La Albufera changes colour several times a year. Sometimes it is an infinite mirror, other times a green sea, and at the end of summer, a spectacular golden hue. There is a reason for this ‘change of skin’: rice cultivation, a tradition that not only defines the landscape, but also the culture, gastronomy and pace of life in El Palmar.
In this article, we explain how the rice cycle works, what the key dates are, why the perellonà is so important, and how you can best enjoy it: viewing the rice fields from within, by boat.
Rice in the Albufera: much more than just agriculture
In La Albufera, rice is not just ‘another crop’. It is a piece that fits in with everything:
Landscape: the rice fields form the marshland surrounding the lake.
Water: the management of floodgates, irrigation channels and flood levels marks each phase of the year.
Life and biodiversity: when fields flood, wetlands multiply.
Culture and trades: For generations, El Palmar has combined life on the lake with work in the marshes.
Gastronomy: without rice, much of Valencian cuisine as we know it would not exist.
Rice harvesting in the AlbuferaWater rules: sluice gates, irrigation channels and the famous ‘perellonà’
If there is one thing that defines rice in La Albufera, it is this: cultivation depends on water.
Throughout the year, the fields are flooded and drained depending on the stage of rice growth. This is controlled using a traditional network of irrigation channels and sluice gates, which connect the marshland to the lake and to the outlets to the sea.
What is perellonà?
La perellonà is the winter flooding of the rice fields. After the harvest, the fields are filled with water again for weeks. It is a beautiful time to visit the area, because the landscape becomes a huge mirror (and it is one of the most photogenic times of the year).
Rice calendar in the Albufera: phases and working dates
The dates may vary slightly depending on the year, but the cycle is usually as follows:
1) Field preparation (January – March)
After winter, the land is worked: the soil is prepared, the margins are readied, and everything is left ready for the next cycle.
2) Sowing (late April – mid-May)
One of the key moments arrives: rice is planted in fields filled with water. It is a spectacular time of year because the marshland has very clear reflections and the landscape is ‘utterly calm’.
3) Growth (May – July)
The rice grows and the fields turn intensely green. It’s the perfect time for lovely walks because the marsh is alive and the landscape looks spectacular.
End of June: eixugons
Occasional drying (a few days without water) is carried out to help control algae and facilitate crop management.
4) Ripening (July – August)
The rice is changing: from green to more golden tones. It is the prelude to the end of the cycle.
5) Harvest or ‘segà’ (September – early October)
The fields turn golden and harvest time arrives. It is one of the most beautiful times to visit La Albufera because the colours and light at sunset are incredible.
6) Wintering / perellonà (November – January)
The water returns. The mirror returns. And that feeling of an enormous wetland that makes the Albufera so special returns.
El Palmar and rice: a direct and very authentic relationship
El Palmar is not a ‘viewpoint’ of the Albufera: it is part of the Albufera. Here, the lake, the canals and the fields are integrated into everyday life.
Therefore, if you want to truly understand the rice fields, the best thing to do is to experience them from El Palmar:
because you see the landscape from within,
because you understand how the lake and the marsh connect,
and because each season shows you a ‘different Albufera’.
Harvest Festival: when tradition becomes an experience
f you have the opportunity to visit during this time, take note: the Harvest Festival is one of the most special times of the year. Traditional techniques are recreated, the atmosphere is steeped in local culture, and rice literally takes centre stage.
It is the perfect date for those who want to go beyond ‘seeing a landscape’ and want to understand its tradition.
What to eat afterwards: typical dishes linked to the Albufera
This plan is almost mandatory: boat trip and traditional food.
Valencian paella: the classic version, well made with good rice, is another story altogether.
All i pebre: El Palmar’s signature dish, linked to the lake and its tradition.
Espardenyà: a heartier, very local version (if you see it on the menu, give it a try).
If you want to see the rice fields as they really are—with canals, reflections and that calm that only exists here—the best way is to experience them by boat from El Palmar.
Book your trip with Paseos en barca El Bessó and choose the time of year that appeals to you most: mirror, green or golden. Each season has its own magic.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the rice fields?
It depends on what you feel like watching:
April–May (sowing): mirror-like reflections and peaceful scenery.
May–July (green): Albufera at its liveliest.
September (golden + harvest): the most spectacular scenery.
November–January (perellonà): total ‘mirror mode’, a giant wetland.
When is rice planted in the Albufera?
Usually between late April and mid-May.
What is perellonà?
The winter flooding of rice paddies, when the fields are refilled with water after the harvest.
When is the rice harvest?
It is usually between September and early October.
What typical dish is a must in El Palmar?
All i pebre (and if you want a complete meal, accompany it with a good rice dish).
