An incredible culmination of sounds, shapes and colours belong to the diverse community of birdlife that feed, breed and nest in the marshes of Isla Cristina and Ayamonte.


The formation of these marshes is the result of a long and complex process, accelerated by human action. The deposit of sediments from the Guadiana River, together with the force of the tides, has formed an extensive complex of tidal marshes that includes streams, branches, estuaries, channels and muddy plains.

By bicycle, on foot or on horseback, you can enjoy trails through this landscape that start from the nearby town of Ayamonte. One of the trails crosses a “via verde” greenway (converted disused railway tracks) and arrives at an old tide mill that was once used to grind cereals and make fishmeal, with which the surrounding fields were fertilised. Further along, the trail enters the marsh. Here you may encounter species such as the pied avocet, with its long, upturned beak. You can also spot the unmistakable spoonbill, with its distinctively shaped beak, which turns yellow in the mating season. These birds feed on molluscs, crustaceans, and fish. It is possible to cover a lot of this area by taking a boat trip through the Carreras estuary. This way you can really appreciate the splendour and magnitude of the environment

Chameleons inhabit the forest areas (mainly stone pines and Phoenicean juniper) at the edge of the dunes, shying away from human activity.

The origin of the town of Isla Cristina is relatively recent. In the 18th century, sea workers from the Mediterranean coast settled in this area, attracted by the abundance of fish. At present too, the fishing community continues to support the economy of the town, together with the income generated from tourism. Its historical art heritage, although recent, is of interest. The altarpieces and paintings of modern imagery in its parishes for example.