Lagunas del Raso de Portillo

Lagunas del Raso de Portillo is a wetland area in the municipality of La Pedraja de Portillo, in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León.

Where are the lagoons and how do you get there?

The site lies roughly 2 km from the centre of La Pedraja de Portillo, on the boundary with the municipality of Aldeamayor de San Martín, in a spot known locally as Dehesa de los Caballeros. Road signs at the entrance to town point the way to a parking area, from which several wide, unpaved paths lead on to a series of observation points. The route runs as a loop and is described as suitable for walking, cycling, and wheelchair use.

How did these lagoons come to exist?

The whole Raso de Portillo plain, once close to 1,900 hectares of open wetland, was drained between 1870 and 1873 through a 12-kilometre main channel carrying water to the river Cega, plus eight secondary channels adding up to 18 km. The drainage was meant to open up land for farming and reduce malaria in the area. The three small lagoons visible today - covering roughly 8, 2.8, and 0.7 hectares - are the result of restoration work carried out since 2012 by the Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero, the authority responsible for the Duero river basin, under its second river-bank restoration plan. The same body still manages the site. The lagoons sit on either side of the Arroyo del Molino, a tributary of the Cega, surrounded by dryland crop fields.

What birds can be seen here?

The combination of open water and steppe farmland makes the site popular with birdwatchers. Recorded species include great bustard, white stork, black-winged stilt, herons, coot, buzzard, teal, marsh harrier, red-legged partridge, plover, lapwing, bee-eater, and avocet, along with occasional sightings of Spanish imperial eagle, little grebe, mallard, shoveler, and gadwall. Six hides connected by a footpath let visitors watch the birds without disturbing them.

When is the best time to visit?

The lagoons can be visited year-round, though autumn and winter bring the highest numbers of waterbirds, when migrating and wintering species settle on the water. Spring and autumn migration windows also raise the odds of spotting less common species. The terrain is flat, open, and largely without shade, so binoculars or a spotting scope and some sun protection are worth bringing - the water can be some distance from the paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Lagunas del Raso de Portillo? The route is signposted from the entrance to La Pedraja de Portillo. A car park sits by the lagoons, about 2 km from the town centre, with a path leading on to the observation points.

Are the lagoons natural? Not entirely - the area was a historic wetland drained in the 19th century, and the current lagoons were created through restoration work carried out from 2012 onward.

Is the trail wheelchair accessible? Yes, the paths are wide and unpaved, and are described as suitable for walking, cycling, and wheelchair use.

What birds are most typical of this site? Steppe species such as great bustard in the surrounding fields, and on the water itself coots, herons, ducks, and waders depending on the season.