The Corklands and small villages of the Sierra de Espadan Nature Reserve
Friday 24th/Saturday 25th May 2024
This will be a small group, off the beaten track, tour (maximum 24 participants), which will bring us into close contact with nature and the real way of life of these rural populations. The corklands are landscapes of Quercus suber, a species endemic in the Mediterranean basin. The Iberian Peninsula is home to half of the world’s corklands, located primarily in the southwest, and they offer a unique experience of habitats and their natural resources.
Our first visit will be to Eslida and the Interpretation Centre of Sierra de Espadán Natural Park; located inside the reserve itself, it was previously the old school building which has been restored and refurbished.
We will then travel to nearby Aín for a guided walk around this medieval-Muslim town, where we will get to know more about the cork oak forests.
After lunch in a local restaurant we will visit a local winery, the Alcovi Bodega, for a taste of artisan wines, and also cheeses from the Quesería Artesana Los Corrales.
Overnight will be spent in a 4* hotel in nearby Segorbe. with dinner included.
After breakfast the next morning we will have a guided experience, Cork extraction around Almedíjar, run by a local expert, followed by lunch in a local restaurant.
We will then travel to nearby Soneja for a guided visit to the Espadan Corks factory. At Espadán Corks they extract the cork from their own forests located in the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park. The process is carried out with absolute respect for the environment and in a traditional way. The use of natural cork is a sustainable activity, as only the bark of the tree is extracted and its exploitation helps to preserve the forests.
Return to Javea early evening.
Although not difficult, please note that there will be walking involved in this small group tour, and transport will be in a 26-seater small bus.
This trip is currently full but if you would like to be added to the reserve list in case of cancellations, please send an email to the group leader, Angela:
spanish.culture.cuisine@u3ajavea.com (please copy and paste into your mail programme)
