air activities. You can access the park either from Arguedas or Valtierra. This 42,500 hectare space was created by the erosion of the geological materials (clay, gypsum and sandstone) originating with the Pyrenean folds. The result, an immense maze of high plateaus and hillocks that stand out in the horizon. There are areas very similar to the moon surface in appearance; others remind us of the most genuine Far West landscape.

This land belonged to the Navarre Crown. Its use was ceded to the shepherds of the Pyrenean valleys of Salazar and Roncal as pasture for the animals in the winter. This practice is still renewed every year on the18th September. The ritual is known as La Sanmiguelada.

We can divide the park into three big areas. The Bardena Blanca, the Plano and the Bardena Negra. The Bardena Blanca, situated on the centre of the park, is formed by a valley with saline outcrops. The views are fantastic from the Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Yugo, in Arguedas. It offers the most characteristic and known landscape of the Bardenas. Here you can find, for example, the famous Cabezo de Castildetierra a strange hill, shaped by millions of years of erosion.

Bardena Blanca´s scarce vegetation is made up of rosemary, thyme, onto, sisals and esparto grass bushes. Small desert birds can be seen here such as; skylarks, the common woodlark, ortega and ganga.

The Bardena Negra, situated on the most southern point presents more vegetation, with arboreal masses of Carrasco pine trees. The landscape made up of red clay and limestone.

The third area, El Plano of Bardenas, is a huge plateau situated in the north.

With more than 200 km of roads and marked paths available to observe the different ecosystems. Some points, located on the most protected areas, can only be accessed by vehicles with no engine.

Related links:

Web Turismo Tudela
 Web Bardena Activa