Reserva Natural Salinas de Santa Pola

The Santa Pola Salt Flats Nature Reserve covers 2,470 hectares of marshland and working salt pans in the Bay of Santa Pola, on the boundary with Elche. The regional government declared it a Natural Site in 1988 and a Natural Park in 1994, and it is listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance for waterbirds.

From Roman salt to a bird reserve

Salt has been worked here for a long time: in Roman times this stretch of coast supplied salted fish to the port of Portus Ilicitanus. Industrial-scale extraction began in the late 19th century and continues today, in an unusual coexistence between an active mining operation and a protected habitat: the evaporation ponds, each holding a different salinity level, are exactly what draws and feeds the wildlife.

Flamingos are the most visible species: between April and August, colonies of up to eight thousand birds gather on the ponds. More than 170 bird species have been recorded here over the year, including avocets and the little tern, which breeds on site. Marked trails and several observation towers let visitors follow the edge of the ponds without disturbing the colonies.

What to see

The landscape mixes the white of the salt piles with the pink tint of the most concentrated ponds, a contrast that shifts with the light and the season. The reserve connects on foot to the town of Santa Pola and to other sites in the municipality, such as the Torre Atalayola watchtower and the Museo del Mar, which devotes a room to the bay’s salt-making history. It also features in our guide to the province’s gardens and green spaces.

Summer is the best time to see flamingos, when the colonies are largest, though the reserve hosts migratory birds for much of the year. The trails are flat and manageable for almost any visitor, with little shade, so it is worth avoiding the middle of the day during the hottest months.