A natural wonder next to the Pyrenees: Bárdenas Reales, Spain
This place is out of this world.
I promise this is no exaggeration, the lunar landscape of Bárdenas Reales has to be seen with your own eyes and then you’ll understand that this place is something special.
We didn’t expect to find a place like this right next to the majestic Pyrenees, but that’s one of the many reasons we love to travel, you don’t always know what you’re going to find, or get in the case of a box of chocolates. If you’re planning to do a road trip around Spain then Bárdenas Reales is a must-see stop on your route.
What is Bárdenas Reales known for?
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Bárdenas Reales is a badlands located in northern Spain where you feel like you’ve stepped into a wild west movie set. You can drive yourself at your own pace to stop and admire the unique rock formations, abandoned houses and lunar landscape. This spectacular landscape has featured as the backdrop in Game of Thrones and also several movies including James Bond ‘The World is Not Enough’.
Where is Bárdenas Reales?
Bárdenas Reales is located in northeast Spain and is set between the cities of Pamplona and Zaragoza. Only 70 km from the Pyrenees, the badlands in Navarra will transport you to a landscape that feels like something out of this world. It’s a short 30 minute drive from Tudela, the second largest city in the region of Navarre and has a beautiful Cathedral. The nearest airports to the area in north-east Spain are Logroño-Agoncillo, Zaragoza and Pamplona.
How to get to Bárdenas Reales?
The night before we entered the nature reserve we stayed at the campervan aire in Arguedas which is perfect if you are travelling by campervan or motorhome which is opposite the Arguedas caves. These caves have been preserved to show the way locals used to live to keep cool from the heat in the summer months. Bárdenas Reales is just 10 minutes by car from the town of Arguedas, which makes it an ideal stop over for the night and allows you to get up early for when you can enter the nature reserve at 8am.
How to get around Bárdenas Reales?
Access to the park is free and you can drive yourself around the nature reserve along a road, it is recommended to drive a vehicle that has high ground clearance as it is mostly a dirt track. We drove around in our Ford Transit van with no problems and it’s worth visiting the visitor centre when you enter to plan your route around the park. It’s a good idea to download offline maps from google or maps-me, as signal can be patchy in places and the maximum driving speed is 40 km/h or 25mph. There can be free roaming livestock in the reserve and we came across some goats being herded. Across the park there are many hiking and cycling trails that allow you to explore deeper into the landscape.
What to Expect when visiting Bárdenas Reales?
There is a nearby military base and the regular practice drills within Bárdenas Reales, we saw fighter jets flying above us which really added to the surrealness of the place and like you had just walked into a movie set! Whilst driving along the roads, there are places to stop and explore the landscape by foot and plenty of photo opportunities. There are many incredible viewpoints that show the scale and vastness of the landscape. You’ll also discover abandoned houses along the way.
What to take with you when visiting Bárdenas Reales?
In the summer temperatures can reach above 35°C. If you plan to visit at this time of the year make sure to visit early in the morning and take plenty of water with you. There are limited facilities once you enter the park, the visitor centre has toilets and information on how to navigate your way around. Wear a good suncream and bring a hat as the landscape is exposed with little to no shade and to explore the reserve by foot make sure to wear sturdy footwear. If you love to take photos or videos make sure you bring your camera! Ensure if you are driving yourself, to have enough fuel in your vehicle.
When is the best time to visit Bárdenas Reales?
As a semi-desert landscape, during the day temperatures can get very high and low during the night. The recommended best months to visit are from May to October as you’ll have the warmest weather and least amount of rain. The park is open from 8am and closes one hour before sunset. We visited on a cloudy day in September, where it was nice and cool in the morning and it started to warm up as the day went on. If there has been consistent rain, entrance to the park is not recommended by the park authorities as it can severely affect the condition of the roads.
Areas of the park are closed at certain times of the year for nesting birds and for hunting. It is worth checking the official park website for any restrictions when planning your visit.
WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN Bárdenas Reales?
Castildetierra
A tower of delicate rock, clay and sand, the Castildetierra is the majestic symbol and one of the most photographed formations of the Bardenas. It was formed as a result of natural erosion, the process has taken over millions of years till today where erosion continues. These formations and clay slopes surrounding it are extremely delicate and there are signs to protect it from further human impact. At the top of the tower, there is a layer of hard rock which is resistant to erosion and protects the underlying softer deposits. It’s important to not climb the rocks as it is extremely vulnerable and could risk it collapsing.
Cabezo de las Cortinillas
Close to Castildetierra, there is a small car park where you can walk up steps to a breathtaking viewpoint across the Bardenas all the way to the top overlooking the park and there is an abandoned house opposite.
Abandoned houses
When you first enter the park from the visitors centre, you’ll pass a rustic, abandoned house and find several others whilst driving around. These houses are what you expect to find in the Australian outback, with their wooden doors, peeling plaster and iconic shaped chimneys.
Where to stay near Bárdenas Reales?
You cannot stay overnight in Bárdenas Reales in your campervan, it’s strictly forbidden. However, there is an Aire nearby in the town of Arguedas which is free to stay and there is plenty of space to park. The town itself has the amenities you’ll need including a small food shop, bars and restaurants. Arguedas is located close to the main entrance to Bárdenas Reales where you’ll pass the visitor centre. Recently, a parking area is available to campervans and motorhomes in Carcastillo which is found close to the El Paso entrance to Bárdenas Reales.
