Desert de les Palmes Natural Park, Natural park in Plana Alta, Spain
Desert de les Palmes is a protected park with rocky cliffs and Mediterranean forests that runs along the coastline, with Bartolo Peak reaching nearly 730 meters as its highest point. The landscape covers thousands of hectares and includes a mix of pine forests, open rock faces, and vegetation adapted to the region's limestone-poor soils.
The area gained protected status in 1989 following major forest fires in the mid-1980s and early 1990s that destroyed large sections of the forest. Extensive replanting efforts followed to restore native species and rebuild the woodland.
The name Desert de les Palmes comes from Carmelite monks who built spiritual retreat centers throughout these lands. The monasteries and hermitages they left behind shaped how people view and use this space today.
You can reach the park from Benicasim via the CV-147 road, where marked trails connect to viewpoints and places of interest throughout the area. It's best to come early or late in the day to avoid heat, especially during spring and early summer months or fall.
The park is home to the European dwarf palm Chamaerops humilis, which grows here in its natural setting and inspired the area's name. The red sandstone formations support specialized plant species that have adapted to the calcium-poor soils of the region.
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