The Ricote Valley's Commitment to Ecotourism
A destination with roots in the land and water
Land, Water, and Responsibility
The Ricote Valley takes care of what it has. More than 40% of its land area is protected by the Natura 2000 network, and its traditional agricultural system — built on a water culture that has been in place for centuries —has been nominated by the FAO as a candidate for the Global Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program. Tourism here isn’t an afterthought—it’s part of a regional initiative that aims to ensure visitors help the valley remain true to itself: responsible, authentic, and unhurried.
In line with this vision, the valley has committed to distinguishing itself as a destination for authentic ecotourism, highlighting its natural environment and promoting businesses and experiences that help preserve it, with both the destination itself and a selection of local businesses joining the “Soy Ecoturista” initiative.
The Ricote Valley’s commitment to ecotourism is not just a label: it is an attitude that stems from the region itself.
The Natura 2000 Network protects the Ricote and La Navela mountain ranges under the dual designations of Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA). These mountain ranges are home to the peregrine falcon, the eagle owl, the black-winged stilt, the stone curlew, and the red-billed chough, all within a highly valuable Mediterranean mountain ecosystem. The Estrecho del Solvente, designated a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 2020, is also part of the Natura 2000 Network: a river gorge that combines natural values, hydraulic history, and an agricultural landscape found in few other places in Spain.
The valley’s agricultural system is recognized far beyond the local level. The SIPAM (Significant International System of Agricultural Heritage) nomination, promoted by the FAO, recognizes the value of agricultural systems with historical significance, sustainability, and cultural relevance. The Ricote Valley’s irrigation system, a legacy of Al-Andalus hydraulic engineering, meets all these criteria: irrigation channels that follow the same routes as they did centuries ago, a relationship with water that blends technical expertise and respect, and a living agricultural landscape that is simultaneously scenery, food, and heritage.
This commitment to the region has also translated into concrete actions. The Ricote Valley’s tourism sustainability plan, funded by Next Generation EU, has in recent years driven the recovery of the Estrecho del Solvente river ecosystem, including the removal of invasive species and the restoration of the Segura riverbank as an ecological and tourist asset; the development of the Valley’s Network of Viewpoints, featuring equipped and signposted observation points; the creation of four interpretation centers distributed across the municipalities to highlight the culture of water, Moorish heritage, and the valley’s history; and the launch of the Ricote Valley Tourism Board, a coordinating body between the four municipalities, ITREM, and the private sector that ensures the continuity of the destination’s sustainable management beyond any specific project.
Joining the “Ecoturismo en España” product club and its “Soy Ecoturista” brand is the next step in this journey. This means that local organizations—and, in particular, a select group of businesses—are firmly committed to conserving the natural environment and promoting local development, offering authentic ecotourism experiences that meet sustainability and quality standards.
The Ricote Valley Slow project articulates this vision: a destination that flows with its environment, contributing to its sustainability.