Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
There are a number of great things to do in the vast and impressive area of Delta de L’Ebre (Ebro Delta). This nature reserve, situated around 2 hours south of Barcelona, is an underrated place to visit in Catalonia. The Parc natural Delta de L’Ebre is a great spot for birdwatching, with migratory species flocking to the area during the winter months. There are also rice fields, viewpoints and much more to see – so there is a bit of something for everyone! There are a number of nice spots to visit and activities to enjoy in the delta, where the Ebro River – which stretches for a length of 930 kilometres – flows into the sea. Find out the best places to vist and things to do in the Delta de L’Ebre with this guide!
How to get around Delta de L’Ebre
The best way to get around the Delta de L’Ebre is by car, due to the limited public transport in the area. Although there are some buses that run between towns in the delta, having a car makes getting around a lot easier.
We definitely recommend renting a car so that you can properly explore the delta and see all it has to offer. Thankfully, it’s easy to rent a car in the cities of Barcelona and Valencia, both of which are around a 2 hour drive from the Ebro Delta. For the best prices we recommend booking through the Discover Cars website as they compare a number of operators to make sure you get the best deal!
Click here to find the best deals available on the Discover Cars website!
It’s around a 15-20 minute drive to the delta from the nearby spots of Tortosa, L’Ampolla and L’Ametlla de Mar.
Best things to do in the Delta de L’Ebre
Delta de L’Ebre boat tour
One of the best things to do in the Delta de L’Ebre Nature Reserve is to take a boat tour. These tours are an easy and relaxing way to see the area’s wonderful nature.
An informative tour guide will tell you about the history of the Delta de L’Ebre, as well as the various bird and animal species found in the area. The Delta de L’Ebre is particularly well-known for its wonderful birdlife, with flamingos, kingfishers, widgeon, marsh harriers and more found in the area – so keep your eyes peeled!
Summer months are the most popular time for boat trips in the delta, with three tours a day running in July, August and September. Outside of these months, tours only run on Saturdays and Sundays at 12pm. Whatever time of year you visit though, it’s worth booking in advance to avoid missing out!
Boat tours in the Delta de L’Ebre cost just €13.50, which makes it a great value way to discover the natural beauty on offer.
Click here to book a boat tour in advance through Get Your Guide!
Delta de L’Ebre viewpoints
One of our favourite things to do in the Delta de L’Ebre was admire the natural beauty from the various viewpoints. The different viewpoints help you to appreciate the scale of the area and how beautiful it is.
Below is a list of the best viewpoints in the nature reserve that you won’t want to miss:
Mirador Migjorn – Close to the sea, this viewpoint is one of the best birdwatching towers in the Delta de L’Ebre for seeing flamingos.
Mirador Patrau – Found by the small lake of El Clot, this spot provides great views of the Delta and surrounding mountains.
Mirador Zigurat – The highest viewpoint you can find in the Delta de L’Ebre, with great views of where the Ebro River flows into the sea. Free parking is available in the nearby town of Ruimar.
Our personal favourite viewpoint of the delta is actually outside of the nature reserve and only accessible by hiking, so we’ve included it as a separate entry further down this list!
Kayak
If you’re looking to explore the Delta de L’Ebre in more of an active way, try kayaking! The calm waters here are ideal for kayaking, whether you choose to join a kayaking tour to Gracia Island or simply rent a kayak yourself to explore on your own.
Kayaking tours start in the village of Balada and give you the chance to see the different wildlife found in the delta and around Gracia Island over the course of 2 hours. Tours cost €20 per person, and it’s best to book in advance as tours don’t run every day. Click here to book your kayaking tour with Get Your Guide!
Hike at Fordada del Montsia
Located in the Serra de Montsia, Fordada del Monstia provides stunning views of the Delta de L’Ebre from above. A gradual uphill hike will lead you to this beautiful viewpoint, from which you can fully appreciate the scale of the delta whilst also enjoying views of the surrounding landscape of Catalonia.
Free parking is available at Coco de Jordi, and from there it’s around a 1½-2 hour hike to Fordada del Monstia. Once you reach the top you will find a cave that has incredible views over this part of Catalonia.
It’s extremely useful to have your own car if you want to do this hike, as it’s not possible to get to this area easily via public transport. If you don’t have access to a car then you can arrange a taxi, but it’s likely to be expensive and phone signal may be limited to arrange being picked up after you finish the hike.
Find out all you need to know about this epic Foradada del Montsia hike here!
Bassa de Les Olles
A great place to visit in the Delta de L’Ebre for birdwatchers is Bassa de Les Olles, located just outside the town of L’Ampolla. We visited this spot many times to walk the dog we were looking after on our housesit, and our morning walks here were a great way to start the day!
Each time we visited Bassa de Les Olles we were fortunate to see some amazing birdlife. Most days we would see flamingos in the sea, kingfishers dashing by, cormorants sunning themselves, and more!
Even if birdwatching isn’t your thing, it’s still a lovely spot to visit. The beach here is a lot quieter than other nearby beaches, and you get some lovely views of L’Ampolla and the mountains in the background.
Bassa de Les Olles is near the start of the Ebro Delta natural park, and on a clear day you’re able to spot the Far Del Fangar lighthouse from here. It’s also one of the best places in the delta to see the area’s rice fields.
There is parking by Lo Golero which in the warmer months has a great bar and restaurant open.
Visit Far Del Fangar
Built in 1972, the Far Del Fangar lighthouse is one of the landmarks of the Delta de L’Ebre. The original lighthouse here dates back to 1864, but deteriorated over the course of time before being replaced by the current structure.
There are no roads in this section of the delta, so the only way to get there is on foot. It’s a pleasant walk along a stretch of Platja del Fangar bech, where you’ll be able to see sand dunes before reaching the lighthouse.
The walk to the lighthouse takes around an hour one-way, so don’t leave it too late in the day to visit unless you want to be walking back in the dark!
Wakeboarding
If you’re looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush, then wakeboarding is one of the best things to do in the Delta de L’Ebre. It’s definitely one of the area’s more unique activities, so it can make a nice change from some of the other options on this list.
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