Travel Guide La Albufera

The name of the Albufera comes from the Arabic word al-buhayra, which means "little sea". This wetland, located 10 km south of Valencia, covers more than 20,000 hectares. Declared a natural park in 1986, then a special area for the protection of birds in 1994, it consists of a huge enchanting lake, marshes, rice fields and thousands of birds. The inhabitants have preserved a traditional way of life: most of them are dedicated to fishing and rice cultivation. Indeed, it is here that the famous Valencian rice is grown. The Albufera is the setting for the novel Cañas y barro by the famous Valencian writer Blasco Inañez, and retains a mystical atmosphere. The lake is separated from the sea by a narrow dune line of 6 km, to which belongs the Dehesa del Saler, a large pine forest. Three channels, two natural and one artificial, connect the sea with the lake and the surrounding marshes. It is also an important nesting and hibernation site where thousands of birds can be observed. The best thing to do is to climb on one of the boats that allow you to go around the lake. You can also enjoy the beach of El Saler, one of the last wild beaches of the Valencian coast. It is impossible to leave the Albufera without trying the delicious traditional cuisine of the restaurants of El Palmar. You can consult the website (www.albuferaparc.com) which gives an overview of the activities you can do in this environment: walks, paella tasting or boat races...