Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park: a treasure between the sea and the mountains

If you thought you had seen it all between the beaches of the Mediterranean and the mountain ranges of Alicante and Valencia, wait until you discover the Marjal de Pego-Oliva. This natural park is like that friend who has it all, from beauty and mystery to good vibes.

Get ready for a getaway that combines marshes, trails, canals, rice paddies and landscapes that deserve their own Instagram filter, but without needing to apply it. Let’s discover this place together!

Where is and how to get to the Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park

The Marjal de Pego-Oliva is located between Alicante and Valencia. More specifically, between the towns of Pego (Alicante) and Oliva (Valencia). The park occupies about 1,255 hectares, which means it is larger than many Spanish municipalities. There is room for rice paddies, lagoons, reed beds and even your existential problems, although you will forget them with the landscape.

Getting there is easy. By car you can go from Valencia on the AP-7 and take the Oliva-Pego exit, and from Alicante, also on the AP-7 heading north. In case you are coming from the interior you have to take the N-332.

Another option is to go by bus, there are lines to Oliva and Pego, although you will have to prepare to walk a little more. And if you are one of the most athletic, you can also go by bicycle.

Our advice is to take the GPS, because getting lost among canals and rice paddies can be very poetic, but somewhat less practical if your idea was to eat at the usual time.

You can discover all these routes and trails in the Marjal de Pego-Oliva

The park has several options for explorers of all levels:

The Samaria route is about 4 km in a circular shape. It is suitable for families and is ideal to start calmly, see birds and show off a photo with the rice paddies in the background. Another simple option is the Blue route, as it covers about 1.5 km that you can do quietly without anyone complaining.

Moving on to something more serious, we propose the PR-V 58 Trail, a 13 km route that connects Pego with the surroundings of the marsh, perfect for those who want to arrive sweaty to the baked rice afterwards.

A more different option are the kayak routes, if you feel like rowing among reeds, or walking along the ditches if you prefer to feel like an Amazon explorer in a Mediterranean version.

The best thing about all this is that apart from being free, they are healthy and leave you with endorphins through the roof.

The flora, fauna and landscape that make the Marjal de Pego-Oliva unique

This is where things start to get serious, but also fun, because the Marjal is a biodiversity paradise.

Among the fauna you can observe aquatic birds such as herons, colorful ducks, cormorants, among others, but the jewels of this place are the marbled teals or the purple swamphen, a bird that looks like it is dressed for carnival. There are also eels, tench and even samarucs, some endemic fish that barely exist in other places.

Regarding the flora you can see bulrushes, reeds, reed beds and rice paddies that fill the entire landscape with green. In summer, you can see that intense green, while in autumn, the golden tones seem taken from a movie.

The landscape is like those movie prints where the sky is reflected in a lagoon surrounded by mountains in the distance. You also have the Mediterranean very close, so it is the perfect combination of sea and mountains.

Write down these recommendations to visit the Marjal de Pego-Oliva like a true expert

We recommend that you visit this place in spring or autumn. We are not saying that it is not beautiful in summer, but the heat together with the mosquitoes may not be to your liking.

It is also important to say that no flip-flops, unless your mission is to slip, that’s why comfortable shoes are better. And it is almost mandatory to bring binoculars to be able to see well everything that the place offers, especially to see the birds.

It is important to bring water and some snacks because the views feed, but not as much as a good sandwich.

And finally, respect the environment, no pulling flowers or leaving garbage. If the animals wanted plastic wrappers, they would have already asked us for them.

Don't know what to do around the Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park? Write down these ideas

The adventure does not end in the marsh, but you also have other plans for all tastes very close.

There are towns like Pego, an adorable town with baked rice, homemade croquettes and the odd cultural route, or Oliva, a more Mediterranean town with kilometers of beaches and dunes that seem taken from a travel catalog.

On the other hand, you will find the beaches of Denia or Gandía, in case after so much walking you fancy a dip. And if you still want to walk, the hiking trails in the Serra de Mostalla or the Serra de Gallinera are for you.

These are the reasons to fall in love with the Marjal de Pego-Oliva

If you are still hesitating whether to prepare a getaway to this place, we are going to convince you.

You will find postcard landscapes in 360º, since you will be surrounded by mountains, the sea and at your feet will be the marshes. Also if you are a nature lover, this is a festival of birds, fish and flora that changes in each season, so you can go several times a year and become an expert.

The routes are easy and will help you disconnect from your mobile and all that stress that you carry with you the rest of the year. Although in the case that you want to take a photo for Instagram if you can take it out.

The culture and gastronomy will not disappoint you with its typical dishes such as arroz bomba, fideuá, or paella, which we assure you taste better after a day of hiking.

Finally, the best way to fall in love with the area is by having accommodation that meets your needs. For this, do not hesitate to contact us and book your accommodation in Oliva. We are waiting for you!