It looks like an island in Hawaii, but it's in Spain next to Castellón: crystal-clear waters, dolphins, and a nature reserve.

Spain is one of the world's most fascinating countries. Some, such as the Altamira Caves or the Alhambra in Granada, are known around the globe, although there are many other hidden gems that aren't as famous among tourists and are also worth visiting. One such example is the Columbretes Islands, located about 50 kilometers off the coast of Castellón and one of the Mediterranean's greatest natural environments.

These islands located off the city of Castellón are one of the many places in the province of the Valencian Community that you absolutely must visit. Although they are not the only little-known archipelago found off the Spanish coast, they are one of the most incredible. The Columbretes Islands are one of the most important areas in the country for scientific research.

The uninhabited Columbretes Islands

The Columbretes Islands are made up of 27 islets and reefs of volcanic origin arranged in four groups: the Columbrete Grande Group is the largest and has five rock formations, while the La Ferrera Group is the most numerous, with eight. The five mini-islands of the La Foradada Group are only a few kilometers apart, while the nine belonging to the El Bergantín Group are tiny.

This spectacular archipelago belongs administratively to the city of Castellón and is of vital importance for biological research, which is why it was declared a nature reserve and later a marine reserve. In fact, scientific teams are constantly working on the many islets of the Columbretes Islands, trying to discover more about this impressive Mediterranean landscape.

The islands received their name due to the large number of snakes that inhabited these islets, although a fire wiped out all the species. However, they are home to numerous plants unique to Spain, as well as a vast marine biodiversity found nowhere else in the Mediterranean.

How to get to the Columbretes Islands

To reach the Columbretes Islands, you can take several boats from the ports of Castellón, Valencia, or Alcocéber. Depending on the point of origin, the journey across the Mediterranean will take different lengths, although if you depart from Castellón, it will only take two hours to reach this impressive setting.