Introduction

Just over 186mi300km from Lisbon, on the north‑western edge of the autonomous region of Andalusia (province of Huelva), lies the Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park.

The mountain range is dense with pines and chestnut trees, but above all with cork oaks and holm oaks which, through acorn production, form an important part of the region’s livestock industry — specialists say that the best ham in the world is produced here. This landscape is known as La Dehesa (the equivalent of the Portuguese montado), a remarkable sustainable system where natural space and human activity coexist, its origins dating back to the Middle Ages, when the region was repopulated (after territorial disputes with Portugal) by people from Asturias and León.

Historically, the region once belonged to the Kingdom of Portugal, having been ceded to the Kingdom of Castile by the Treaty of Badajoz (1267), which redefined the border and brought an end to territorial disputes in this area.

It is in the town of Aracena that we find the heart of a network of charming Andalusian mountain pueblos, with cohesive historic centres filled with small white houses reminiscent of the Arab medinas of North Africa. It is no coincidence that, much like in the Alentejo, the Moorish occupation left a strong cultural imprint.

Aracena boasts valuable historical and tourist heritage. Its castle, for instance, is of Portuguese construction. But there are other equally charming nearby villages in the mountains that also deserve a visit: Cortegana, home to one of the best‑preserved castles in the region, Almonaster La Real with its mosque, Alajár and the sanctuary at Peña de Arias Montano, among others.

Just a few kilometres from the mountains lies the intriguing Riotinto mining park, whose still‑active extraction has created a landscape worthy of the planet Mars, including a blood‑red river that gives the place its name.
Given its proximity, we have also added this destination to the itinerary — it certainly deserves a full day on its own.

More information about the Riotinto Mining Park here

Our suggested route focuses on these two locations (Aracena Mountains and Riotinto Mining Park), which are close enough to be combined into a single itinerary.
It is a route best done over two or three days (with or without additional stops depending on your point of departure).
As this is a region of extreme temperatures (very cold winters and very hot summers), the milder seasons are recommended — late spring, early summer, or early/mid autumn, coinciding with the local chestnut season