Outings

The long forgotten region of the Matarraña is an area of great natural beauty, a corner of Spain which remains to be discovered by travellers. Its rich wildlife and flora is a refuge for wild animals. It is place for outings, for active trekkers, or families. There is something for every taste and physical difficulty along our country tracks and mountain trails.

Grutas de cristal Caves in Molinos

A wonderful underground landscape in the Bajo Aragon region was discovered in 1961 and declared a Natural Monument. This is a place of great geological interest consisting of a network of very peculiarly shaped chambers and underground galleries. Another highlight is the abundance of fossil fauna, like the jaw discovered of the “Molinos man”.

It is situated at about 1 hour drive from the Hotel Mas de la Costa**

The nature reserve of the Puertos de Beceite

This mountain chain in the hinterland of the coast line straddles the provinces of Tarragona, Teruel and Castellón. It is famous for its mountainous landscapes and for its wildlife, such as the Spanish ibex (capra pyrenaica hispanica), a shy mountain goat with impressive horns. There remain but two habitats of this rare animal.

The mountains are covered with pines, ever-green oaks and some beech trees. During springtime, the woods are filled with wild mini orchids. The mountains also are home to a large population of vultures. Monte Caro is the highest peak of the Reserve at an altitude of 1447 m.

Vulture observatory
Mas de Bunyol is a vulture observatory built above an old farmhouse. It has been featured in National Geographic magazine. The guided visit takes place once a day every day of the year, in the morning. Through glass windows, visitors can observe how sometimes hundreds of vultures descend to scavenge their food from Vulture Man, the owner of the Mas de Bunyol.

The Nature Reserve of the Ebro Delta

Terres del Ebre covers the delta of one of the largest rivers of Spain, the Ebro, where the mountains of the Puertos de Beceite meet the sea. In this humid river delta, you will find long stretches of clean beaches, extensive rice fields and a habitat for thousands of birds, such as flamingos and other migratory and indigenous species.

The Dam of the River Pena
A few kilometers from the hotel, built in 1930, this is one of the oldest dams in the province of Teruel. It was built to retain the waters of the river Pena above the villages Valderrobres and Beceite. With a surface area of 129 hectares, it has a storage capacity of 22 hm3 of water. The water is used for agricultural irrigation during the region’s arid summers. There are lovely walking, biking and hiking routes around the dam and its blue-green lake.

Natural pools – Cristalline waters
The large number of shallow natural pools in the area are a delight for old and young alike. Green and blue waters dot some of the mountain trails.

During the warm season the cool pools are a great place for a swim, to get some respite from the heat of summer.

The Pesquera is a beautiful natural pool near Beceite, where the stream Ulldemó has eroded the rock and created a series of natural pools. A great pleasure for parents and children in the summer. In high season, it is quite popular with visitors. We recommend going early or late in the day.

The hotel’s reception can provide more details on these routes, outings and activities.