{"id":4616,"date":"2026-10-26T15:12:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:12:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/?p=4616"},"modified":"2026-10-26T15:12:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:12:42","slug":"ullal-de-lestany-gandia-spring-wetland-boardwalk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-spring-wetland-boardwalk\/","title":{"rendered":"Ullal de l&#8217;Estany: the Marjal de Gandia spring and its accessible boardwalk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Ullal de l&#8217;Estany<\/strong> is one of the freshwater springs that feed the <strong>Marjal de Gandia<\/strong> wetland. An accessible wooden boardwalk circles it beside the Aula Natura and links it to the neighbouring <strong>Ullal de la Perla<\/strong> on a short, flat walk surrounded by waterbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<style>\n@media (max-width: 600px) {\n  .post-inline-photo {\n    float: none !important;\n    width: min(100%, 320px) !important;\n    margin: 1.5em auto !important;\n  }\n  .post-inline-photo img {\n    width: 100% !important;\n    height: auto !important;\n  }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also known as the <strong>Ullal Gran<\/strong>, the spot lies at the foot of the Castell de Bair\u00e9n, next to the Alqueria del Duc, at the northern end of the wetland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenidos<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aea08e1b8f77\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #e41725;color:#e41725\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #e41725;color:#e41725\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aea08e1b8f77\"  aria-label=\"Alternar\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-spring-wetland-boardwalk\/#What_an_ullal_is_and_where_its_water_comes_from\" >What an ullal is and where its water comes from<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-spring-wetland-boardwalk\/#The_walk_along_the_wooden_boardwalk\" >The walk along the wooden boardwalk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-spring-wetland-boardwalk\/#Birds_you_can_see_at_the_ullal\" >Birds you can see at the ullal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-spring-wetland-boardwalk\/#The_Aula_Natura_and_the_Alqueria_del_Duc\" >The Aula Natura and the Alqueria del Duc<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-spring-wetland-boardwalk\/#Fancy_a_longer_walk_The_circular_route_through_the_wetland\" >Fancy a longer walk? The circular route through the wetland<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-spring-wetland-boardwalk\/#Getting_there_and_practical_information\" >Getting there and practical information<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_an_ullal_is_and_where_its_water_comes_from\"><\/span>What an ullal is and where its water comes from<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized post-inline-photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-laguna.webp\" alt=\"Open water in one of the springs of the Marjal de Gandia, surrounded by reeds, bulrushes and riverside trees\" class=\"wp-image-4611\" style=\"width:360px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-laguna.webp 1400w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-laguna-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-laguna-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-laguna-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fresh water and marsh vegetation around the ullal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the Valencian coast, an <strong>ullal<\/strong> is a spot where groundwater rises to the surface and forms a small freshwater pool. Ullals are typical of coastal wetlands and provide a refuge for birds, fish, insects, crustaceans and aquatic plants, some of them endangered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The water in the Ullal de l&#8217;Estany and the Ullal de la Perla comes from rain that seeps into the <strong>Mond\u00faver<\/strong> massif and travels underground until it wells up on the plain. Neither pool is more than <strong>three metres<\/strong> deep, and both hold water all year round, even in years of severe drought. Together with the irrigation channels, the ravines and the rain, the water from the ullals supplies the whole wetland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The area is listed in the <strong>Catalogue of Wetlands of the Valencian Community<\/strong> and forms part of the <strong>Natura 2000<\/strong> network, within the Mond\u00faver-Marjal de la Safor Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"clear:both\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_walk_along_the_wooden_boardwalk\"><\/span>The walk along the wooden boardwalk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized post-inline-photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-senda.webp\" alt=\"Path with a wooden handrail beside one of the spring pools, with mountains in the background\" class=\"wp-image-4612\" style=\"width:360px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-senda.webp 1400w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-senda-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-senda-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ullal-de-lestany-gandia-senda-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The path beside the pool, with the inland ranges in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the Aula Natura, a wooden path skirts the Ullal de l&#8217;Estany and continues to the Ullal de la Perla. The walk takes about <strong>20 to 30 minutes<\/strong> and the boardwalk is adapted for <strong>wheelchairs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Along the way you will find a small riverside wood and the typical marsh vegetation of the wetland, with <strong>senill<\/strong> (common reed) and <strong>bova<\/strong> (bulrush) along the banks. Next to the centre there is a <strong>picnic area with a drinking-water fountain<\/strong>, handy if you want to make a morning of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"clear:both\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Birds_you_can_see_at_the_ullal\"><\/span>Birds you can see at the ullal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ullal is well known among birdwatchers, especially in <strong>spring, winter<\/strong> and during the migrations. With a little patience and a pair of binoculars, you can spot species such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Waterbirds:<\/strong> mallard, Eurasian coot, common moorhen, little grebe and little egret.<\/li><li><strong>Songbirds and other birds of the area:<\/strong> Cetti&#8217;s warbler, blackcap, European goldfinch, hoopoe and common kestrel.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stay on the boardwalk and keep noise down so as not to disturb the wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Aula_Natura_and_the_Alqueria_del_Duc\"><\/span>The Aula Natura and the Alqueria del Duc<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Aula Natura<\/strong> is the wetland&#8217;s environmental interpretation centre. It occupies a <strong>312 m\u00b2<\/strong> building designed in the style of the area&#8217;s rural houses and hosts a permanent exhibition on the ecosystem and culture of the wetland, with interactive games for children and original ethnographic objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opposite, surrounded by orange trees, stands the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/alqueria-duc-marjal-gandia-history-nature\/\"><strong>Alqueria del Duc<\/strong><\/a>, a square fortified farmhouse linked to the Borgias that adds a touch of history to the visit. Above the site are the ruins of the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/bairen-castle-gandia-history-visits-views\/\">Castell de Bair\u00e9n<\/a>, the old fortress that once watched over the plain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fancy_a_longer_walk_The_circular_route_through_the_wetland\"><\/span>Fancy a longer walk? The circular route through the wetland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a longer outing there is the <strong>circular route \u00abentre Senill i Borr\u00f3\u00bb<\/strong>, which starts at the Alqueria del Duc and winds through orchards, small pools and old earth banks between Gandia and Xeresa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Distance:<\/strong> almost 10 kilometres in total, on flat country tracks, partly dirt and partly tarmac.<\/li><li><strong>Difficulty:<\/strong> easy, suitable for children.<\/li><li><strong>Points of interest:<\/strong> the Ullal Fosc, the Muntanyeta de la Creueta and its ullal, the Marjal dels Borrons and the Ullal de Tr\u00e9nor.<\/li><li><strong>Variant:<\/strong> a detour reaches the dunes of <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/l-ahuir-beach-gandia-dunes-naturism-visit\/\">l&#8217;Ahuir beach<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another option is the hiking route via the Ermita de Santa Anna and the Marjal, which combines the views from the hermitage with a walk through the wetland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_there_and_practical_information\"><\/span>Getting there and practical information<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Address:<\/strong> Cam\u00ed de l&#8217;Alqueria del Duc s\/n, Gandia.<\/li><li><strong>Access:<\/strong> by car, by bike or on foot along the Cam\u00ed de l&#8217;Alqueria del Duc; there is parking next to the site.<\/li><li><strong>Aula Natura:<\/strong> <strong>Thursday to Sunday, 9 am to 2 pm<\/strong>; admission <strong>\u20ac2, or \u20ac1<\/strong> reduced. Groups visit by prior booking.<\/li><li><strong>Contact:<\/strong> phone <a href=\"tel:+34962840423\">+34 962 84 04 23<\/a> and email <a href=\"mailto:medinatural@gandia.org\">medinatural@gandia.org<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you go, check opening hours and prices on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgandia.com\/poi\/46\/16\/4501\/folder\/asc\/centro-de-interpretacion-aula-natura-gandia.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official Aula Natura page on the Gandia tourism website<\/a> (in Spanish) or find the location on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=Aula+Natura+Marjal+de+Gandia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Maps<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ullal de l&#8217;Estany is one of the freshwater springs that feed the Marjal de Gandia wetland. An accessible wooden boardwalk circles it beside the Aula Natura and links it to the neighbouring Ullal de la Perla on a short, flat walk surrounded by waterbirds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4615,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"borgia26_language":"en","borgia26_translation_group":"ullal-de-lestany-gandia","footnotes":""},"categories":[19,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rutas","category-visitas-y-monumentos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4616"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4616\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4621,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4616\/revisions\/4621"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}