Province of Huelva

The Province of Huelva sits in western Andalusia and borders the Atlantic to the south, Seville and Cádiz to the east, and Badajoz to the north. The region includes mountain landscapes in the north, fertile plains in the center, and coastal stretches with long sandy beaches by the sea.

Phoenician traders founded settlements along this coast in the eighth century BC and used the region's metal deposits for trade across the Mediterranean. Romans later expanded mining and built roads and aqueducts that some towns still use or visitors can see as ruins today.

The Río Tinto river valley shows a rusty red color from mineral deposits and draws hikers who walk through this unusual landscape. The riverbed looks like the surface of a distant planet and is regularly visited by research teams studying extreme environments.

The mild climate makes trips pleasant throughout the year, with spring and autumn often offering gentler temperatures for longer walks. Visitors should bring sun protection and water, especially when touring the open plains or along the coast.

Some beaches along the coast serve as nesting sites for sea turtles that come ashore after long ocean journeys to lay their eggs. Conservationists mark and monitor these nests during breeding season to improve the survival rate of hatchlings.