El Hondo Natural Park

El Hondo Natural Park (Parc Natural El Fondo; Naturpark El Hondo, Parc naturel El Hondo) is a 2,387-hectare wetland of two irrigation reservoirs and surrounding pools between Elche and Crevillent, and the main breeding site in Spain for the marbled teal. The visitor centre, Finca El Rincón near San Felipe Neri (Crevillent), opens mornings; most trails and hides can be walked any day in daylight, but the red route to the northern reservoirs is open only on Saturdays by appointment. Bring binoculars and plan on two to three hours.

Quick facts

• Names: El Hondo (Spanish), El Fondo or El Fondo d’Elx-Crevillent (Valencian); Naturpark El Hondo in German, Parc naturel El Hondo in French.
• Where: between Elche and Crevillent in the south of Alicante province, about 12 km from Elche.
• Size: 2,387 ha of reservoirs, pools and reedbeds; declared a natural park in 1994.
• Bird protection area: enlarged in 2020 by about 1,500 ha to a total of roughly 4,000 ha.
• Birds: 172 species recorded, about 50 of them breeding.
• Visitor centre: Finca El Rincón, Azarbe de Afuera s/n, 03158 San Felipe Neri – Crevillent; phone 96 667 85 15.
• Red route: Saturdays only, by appointment, 8:30–11:30.

Access and parking

By car from Elche: take the CV-875 towards the village of Matola; after passing through San Felipe Neri, the track to the information centre is on the right after about 2 km. From the AP-7, use exit 730, Catral – Crevillent (park authority, how to get there).

Parking: at the information centre, where the green route also ends (park authority).

Public transport: we found no official information on buses to the visitor centre; plan on a car or a bike.

What to expect

A flat wetland made of two irrigation reservoirs and their surrounding pools, managed together with the local irrigation community (park authority). It is a place for birdwatching rather than a nature walk with views: you look out from hides over open water and reeds.

The birds: El Hondo is the main breeding site on the Iberian Peninsula for the marbled teal (cerceta pardilla), and the white-headed duck (malvasía cabeciblanca) is present all year. The purple swamphen (calamón) has been successfully reintroduced (park authority, red route). Visit Elche counts 172 species, about 50 of which nest here, among them herons, several dabbling ducks and flamingos (Visit Elche).

The routes: the green route is a 3.75 km loop with the VOLCAM and Paso del Lobo hides; the red route (about 5 km, to the northern reservoirs and the El Tollo, El Calamón and Peu Verd hides) opens only on Saturdays with a booked visit. The blue route along the Convenio and Dalt drains is for bicycles, 18 km there and back (Crevillent tourism).

Practical details

• Visitor centre hours (park authority): Monday to Friday 9:00–14:00, Saturday 12:00–14:00, Sundays and holidays 9:00–14:00 (park authority). Crevillent’s tourist office gives different days and times, so phone 96 667 85 15 before you go.
• Red route: Saturdays only, by appointment; entry at 8:30, exit at 11:30.
• Other routes: open every day at any time during daylight.
• Guided visits: park staff guide organised groups free of charge (Crevillent town hall).
• Binoculars: the visitor centre lends optical equipment and field guides; ask staff in advance.

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

Come early in the morning, when the visitor centre opens and birds are most active, and book a Saturday red-route visit if you want the northern reservoirs. The white-headed duck is present all year and the marbled teal breeds here; ask the visitor centre which hides are best on the day.

Nearby alternatives

• Palmeral of Elche (El Palmeral), 12 km away: Elche’s palm groves.
• Basílica de Santa María (Elche), 12 km away: the baroque basilica in Elche old town.
• Salinas de Santa Pola, 15 km away: the salt-pan natural park on the coast, also known for flamingos.
• Guardamar del Segura, about 15 km away: the coastal town with its pine-forested dunes.
• For where to stay and eat, see our Elche town guide.
• Alannia Costa Blanca, about 2.0 km away: the nearest campsite you can book through Campcation (affiliate link).

Distances are in a straight line from the visitor centre.

FAQ

Is El Hondo the same as El Fondo?

Yes. El Hondo is the Spanish name and El Fondo (El Fondo d’Elx-Crevillent) the Valencian one; German visitors search for Naturpark El Hondo and French visitors for Parc naturel El Hondo.

When is the El Hondo visitor centre open?

The park authority lists Monday to Friday 9:00–14:00, Saturday 12:00–14:00 and Sundays and holidays 9:00–14:00. Crevillent’s tourist office gives different hours, so phone 96 667 85 15 before you go.

Can you visit the red route without booking?

No. The red route to the northern reservoirs opens only on Saturdays with a booked visit, from 8:30 to 11:30. The other routes are open every day during daylight.

What birds can you see at El Hondo?

The marbled teal, for which it is the main breeding site on the Iberian Peninsula, the white-headed duck all year, the reintroduced purple swamphen, herons, ducks and flamingos; 172 species have been recorded.

Sources and freshness

Checked 30 September 2026. Official: park authority (Generalitat Valenciana) pages on the park, the visitor centre, how to get there, the red route and the green route; Generalitat on carp control; Elche town hall on the bird protection area (2020); Crevillent town hall and Crevillent tourism; Visit Elche; Spain’s tourist board in German and French. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, licences as credited.