Columbretes Islands

Located 30 nautical miles from the coast of Castellón, the municipality to which they belong, the Columbretes Islands form the most outstanding archipelago of La Comunidad Valenciana and have one of the greatest ecological values in the Mediterranean.



The islands and rocks are distributed to form four groups and are named: L' Illa Grossa, La Foradada, La Ferrera and La Carallot.

The archipelago extends along five nautical miles and of its 19 hectare surface; 14 hectares belong to L' Illa Grossa. This was the only inhabited island and is where a small cemetery, the Security Patrol headquarters and a lighthouse can be found. The lighthouse was constructed in the 19th century and is erected on the top of the Mount Colibre, 67 meters high and is the highest point of the archipelago.

At first sight, you can see the volcanic origin of the islands, situated on top of 80 meters of strangely transparent crystal clear water. This, in addition to its wealth of the flora and the marine fauna, make the Columbretes Islands a diver’s paradise. Coral, grouper and the lobster inhabit this privileged spot.

On land, there is an important colony of Audouin Seagulls which share the skies with Eleonora’s falcons and cormorants. Small reptiles, some of them native to the islands, complete the terrestrial fauna. As for the flora, the species present (some of them also native to the Islands) are perfectly adapted to the arid and saline environment: mastic, tree mallow and alfalfa arborea, to name a few.

The islands have been declared a Nature Reserve and Marine Reserve and therefore its use and visits are regulated.

There is a Visitor’s Center for the islands in Castellón’s Planetarium (964 282 968). To scuba dive around the islands, you must first obtain administrative authorization.

Information Center for the Nature Preserve of the Columbretes Islands, Planetarium of Castellón.

Paseo Marítimo s/n. Grau de Castellón. Tel. 964 282 584.

The Information Center they will indicate how to hire a private ship that offers trips to the islands. One may also go by private boat.
E-mail: parque_columbretes@gva.es