Arga river Park

The Arga river Park, with its million square metres, constitutes one of the city’s most important green areas. It runs alongside the river, passing the most significant historical bridges: Magdalena, San Pedro (the oldest in Pamplona), Rochapea and Santa Engracia. The meanders wind in and out of the city, carving out a highly valued landscape for walkers, cycle-tourists, and even rowers..

The urban atmosphere inside the city walls contrasts with the recovered local flora and the country setting. Along the walk there are ash trees, willows, alders, limes and blackthorns, creating the perfect country setting just metres from the Navarran capital.

This walk is a good way of observing the city from the outside. It can be enjoyed on foot or by bike, covering the entire route or just parts of it. Its picnic spots are the ideal place to enjoy a day out in the countryside without straying too far from the city.

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The riverbanks

Riverbanks are the home of many small mammals.

• Squirrels are not hard to find. This small rodent moves quickly and makes their livings in and among trees, using his long furry tail as counterweight.
• Otters: as it swims only the head stands above the water as it keeps its body under the stream. This small animal is capable of traveling up to 10 km in one single night to find food. 
• Beavers: they dig their lodges in riverbanks. With its teeth it gnaws at trees and brings them down to build dams further adding branches and mud. Great divers, they may remain underwater for up to 15 minutes.

Some birds that overfly the city and live with us

• The kestrel is the public enemy no. 1 of sparrows and other small birds. Its ability to prey on caged birds in balconies and windowsills – and devour them on the spot, is noteworthy. 
• Late evening in May and in June you will frequently hear a high-pitched and constant sound, repeated every few seconds, in parks and tree-lined avenues. It is the call of the scops owl, a small bird of prey which remains silent and still when somebody approaches it.
• The swift eats and sleeps whilst flying, tirelessly. Quite fond of cities, you will find it in Pamplona between May and August.
• Blackbirds love to hop on the grass and sing as the sun goes down, with extraordinarily fluty notes.
• Robins are squat birds, their reddish-orange breast being a giveaway. 
• You will easily recognise serins in tree tops because of their lemon yellow colour.
• The red kite is one of the easiest daytime birds of prey to recognise thanks to its orangey colour. It has a wingspan of 170 centimetres. It flies over the city like a watchman in search of other birds and rodents.
• The cormorant can be seen flying low and fast over the river, plunging into the water in search of fish. They perch on the riverbanks for long periods with their wings open to dry them.
• The Night heron is a bird with a slim body and long neck and legs. It stays still like a statue. In the Roman Empire its cry was considered a signal that something important was going to happen

Nest boxes

Many nest boxes are scattered in the city’s parks - Taconera Gardens, Vuelta del Castillo Park, Yamaguchi and River Arga Park, to attract birds.
Some are for kestrels, some for scops owls and some for small birds like sparrows. 

Route of the Arga River Park

• San Andrés Mill in Villava
• Batán de Villava
• Magdalena Bridge
• San Pedro Environmental Education Museum
• San Pedro Bridge – Runa Park 
• Puente de la Rochapea o Curtidores 
• Santa Engracia Bridge 
• Miluce Bridge