La Rocina Visitor Centre

La Rocina is the Doñana visitor centre closest to the village of El Rocío. Turismo de Almonte places it on the A-483 road, kilometre 1, the one from El Rocío to Matalascañas: you take the signposted exit for La Rocina and El Acebrón, and the centre is right after leaving the road, next to the car park. It is on the lower course of the La Rocina stream, one of the channels that feed the marsh.

Opening hours

According to the municipal listing:

• November to January: 9:00 to 15:00 and 16:00 to 18:00.
• February to October: 9:00 to 15:00 and 16:00 to 19:00.
• Sundays from 15 June to 15 September: 9:00 to 15:00 only.

It is closed on 1, 5 and 6 January, 24, 25 and 31 December and during the El Rocío pilgrimage. The municipal listing gives the telephone 677 159 840 for the centre; if you are unsure of the hours on a public holiday, call beforehand.

What is in the centre

The centre has a car park, toilets and an exhibition. This explains the plant landscapes of the surroundings, from the pine wood to ferns, heathland, brambles and reedbeds, with the monte blanco of lavender, rosemary and thyme, and the wildlife, above all waterbirds and migrants, such as the greylag goose, the purple swamphen or the squacco heron. It also has a cultural section on the huts where pilgrims lived and on the history of the pilgrimage. Turismo de Almonte describes it as accessible for people with reduced mobility and hearing or visual impairments. It has no restaurant or picnic area, so bring what you need or eat afterwards in the village.

The Charco de la Boca trail

From the centre starts the trail that follows a stretch of the La Rocina stream and leads to the Charco de la Boca: wooden boardwalks beside the water and several bird hides. It is the simplest way to see birds in Doñana without a guide and without paying. Go first thing or last thing, when there is more activity and less heat, and bring binoculars.

What to combine it with

Following the H-9023 road about 7 km from the turning you reach the Palacio del Acebrón, with its own trail beside the lagoon. To the south, along the A-483, is the El Acebuche Visitor Centre, where the 4x4 tours depart. And just 2 km away, in the village, you can see the El Rocío hermitage and finish with the marsh walk. For general information on the municipality, the Turismo de Almonte office is on 682 055 745.