Bardenas Reales Information Centre

The Visitor Information and Reception Centre of the Bardenas Reales Natural Park is on the Los Aguilares estate, at kilometre 6 of the park road, reached from kilometre 0.8 of the NA-8712, about 7 km after leaving Arguedas. It is where the Bardena Blanca track begins and the first essential stop of any visit: here they give you the free map and tell you which tracks are open and whether there are warnings for rain or wildlife.

Opening hours

The centre is open every day from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00 between 1 September and 19 March; from 20 March to 31 August, it closes at 18:00 in the afternoon. At Easter it opens without a midday break. The park itself, however, is open to visitors from 8:00 until one hour before dusk, so in winter, with short days, it is best to go in early. You can contact it on +34 948 830 308 and at [email protected].

What is in the centre

Inside there is a small archaeological exhibition, a diorama of the landscape and toilets. Head out onto the tracks with plenty of water, especially in summer. The centre is also the place to ask about guided activities: 4x4, buggy or horseback tours, which are run by companies in the area.

Rules worth knowing before you set off

The Bardenas are a natural park and have regulations for tourist use published in 2021. The essentials for the visitor:

• By car: only on the marked tracks, at 40 km/h at most and parking in the designated places. Leaving the tracks and driving in groups of five or more vehicles is forbidden.
• By bicycle: on the tracks and, better, on the marked routes; never across country.
• On horseback: only on the signposted routes.
• On foot: free on the network of paths and on the tracks.
• Forbidden: flying drones for tourist purposes, camping or sleeping in the open, motorhomes included, lighting fires, setting off fireworks, climbing and painting or marking the rocks.
• Dogs: always under control and on a lead of 3 m at most; they may not enter the park buildings, except guide dogs.
• Military zone: the military-use zone cannot be crossed and has its own restrictions.

What to do from here

The classic outing is the loop around the Bardena Blanca, about 25 km of track passing Castildetierra and the Cortinas ravine. On the way back, in Arguedas you can see the caves with a guided visit, booked at the Arguedas information point. For lunch or a place to sleep at the park entrance there is the Hotel Aire de Bardenas, with its restaurant.