The Villuercas–Ibores–Jara UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the southeast of the province of Cáceres. It is a mountainous territory, made up of a succession of parallel ranges and valleys, straddling the basins of the Tagus and Guadiana rivers and surrounded by extensive dehesa Mediterranean woodlands.
It comprises 19 municipalities: Aldeacentenera, Alía, Berzocana, Cabañas del Castillo, Campillo de Deleitosa, Cañamero, Carrascalejo, Castañar de Ibor, Deleitosa, Fresnedoso de Ibor, Garvín, Guadalupe, Logrosán, Navalvillar de Ibor, Navezuelas, Peraleda de San Román, Robledollano, Valdelcasa de Tajo and Villar del Pedroso, including the smaller local entity of Navatrasierra, and covers an area of 2,500 square kilometres with an approximate population of 12,400 inhabitants.
It is an area of high natural and cultural value, where 35% of the territory has some form of nature protection or conservation designation, and whose geological heritage is of international significance.
At the heart of the geopark stands the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the destination of several pilgrimage routes. It also boasts two festivals declared of Regional Tourist Interest (the Day of Guadalupe and the Carnival of Souls of Villar del Pedroso), and the Fiesta de la Hispanidad, on 12 October, when hundreds of horses make their way to the town of Guadalupe and its Royal Monastery.
| Joining the Smart Destinations project |
Start of the Smart Tourist Destination diagnostic process and action plan for the Villuercas–Ibores–Jara Geopark in May 2025, with completion in December 2025. |
| Featured initiatives
|
- The territory has been part of the Global Geoparks Network since 17 September 2011 and has been a UNESCO Global Geopark since November 2015.
- It has held Starlight Tourist Destination certification since June 2025.
- It is a member of the Spanish Ecotourism Club, with around ten affiliated businesses.
- It belongs to the “Birding in Extremadura” Club and takes part in Extremadura’s Sustainable Gastronomic Routes (Cheese, Wine and Olive Oils).
- It is part of the Cooperation Network of Pilgrimage Routes to Guadalupe.
- It boasts a Blue Flag beach at the “Cancho del Fresno” reservoir in Cañamero and a Blue Trail.
- Every autumn it hosts “GEODISEA”, offering a range of adventure, food, cultural and astrotourism activities.
- It also takes part in the European Geoparks Week.
- The Geopark’s governance is structured around the Geopark Council, which includes the Provincial Council of Cáceres, six departments of the Regional Government of Extremadura, the GEOVILLUERCAS business association, the Commonwealth, the local action group APRODERVI, the geologists’ association AGEX and the University of Extremadura (UEX).
- The area is home to the Villuercas Honey Regulatory Council, the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Queso de Ibores and the PDO Aceite de Villuercas–Ibores–Jara, and its wines are covered by the PDO Ribera del Guadiana.
- The territory also has a very active and dynamic business association, GEOVILLUERCAS, which brings together nearly one hundred companies in services, accommodation, restaurants, activities and the agri-food sector.
- The territory’s local action group, APRODERVI, has managed various LEADER programmes since 1996 to promote sustainable development and stimulate business and social activity.
- Throughout the year, various fairs are held in the municipalities of the Geopark, such as the Geopark Flavours Fair in Berzocana, the Medieval Market in Cañamero, the Olive Oil Fair in Castañar de Ibor and Peraleda de San Román, the Flor de la Jara festival in Carrascalejo, the Aromas Fair in Navalvillar and the Agri-food Fair in Alía.
|
Technical data
VAT number:
V10174829 Address: Calle Iglesia, 32 Postal code: 10120 Telephone: 927159812 Region: Extremadura Province:
Cáceres Population:
Logrosan Country:
España Local entity type: Mancomunidad Date of membership:
20251201 Diagnosis: Sí Destination Type:
Rural de montaña Area (km²):
2,544.00 Density (inhab/km²):
5.40
Level in the Network: Nivel 3
