A deep gorge hewn out of the Sierra Morena by the Río Despeñaperros forms a natural passage between Andalusia and the rest of Spain. Travellers of old feared the gorge on account of the bandits that roamed the region, but the Desfiladero de Despeñaperros is now part of the 7 500ha nature reserve, which lies at a height of more than 1 000m. You can take in the gorgeous views over the chalk cliffs and precipices, dense vegetation and varied wildlife from waymarked trails that cover the park.