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12. Bibey River Fluvial Nature Reserve

The Bibey River rises in the mountains of Porto and forms the largest sub-basin within the entire Miño-Sil river system. Its waters flow through some of the best-preserved landscapes in north-western Iberia, crossing valleys, gorges, peatlands and riverside forests that remain largely untouched.

Part of this area is protected as the Bibey River Fluvial Nature Reserve, created in 2015 to preserve river sections with minimal human disturbance and outstanding ecological quality. It is one of the best-conserved freshwater ecosystems in Castile and León.

The reserve includes the Bibey River itself and several mountain tributaries, such as the Val de Inferno stream, where peat bogs, wet meadows and well-preserved riparian forests provide refuge for a rich variety of wildlife.

Its clean, oxygen-rich waters support species that are highly dependent on pristine environmental conditions, including the Iberian desman, the Eurasian otter, the white-throated dipper, the brown trout and Margaritifera margaritifera, one of Europe’s most endangered freshwater mussels.

Exploring the Bibey valleys offers a unique opportunity to experience one of the wildest and most pristine river landscapes on the Iberian Peninsula, where water continues to shape the land just as it has done for thousands of years.