Parque Natural El Hondo (or Parc Natural El Fondo in Valencian) covers 2.387 hectares and is situated between Elche and Crevillente. Up to the 18th century the reserve, together with the surrounding fields and villages of San Felipe Neri, Dolores, Catral and San Isidro de Albatera, belonged to the Elche Lagoon. The current names such as "wetlands" and "salt lakes" still refer to this past. The old Elche Lagoon slowly disappeared due to the natural changes but also due to the many drainages that were carried out to convert the Elche Lagoon into agricultural land. In the 1920s, the Compania de Riegos de Levante built two water reservoirs, the Levante reservoir with an area of 450 hectares and the Poniente reservoir with an area of 650 hectares. These were used to collect the water and distribute it to the local farmers through a central channel. By creating water reserves, irrigation, hunting and fishing were possible.

In 1988, El Hondo was declared a nature park by the Generalitat Valenciana. The vegetation in the Parque Natural El Hondo is rather limited. In general, the landscape is dominated by reeds. There are also palm and eucalyptus trees on and around the canal.

Despite the many interesting fish species such as eel, freshwater prawns, many types of crustaceans and the Iberian tooth carp, the richest feature of the park is the great diversity of birds. This wide variety and quantity of birds in the park has ensured that the park was classified as a reserve and included in the RAMSAR agreement as a ZEPA (protected area for birds). 

Do not lose sight of the old sheds and farms. These buildings are often used as a base by the little owl. Multiple walkways and observation huts enable visitors to get to know the different parts of the reserve and to observe the many birds both on the water and in the air.

Enjoy a visit to this nature park, a true mecca for bird lovers!