Ebro Delta
The Ebro Delta is 330.31 km2 wide which makes it the biggest Catalonia's aquatic region. In addition, it also has two large bays, the Bahía de los Alfaques and the Bahía del Fangar, total 68.46 km². The main characteristics of the area are diverse landscapes where all kinds of flora and fauna can be found. The Ebro Delta Natural Park was established in 1983 as a way to protect its natural systems. In 2013 it was declared a Biosphere Natural Reserve by UNESCO thanks to its natural and landscape wealth.
We went to Ebro Delta three or four times and explored different parts of it. I would like to share all the places we visited.
Playa del Trabucador (eng. Trabucador beach). The first time we tried visiting it was, I believe, January or February. We unfortunately couldn't access it. The entrance of the beach was completely flooded. Second time was mid-April, the day before I had to go to hospital for an induced labor. The day was very surreal, my husband and I said maybe two words to each other, we knew our lives were about to turn upside down. The Trabucador beach is an essential place to go to while visiting the Delta. It's a very long arm of sand surrounded by the sea on both sides. It's possible to drive through a part of it by car (approximately 2km) or by foot/bike (6,5km). The beach is very popular among kitesurfers or windsurfers and because of the shallow waters it's an ideal place to learn such sport. Although most people just come to enjoy the tranquillity of the place or watch the magical sunsets.
Playa del Fangar (eng. Fangar beach) is another must see. It's a 7km long peninsula that makes you feel like you are in the middle of the desert. It can only be visited on foot. The most popular walking route is by the sea until El Faro del Fangar (eng. the Fangar Lighthouse). It's approximately an hour long trip from the parking lot of Playa de la Marquesa (eng. The Marquesa Beach). Fun fact: the peninsula was chosen as a filming location for the music video of U2's song Vertigo and the movie Sahara (2005).
Ebro Delta is also known for its oysters and mussels farms. There are several in the area that organize excursions and tastings. We chose to visit the oldest one in the Delta called Musclarium located in San Carlos de la Rapita. We were picked up by the speed boat that brought us to the farm. The whole farming process was explained and that was followed by the tasting of oysters and mussels. The guide didn't speak any English, however, the overall experience was great.
Laguna de la Tancada (eng. Tancada Lagoon) is considered to be one of the most important lagoons in the delta and is a host for a variety of birds like flamingos, herons and others. The observatory of Tancada is one of the best spots for birdwatching in the area and it makes it possible to observe birds without disturbing them.
Last but not least, Ebro Delta has many outdoor activities to offer for everybody. Cycling, hiking, boat trips, kayaking, river cruises... There are several boat tours offered to explore the delta's islands as well as to see the meeting point of Spain's longest river, the Ebro, with the sea.
Feel free to send me your suggestions for must-visit places in the province of Castellón and beyond.