Charco de la Boca Trail, at La Rocina

An easy trail that starts from the front yard of the La Rocina visitor centre, about 2 km from El Rocío, and follows the Rocina stream through pine wood and wooden boardwalks. It has two hides over the stream, where you can see herons and ducks. It is 3.8 km and a little under two hours, with no climbs.

What you will see

La Rocina is the main source of water reaching the marsh, and the trail covers its final stretch. It starts through a stone-pine wood, a tree documented in the area since the 18th century and today one of Doñana's most characteristic landscapes. The first hide looks out over the stream where the channel widens: when it is flooded, it fills with birds.

Then a boardwalk crosses the Algaida del Carrizal, among willows and reeds, and the pine wood continues to the second hide. Past the Algaida del Meloncillo there are fern beds and big cork oaks beside the water. There the trail splits: one boardwalk leads to the monte blanco, of rockrose, rosemary and lavender, and the other branch returns through the pine wood among honeysuckle, sarsaparilla and brambles.

The birds

It is a breeding area for the purple swamphen, the little bittern and the marbled teal, and you often see glossy ibises, little egrets, grey herons and purple herons. The visitor centre explains the stream's fauna, where waterbirds and migrants such as the greylag goose or the squacco heron abound, and shows traditional huts of the rocieros.

Opening hours and access

The trail is open every day from 9:00 until dusk, except Christmas holidays and the days of the pilgrimage. It is free. The La Rocina centre has its own hours: from November to January, 9:00 to 15:00 and 16:00 to 18:00; from February to October, until 19:00 in the afternoon, and on Sundays from 15 June to 15 September mornings only. It is closed on 1, 5 and 6 January, 24, 25 and 31 December and during the pilgrimage. It is adapted for people with reduced mobility and hearing or visual impairments.

On the A-483 towards Matalascañas, take the turning for La Rocina and El Acebrón. As soon as you leave the road, next to the car park, are the centre and the start of the trail.

With children and what to combine it with

It is flat with boardwalks, good with children; bring water. From here, continue 7 km along the same road to the Palacio del Acebrón, or go back to the village to see the marsh in front of the hermitage. You will find more information about the centre on its page.