4x4 Tour of the National Park from El Acebuche

The off-road tour from El Acebuche is the way into the heart of Doñana National Park without a permit of your own: a guided three-and-a-half to four-hour trip that crosses the beach, dunes, woodland, the vera and the marsh in a single itinerary, as far as the mouth of the Guadalquivir. It is run by Doñana Visitas, the Marismas del Rocío cooperative, which presents itself as the only company authorised to travel through all the park's ecosystems, beaches and dunes included.

From El Acebuche to the river mouth

Departure is from the El Acebuche Visitor Centre, on the El Rocío to Matalascañas road (A-483, km 37.5). The vehicles are enclosed, most with 21 seats, though there are 6- and 30-seaters, and they leave even in rain. The route goes down to Doñana beach, an unspoilt coast of about 28 km that you drive along on the sand, climbs between the dunes and the corrales, crosses the reserve and the vera — the strip where the sand meets the marsh — and looks out over the marsh, which covers more than 30,000 hectares, almost half the park.

There are two stops, one in the dunes and another at the La Plancha settlement; you get out for a short walk around the vehicle. No further walking is required. The guides explain the landscape throughout the journey; you almost always see animals, but the company warns that it can't guarantee how many.

Times, days and price

There is a departure at 8:30 all year and a second one in the afternoon: at 15:00 from 15 September to 30 April and at 17:00 from 1 May to 14 September. According to the company, morning and afternoon have the same route and the same chances of seeing wildlife. There are no departures on 25 December, 1 January, Mondays from October to February, Sundays from June to September or during the El Rocío pilgrimage. The tour is in Spanish or English.

It costs €35 per adult and €20 for ages 4 to 8. Book in advance on its website or on 959 430 432, and pay at the El Acebuche desk, in cash or by card, or at the time if you book online.

Before getting into the off-roader

When you arrive, park and go into the building, about a hundred metres away; cross the first counter to the courtyard and, on the left, is the tours desk, where you are assigned a vehicle. The terrain is uneven and the company advises against the tour for pregnant women and people with neck or back injuries; the cars have no child seats. Bring water, a cap, insect repellent and comfortable clothes: there is nowhere to buy anything inside the park. There is no public transport to El Acebuche.

The centre has a café, exhibitions and about five kilometres of free trails to round off the day; more details on the El Acebuche Visitor Centre page. The tour is the central part of the 4x4 Sunday from El Acebuche, which continues with lunch in El Rocío; there, Toruño is open every day.