If you spend the week looking wistfully at the picture of that green forest or the calm sea you use as your computer wallpaper, it's time to turn that image into reality. You can do it in one of the 20 Natural Parks you'll find throughout Catalonia. Which one will you choose? Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park Water is the star attraction at the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. With over 200 lakes, it is the most spectacular high-mountain landscape in Catalonia and the perfect place to get away from it all and reconnect with nature. It is currently the only National Park in Catalonia. This natural gem offers stunning views, serving as a refuge for wildlife, providing a sanctuary for both terrestrial and aquatic species. It is also a paradise for hiking enthusiasts, offering a wide variety of hiking trails that wind through lush forests and deep valleys. Alt Pirineu Natural Park The Alt Pirineu Natural Park is the picture-postcard Pyrenean landscape come to life, with the added advantage of being close by. It is the largest park in Catalonia, and it features the country's largest peak and glacial lake: Pica d'Estats and Certascan Lake. This superb environment is an open invitation to explore the majesty of the Pyrenees, offering a perfect getaway for nature and adventure lovers. It is an ideal park for hikers who love high-mountain trails, where one can enjoy unforgettable panoramas and discover a land rich in wildlife and biological diversity. Natural Site of National Interest of the Pedraforca Massif To speak of Pedraforca is to speak of the history of Catalan climbing. Formed over thousands of years by the erosion of limestone and soft marls, the massif has a unique and special profile that has attracted climbers from around the world. Its imposing outline, rising majestically against the blue skies, not only challenges the limits of adventurers but also captivates visitors’ imagination. Each route and each summit offer a new story to tell, making Pedraforca a symbol of Catalonia. Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park Here nature is spelled with a capital 'N'. In Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, there are 1,400 species and subspecies of flowering plants and ferns grow, accounting for about a third of the Catalan flora. The park has over 400 km of trails, providing a vast labyrinth of paths to explore this green sanctuary. This extensive network of trails invites all outdoor lovers, from novice walkers to experienced hikers, to immerse themselves in a diverse landscape that surprises at every turn. The richness of the flora and the variety of routes make this park an idyllic place to connect with nature and uncover the best-kept secrets of the Catalan Pyrenees. La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park It might be the green reproduction of the lunar surface. La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park features over 40 volcanic craters reminiscent of the Moon's irregular terrain, with the significant difference that it is covered in dazzling vegetation. This unique region combines dramatic volcanic geology with a carpet of lush greenery, creating a spectacular visual contrast that captivates visitors. The dense coverage of forests, thyme, and holly, along with the multiple paths that meander through its landscapes, offer an unforgettable experience for all those seeking beauty and adventure in the heart of nature. Albera Natural Site of National Interest The Catalan Pyrenees almost seem to spill into the Mediterranean at the Albera Natural Park. It's a space of natural interest for its combination of landscapes: one Central European and the other Mediterranean, where the last populations of Mediterranean tortoise survive. Cap de Creus Natural Park Behold one of the great natural wonders of the Costa Brava: the Cap de Creus Natural Park. The views of its wild coastline, dotted with islets, featuring sheer cliffs and hidden coves, will be etched in your memory. Its raw beauty and unique biodiversity make Cap de Creus a place of incalculable ecological value and a paradise for nature and photography lovers. Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park Have your binoculars ready so as not to miss any detail of the great number of birds that live within the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park. In this enclave of the Empordà plain, very different ecosystems exist side-by-side, and a huge variety of aquatic birds thrive. The combination of lagoons, marshes, and flooded meadows creates a rich and diverse environment that captivates both amateur and expert ornithologists. Exploring this natural site is to immerse yourself in a vibrant universe where wildlife manifests in all its splendour. Montgrí, Medes Islands, and Baix Ter Natural Park Welcome to one of the most important marine reserves in the Western Mediterranean, spanning over 2,300 hectares. Observing the seabed of the Medes Islands is to discover a new underwater world. This protected area is a paradise for lovers of diving and snorkelling, offering crystal-clear waters and exceptional marine biodiversity that includes corals, brightly coloured fish, and seagrass beds in the Medes Islands Natural Park. Montseny Natural Park (Biosphere Reserve) Montseny Natural Park is like a small piece of jungle in the heart of Catalonia. The differences in humidity and temperature across its various environments, ranging from Mediterranean to cooler, more Central European climates, make it a place with extraordinarily rich vegetation, recognized as a Biosphere Reserve. Sant Llorenç del Munt and l'Obac Natural Park The monastery of Sant Llorenç del Munt, located at the top of La Mola, gives its name to this natural park. The cliffs and red conglomerate monoliths shape its unique orography, creating a play of contrasts with the green tones of the pine and holm oak forests that grow there. Montserrat Mountain Natural Park Hands up if you don't know Montserrat. This Catalan icon is much more than that: it is a natural environment with lush vegetation and wildlife. Montserrat Mountain Natural Park is a center of spiritual pilgrimage, it is also a destination for those who want to dive into the world of hiking and climbing. With its impressive cliffs and unique rock formations, Montserrat offers routes that challenge both novices and experienced climbers. Moreover, its mountain paths invite you to discover hidden hermitages and spectacular views that captivate the spirit of both pilgrims and adventurers. Serra de Collserola Natural Park The Serra de Collserola Natural Park is the green lung of the Barcelona metropolitan area. More than 8,000 hectares of natural space are just a stone's throw from the Catalan capital. The park offers hiking trails, bike routes, horseback riding... All the necessary ingredients to escape from the city and enjoy nature within minutes. Llobregat Delta Natural Spaces Up to 360 bird species live in the Llobregat Delta, which is why more and more birdwatching enthusiasts choose this location. The delta also offers a landscape full of contrasts, with historic buildings on a protected coastline. This combination of cultural and natural heritage makes the Llobregat Delta a unique place, where visitors can enjoy bird watching in a serene environment, and at the same time explore the historical richness and tranquillity of its beaches and wetlands. Poblet Natural Site of National Interest This site owes its name to the spectacular medieval monastery it hosts, Santa Maria de Poblet. Perhaps less known are some of the great treasures it holds: the only community of sessile oak in Catalonia. Another is the fifty natural springs you'll discover. Montsant Natural Park The region has earned its wine-making prestige, but the secrets of its wines can only be fully understood by knowing the limestone lands where the vineyards grow among steep mountains, organised into small terraces that extend throughout the valleys and orchards. The slate soil leaves its mark on its wines. Ports Natural Park This limestone massif, with its rugged and abrupt relief, has a great number of trails. You'll find two distinctly different climates: on the southeast side, the landscape is typically Mediterranean, but on the western side, the temperature is lower and the rainfall higher. It has inspired artists such as Picasso. Ebro Delta Natural Park The wildlife shows all its splendour in this park. Considered a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, the Ebro Delta Natural Park covers 320 km2, making it the most extensive aquatic habitat in Catalonia. Any birdwatcher can delight in observing the more than 370 species that live here, even those just passing through on their way to warmer climates. Headwaters of the Ter and Freser Natural Park The landscapes of this Natural Park will take your breath away. Spanning more than 14,000 hectares and peaks nearly 3,000 meters high, it's a unique natural space for the delicate vertebrate species that live there, as well as numerous invertebrates of great interest. Additionally, it features fine examples of Pyrenean glacial and periglacial modelling with very complex forms (cirques, gorges, etc.). Mas de Melons and Drylands of Lleida Natural Reserve If ornithology is your passion, this is the park for you. In its 1,431 hectares, it hosts the main population of pin-tailed sandgrouse in all of Catalonia, Many other species such as the little bustard, the stone-curlew, and others are also to be found. The habitat is perfect for them thanks to the barley, olive, and almond crops.