The Natural Park of Sierra Maria Los Velez is a haven for walkers, ornithologists and anyone interested in nature. The park has the largest gathering of birds of prey per square kilometre in the whole of Andalucía. There are more than 125 species in the Natural Park. Aprovelez Rural, the rural development group for the area of Los Velez, has joined forces with 11 other associations in Andalucía, one in Portugal and another in Finland to promote tourism in protected areas especially ornithology. The group will be attending the Annual Bird Watching Tourism Fair in 2006, which will be held in Rutland, England.

Birds that can be seen in the Natural Park are:

• Golden Eagle
• Booted Eagle
• Goshawk
• Eagle Owl
• Sparrow Hawk
• Peregrine Falcon
• Griffon Vulture

The Natural Park is home to many species of animal including:

• Foxes
• Wild Cats
• Polecats
• Wild Boar
• Badgers
• Weasels
• Endangered Moorish Turtle

There are more than 1,200 species of plants to be found in the Natural Park and it plays host to a rich variety of wildflowers. Here is a brief list of some of the more common wild flowers found in the area:

• Dwarf Convoluulus
• Pink Convoluulus
• Sea Lavender
• Italian Sainfoin
• Crown Daisy
• Purple Vipers Bugloss
• Prickly Pear
• Barbary Fig
• Star Thistle
• Wild Gladiolas
• Broom
• Spiny Broom
• Honeysuckle
• Sage
• Thyme
• Grey leafed Cistus
• Bishops Weed
• Milk Thistle