Maktub Bohemian Rides offers you the splendid opportunity to enjoy el Parque de los Alcornocales. la Sierra de Grazalema, Serranía de Ronda, Sierra de las Nieves, Sierra Bermeja y Sierra de Libar. Nearly 400.000 hectares of primeval forest.
A Protected Natural Space declared natural park since 1989 most of which belongs to Málaga and Cádiz. Invested by a sea of Mediterranean autochthonous forests and the marvellous and magical cork oaks from which corks are made. We mention here its well-known fog called 'BARBAS DE LEVANTE' or levant beards- which provides ambient humidity and confers a special kind of magic to the landscape. This fog creates a very special microclimate which fosters the exuberant growth of woodland vegetation. This is the reason the park is known as the 'Last Mediterranean Woodland'. It is made up of cork oaks, juicy oaks, olives trees, Pyrenean oaks, etc. All of which are colonised by liquens, mosses and epiphytic ferns which are green all year round and rather beautiful. From a scientific point of view, we would point out the presence of gallery woods subtropical in type or the laurel forests, which are unique in Continental Europe, harbouring the presence of laurel, rhododendrons, hazelnuts, laurentines, alders, hollies, and numerous varieties of ferns extremely rare at these latitudes, although this kind of vegetation once occupied the vast majority of the centre and south of Europe during the tertiary era.
What a luxury! What is more, the cork oak forest have the honour of harbouring the oldest living vascular plant on earth, a fern called 'PELOSOTUM NUDUM', which can only be found in several tropical areas of the planet.
As diverse as its vegetation, is its fauna .Its situation at the southernmost point in Europe converts the park into a seasonal and obligatory passing point towards Africa for millions of migratory birds. Known as the 'Ornithological Paradise it hosts storks, eagles, falcons, kites, vultures, Egyptian vultures, etc.
It also harbours important mammal populations and with a bit of luck, you may be able to see mongooses, genets, otters, badgers, deer, roe deer, mountain goats, wild boar and lynxes.
From a settlement, cultural and civilisational point of view, the wealth of superimposed strata has created a peculiar ethnological matrix. Megalithic, Iberian, Phoenecian, Roman, Arabci monuments, etc.
Serranía de Ronda with its 22 municipalities and 'Pueblos Blancos', its surprising crystalline water wells like 'charco azul '(blue puddle), its Torres Andalucíes and spectacular grottoes, prehistoric caves like La Cueva de la Pileta, its vertiginous waterfalls etc., make this marvellous place one of the 'MOST SPECTACULAR MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS' in Andalucía and in Spain.
The opportunity our beloved and noble friends, the horses, offer us in getting to know and enjoy such a special space will make everything even more marvellous.
The trails from 'Pueblos Blancos' with their charming hotels and formidable gastronomic choice will make for unforgettable memories and you will be wishing to return as the natural space is so extensive and with such a wide variety of safaris on offer that, with one safari alone, it will be impossible for you to get to know the entire scope available to you.
This magical and special mountain range is declared to be the rainiest area in the Iberian Peninsula and despite its spectacular aridity it is the second wettest place in the whole of Europe. This is due to the tremendous "PICO DE TORREÓN" culminating at 1654m which acts as a real barrier to the humidity -laden winds from the Atlantic Ocean which result in heavy rainfall.
We would like to mention the "CUEVA DEL GATO" through which the impressive Guadiaro River flows and the "CUEVA DE LA PILETA". This marvellous cave is linked to the Bullón family ever since its discovery by José Bullón, a farmer who rented out the property at the time. On a spring day in 1905 José decided to explore a chasm near his home from which thousands of bats flew out at dusk. His purpose was to look for guano to fertilise his fields and increase their yield. The chasm turned out to be the entrance to a great cave which left him marvelling and in which he found bones, ceramic, and wall paintings. The scientific community was informed and the find turned out to be one of the most important, if not the most important, cave in the Iberian Peninsula. In 1924, it was declared a national historic monument and Tomás Bullón, nephew to José Bullón was named and later took proprietary possession of the land rights and therefore of the cave.
Today when many cave paintings In Spain have disappeared or become unrecognisable, the fourth generation of the Bullón family continue guiding and looking after the footprints of visitors who find a rock cave frozen in time, thanks to the magnificent dedication to the protection and conservation of the cave by this singular family. The fourth generation of this family are José, Tomás and Rosario.
Worthy of note in the category of flora in the Sierra de Grazalema is the forest of tall firs or Spanish fir tree, being the second and greatest mass of firsof (PINSAPO) its kind in Andalucía after that of the Sierra delas Nieves. This fir forest is a dense, shady forest mixed with holm oak, juicy oak and Lusitanian oak and harbours 200 species of vertebrates, 7 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians and over 130 species of birds alone.
Spectacular area of Grazalema where the best examples of TORCAL-TYPE CAUSTIC FORMATIONS can be found. The plains of Libar are a true wonder to galop over on our steeds and enjoy picking up speed.
Declared WORLDWIDE BIOSPHERE RESERVE in 1995 by the UNESCO. The greatest hallmark of these territories are its fir forests, the botanical relic of the coniferous forest of the tertiary era, which comprise approximately 2000 hectares of the largest extent of protected fir worlwide. Due to the great diversity of habitats in existence in the Sierra de las Nieves, it is an important refuge for wild fauna such as the mountain goat, roe deer, genet, otter, short-toed eagle, Golden eagle, Royal owl, Peregrine falcon, etc.
Known as the red mountain, in Arabic 'YEBEL AL JAMBRA' meaning red mountain. The red colour of the massif is due to the oxidisation of iron in the form of iron oxide. Also declared WORLDWIDE BIOSPHERE RESERVE by the UNESCO. It is the greatest massif of peridotite rocks rich in iron silicates and micro deposits of platinum in the world. From its heights we can contemplate the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the African Continent, During the migratory season between Europe and Africa over 220 species of birds may be observed.
Coming down through the woods we enter wild territory, the Coast of Light comprising the Spanish coast of the Gulf of Cádiz. We can ride the horses on the coast from which Christopher Columbus set sail on his caravels to discover America and to which boats laden with bullion arrived. You will enjoy Cape Trafalgar where the epic naval battle took place between English and Spanish ships. We will enjoy the most sought-after coast in the world by surfers and we shall share the marvellous gastronomy and wine the raging Atlantic Ocean and surrounding landscape offers.
Is the natural environment of the best cattle raising farms for fighting bulls and studs for Spanish horses. Tarifa, Polonia, Santi Petri, Cádiz, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and its hinterland, Jerez, Medina Sidonia…. welcome to paradise. We can combine sea and land and make this adventure an unforgettable experience.
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