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Hiking permits in Andalusia

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I have read on a website ( https://anywhereweroam.com/hiking-garganta-verde/#permits) about some great hiking areas to explore. The website gives step by step directions on how to register for the (free) permit, by going to this website: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/cupos-ciudadano/public/login/acceso.jsf?acceso=3. Once you fill in the form there, you are supposed to get an email that allows you to finalize this. The issue is that I am not getting the email from the website (yes, checked spam etc). It is frustrating since nowhere on that site does it have a link for questions/problems . I emailed the tourist place in El Bosque (closest one to the area of the hike) and the poster on the "anywhere we roam" page to see if he has any suggestions.

Have any of you had a similar issue and, if so, how were you able to resolve it?
thanks
joanne

Posted by
3407 posts

Hi Joanne,

That's a difficult one, you're probably "lost" in the bureaucracy sea here. The government of Andalucia has a "customer service," so to speak, the Servicio de Información y Atención a la Ciudadana (SIAC) at +34 954 54 44 38, that perhaps could guide you on how to resolve this. HOWEVER, unless you speak good Spanish, I am afraid your attempts will be futile. Government employees tend not to be too helpful towards citizens in general, much less if you can't properly communicate in the official language. And the problem dealing with the government is that no one takes responsibility for anything ever -that I am afraid it's a global problem, in my experience, it happens everywhere.

Source: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/portal/servicios/servicio-de-atencion-a-la-ciudadania-siac

There's maybe a second potential source that might be useful: try asking thru this official tourism website of Junta de Andalucia, here https://ecoturismoandaluz.com/ There's an email and a contact phone.

Posted by
860 posts

I lived and hiked in Andalucia for 12 years and never came across a need for a permit, unless for somewhere like Caminto de Rey, where tickets are needed.
You don't say when you are going. We never did more than a short, flat walk between May and September, simply becuase it is so hot.
This site in English has some information.
https://en.andalucia.org/plan-your-visit/tourist-routes/hiking/

Posted by
3407 posts

@LinC, even though Joanne called it a “permit,” it’s not really that, it’s more like a reservation. More and more places are starting to control access to certain areas to avoid overcrowding.

Posted by
637 posts

Garganta verde does require authorization. We went a few years ago but looking at the website the procedure seems to be the same. This is the page with the information in English:
https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/portal/web/ventanadelvisitante/detalle-buscador-mapa/-/asset_publisher/Jlbxh2qB3NwR/content/la-garganta-verde/255035
and the email of elbosque tourist office who deal with the permits.
At the time I didn't have much luck with the automatic booking system so I wrote this email and they replied quickly:
Queremos tener el permiso por dos personas para visita el garganta verde el dia lunes 15 octubre o martes 16 octubre. Que tenemos que hacer?
Gracias, un salud
They book you in but don't send you the actual permit until the week before because weather/local conditions can change.
Garganta Verde is worth all the hassle however (and we live in the Alps and hike a lot) spectacular!
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2018/10/day-35-garganta-verde.html

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