10 Things to Know Before Visiting the Delta de l'Ebre, Catalonia

For those of us who can’t remember our geography classes, a wetland is a piece of land saturated with water such as marshes, mangroves and swamps like the Everglades in Florida. The Delta de l’Ebre is the second largest wetland in the western Mediterranean, after the French Camargue, and covers some 320 square metres (3,440 square feet).

In 1993 the Spanish government declared a large part of the Delta de l’Ebre as a protected natural park owing to its incredibly rich flora and fauna. Some 7,802 hectares (19,300 acres) large, the natural park includes estuaries, marshes, dry lakes and beaches which make up the special landscape of the Delta de l’Ebre.

The Delta de l’Ebre is famous for being a major ornithological site – think bird-watching – and is home to numerous native species of bird. In addition to the 95 species which call the delta home, there are another 300 birds which pass through the Delta de l’Ebre each year as part of their migratory route.

Located some 200 kilometres (124 miles) south of Barcelona, the Delta de l’Ebre can easily be accessed in about two hours by car from the Catalan capital. Yet when you arrive you’ll feel transported to a far away land thanks to its other-worldly landscapes, exotic wildlife, and unique atmosphere.

The particular features of the Delta de l’Ebre have lead to it being used to grow crops for centuries, in particular citrus fruits, vegetables and, most famous of all, rice. Delta de l’Ebre rice is considered a quality ingredient throughout this part of Spain and many famous local chefs serve Delta de l’Ebre rice in their restaurants.

One of the fastest, easiest and most fun ways to explore the Delta de l’Ebre is on a bike. Thanks to its relatively flat terrain, you won’t need to use too much pedal power to explore the rice fields and coastal paths of the Delta de l’Ebre. Some companies also offer guided bike tours as well as bicycle rentals from €10 ($12) for a half a day.

When you’re planning your trip to the Delta de l’Ebre keep in mind that the town of Amposta is where you’ll find the most restaurants, hotels and also the main tourist information desk. From here you’ll be able to rent bikes, organise bird-watching expeditions and sight-seeing tours, or enquire about boat trips and fishing licenses.

Since 1992 a colony of pink flamingos have been settled in the Delta de l’Ebre where they are visible throughout the year, although they’re most visible in the winter. This is now the only place in Catalonia where the birds reproduce and some 2711 pairs were counted in 2017, the highest number on record yet.

As well as offering plenty of fun activities such as bird-watching and bike rides, there are also some pristine sand beaches in the Delta de l’Ebre perfect for spending a few lazy hours in the sun. The Platja de l’Eucaliptus or ‘Eucalyptus Beach’ is a 6 kilometre (3.7 mile) long sand beach lined with low lying sand dunes. There’s a campsite and restaurant nearby where you can get refreshments too.

The zebra mussel is a small, salt water mussel which is believed to be native to the lakes of southern Russia. However, in the 20th century the mussel was accidentally introduced elsewhere and has since become an invasive species threatening native species of mussels in places such as the Hudson River, the Great Lakes and the Ebro Delta.