Go out and discover the natural biodiversity of Catalonia with your family. Through a wealth of activities, your children will get to know the territory and learn to respect and take care of their environment. Local businesses and expert guides will help you discover marine reserves, protected areas, unique ecosystems and ancestral crafts. A natural and cultural heritage that must be preserved! Are you ready for an eco-spectacle?Water activities and sustainable navigation in marine reservesIn Torroella de Montgrí-L’Estartit, within the Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter Natural Park, is the Illes Medes Islands marine reserve. Seven islands with immense biological and geological richness. With Medaqua you can go diving in this unique and protected marine ecosystem. While diving, you will be able to spot sea bass, scorpion fish and rays, and other protected species such as red coral, starfish and sea sponges. The experience will be enjoyed while respecting the natural environment and it will be a lesson in marine biology. It can be done with children from 10 years of age, and you will be accompanied at all times by an instructor, one per participant, so that the experience is exciting and safe. The dive lasts about 20 minutes.For those who prefer being on a boat while discovering the seabed of the Illes Medes, the excursions organised by Excursions Marítimes Núria are a good option. You will head out from l’Estartit on board a classic fishing boat. During the journey you will be able to observe the seabed through the glass floor of the boat. The route will take you through the Pedrosa and Ferriol coves and the spectacular Foradada rock, where only small boats such as the Núria can pass underneath. In the summer you can dive off the boat halfway through the route. The experience lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes.If you’ve never seen a red starfish or a spiderfish up close, why not put on your wetsuit and go diving? In Calonge i Sant Antoni three underwater tours await you, where you will be able to learn about the area’s marine ecosystem. These three underwater routes leave from Torre Valentina beach, Cristus cove and Ses Torretes beach. Each tour has a short circular route, especially for families. You can do these marked routes on your own and without a guide. The tourist office will provide you with information on these routes and also the species of marine flora and fauna you will see. Make sure you bring the correct kit, check the sea conditions and go and enjoy your adventure!Sign up for an aquatic activity in the Masia Blanca del Vendrell Marine Reserve, unique for its ecological value. The visit begins in the Aquatic Classroom. There, a detailed exhibition will help children understand the importance of taking care of the sea and preserving marine biodiversity. You will then be invited to put on your mask and flippers, all ready to go snorkelling! Joined by a guide, you will see meadows of posidonia, octopus and sea bream, among other things. It will be a fascinating eco-tourism outing!Discover nature’s hidden treasuresHave you ever gone truffle hunting with a truffle expert and their dog? In Muntanyes de Prades, families are invited to discover the fascinating world of this gastronomic jewel in Conca de Barberà. The activity, organised by El Brogit, lasts for two days and includes an excursion to search for truffles with a dog specially trained to find them and then a culinary workshop. During the experience, you will learn various interesting facts about this special ingredient in the kitchen, how it is affected by the climate and what varieties there are. After the culinary workshop, you will get to taste the dishes which you will have prepared as a family and spend time at the table after lunch to appreciate the experience. The trip also includes a tasting of Conca de Barberà wines from an organic winery for adults, with soft drinks for children.Learn about ancestral trades in a fun and enjoyable wayIn the Terres de l’Ebre and very close to Els Ports, which offers a wide range of eco-tourism activities, there is an area where you can enjoy the biodiversity of the Delta de l’Ebre: MónNatura. With the “Visita dels menuts”(Children’s visit), boys and girls will learn the story of the pirate of the salt flats, EicTu XicMano, and see fascinating birds, such as flamingos, up close. The discovery of the unique traditional activities of the Delta de l’Ebre, such as tirar el rall, (throwing the cast net) a fishing technique using a throw net, is one of the main attractions of this visit. Another option is to sail on a pontoon, which is a traditional boat from the area. Children can find out how these perch boats are steered while they sail along in them. They will be able to see the skill with which the fisherman moves the boat forward with a perxa, a 3-metre long wooden pole, through the waters of the canals, lagoons and marshes.Places of great environmental value, on the back of a donkey or on footWhat was life like for the ancestors of La Garrotxa 150 years ago? At Pedra Tosca park, in the Vall d’en Bas - Les Preses, you can find out! It is a rural area characterised by its dry walls and cultivated fields. The volcanic activity in the area thousands of years ago brought great environmental and ecological value to the region. To get around, there is no better way than with a route on the back of a Catalan donkey. Rucs i Someres offers tourists walks through the park, where children can explore the labyrinths of stones and crossed paths, while surrounded by the silence that characterises the Tosca forest. The activity takes place on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the morning.Hiking is a great way to discover the richness of the Serra de Queralt landscape in Berguedà. What’s more, if you are joined by a specialist nature guide, the walk becomes an educational experience for the whole family. Why not take the guided tour that follows the Queralt circular path? The paths are easy, and the route takes an hour and a half. A guide specialising in biology and nature will explain all the details that characterise the landscapes of this mountain range and you will be able to take in the scenery from the viewpoints you will find along the way. The Guiu spring, the Negra spring and the Bou spring are ideal places to rest and recharge your batteries. If you arrive at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Queralt, at 1,200 m, you will find out why it is called the balcony of Catalonia. The views it offers on a clear day reach as far as Montserrat.River crossings and bird watchingOne of the best ways to observe the flora and fauna of the Fluvià river and discover its natural diversity is in a kayak. The adventure begins at the Nautical Club in Sant Pere Pescador. The instructors from SK Kayak will explain the basic paddling techniques and help you warm up before getting into the kayaks.Once on the river, you will paddle towards the Caramany Island Integral Nature Reserve, with one of the largest riparian forests preserved in the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. The forest species most commonly found there are the willow, poplar and tamarisk, as well as ash and elm. As for the animals, you will be able to observe several water birds, such as herons. The crossing takes 2 hours.In the centre of Castell-Platja d’Aro is Els Estanys park. This urban natural space is ideal for starting bird watching as a family. It is a green area with a large lake in the centre of it, where biological diversity and the natural environments that fauna need are respected. Up to 250 different species of birds have been recorded here and can be observed from the various viewpoints or bird hides spread throughout the space. The paths are signposted with informative panels and there are educational routes for having fun with your children. There is also a picnic area. Throughout the year, there are organised nature visits and theatrical visits such as the Magic tales, where children can listen to short nature stories.Adventure sport that connects you with natureIn Pirineus - Noguera Pallaresa, Outdoor Adventour offers you a fantastic weekend activity to unleash your family’s inner explorers! Have you ever thought about combining rafting with camping? The activity, called Pirineus Explorer, starts with a 20-kilometre rafting descent down the Noguera Pallaresa river. During the first few kilometres the route will be relatively calm, to give you all the time you need to adapt to the environment and the equipment.Gradually, numerous rapids will begin to appear, turning the descent into an exciting adventure to share with children. At the end of the route, a comfortable and well-equipped camp will be waiting for you on a small beach by the river, ready for you to spend the night there under a sky filled with stars. It will be an adventure for you to spend a couple of days connected to nature. The activity is enjoyed during the summer months.Are you ready to delve into the world of eco-tourism in family-friendly Catalonia?