With arrival and departure in Lisbon, this fascinating 10-day nature journey visits Portugal and Spain to take in the stunning Mediterranean birds and the Iberian Lynx. We will visit some of the best locations in the south and west of the Iberian Peninsula for bird watching, and we will get a close-up look at the rare and endemic Iberian Lynx. Furthermore, we will have the opportunity to see a few charming towns and get a firsthand understanding of the distinctions in the cuisine and the top-notch wines that both European nations have to offer.
Trip Details
What to expect
Lodging: Basic
Transportation:
Medium
Next Departures
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Thematics
Birdwatching
Photography
Wildlife
Itinerary
DAY 1
Lisbon - Tagus Estuary - Évora - Lagoa dos Salgados
Early in the morning the guide will pick you up and head to the important natural reserve of Évora in the Tagus estuary where we will have good opportunities for observation of aquatic birds such as the Purple Gallinule,...
Early in the morning the guide will pick you up and head to the important natural reserve of Évora in the Tagus estuary where we will have good opportunities for observation of aquatic birds such as the Purple Gallinule, Marbled Teal, Squacco heron, Pranticole, Avocet. After lunch we will drive three hours to the surroundings of Albufeira where we will stay for the night.
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Albufeira (or similar)
DAY 2
Lagoa Dos Salgados - Santa Luzia - Castro Marim
In the morning we will take a walk along the interesting coastal lagoon of Lagoa dos Salgados to see waterfowl and wonders such as the Ferruginous Duck or the Caspian tern. We continue at noon along the Ria da Formosa in...
In the morning we will take a walk along the interesting coastal lagoon of Lagoa dos Salgados to see waterfowl and wonders such as the Ferruginous Duck or the Caspian tern. We continue at noon along the Ria da Formosa in Tavira to observe interesting birds such as Audouin’s Gull, Stilt or Kentish Plover, or the Ruff. After lunch we continue the route of coastal wetlands to visit the Natural Reserve of Sapal de Castro Marim, with potential birds such as the Stone Curlew, the Whimbrel or the Snipe, and where we will visit the historical monument.In the afternoon we will cross the border to Spain to visit the charismatic village of El Roció, in the heart of the Doñana National Park, where we will spend the night and contemplate the attractive hermitage of El Roció illuminated during the night.
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El Roció (or similar)
DAY 3
Doñana National Park
In the morning we will go birding at the lagoon and forests near the Acebrón Palace, with opportunities for Torcecuellos and Pico Menor. Afterwards we will visit the nearby lagoon of La Rocina, especially interested in s...
In the morning we will go birding at the lagoon and forests near the Acebrón Palace, with opportunities for Torcecuellos and Pico Menor. Afterwards we will visit the nearby lagoon of La Rocina, especially interested in seeing the Penduline tit. We will have lunch at the hotel in El Rocio and spend the afternoon walking around the beautiful surroundings of the village and its interesting lagoon with good observations of Spoonbills or interesting wonders such as potential Temminck’s Sandpiper or Great reed warbler among others. In the evening we will try to make an outing to observe the Red-necked Nightjar.
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El Roció (or similar)
DAY 4
Doñana - Andújar
After taking a final stroll around Doñana Lagoon, we depart for Andújar, a three-hour trip where we will arrive in time for lunch. We will begin the first glimpse of the magnificent Iberian Lynx in the afternoon, providi...
After taking a final stroll around Doñana Lagoon, we depart for Andújar, a three-hour trip where we will arrive in time for lunch. We will begin the first glimpse of the magnificent Iberian Lynx in the afternoon, providing excellent photo possibilities. We’ll have dinner and spend the night at a charming rural cottage.
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Andújar (or similar)
DAY 5
Lynx Day in the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park
During the half-day, we can stroll around Andújar, where we will have good chances to see interesting birds like the European Owl, the well-known Iberian Magpie, or the also endemic Iberian Imperial Eagle, as well as oth...
During the half-day, we can stroll around Andújar, where we will have good chances to see interesting birds like the European Owl, the well-known Iberian Magpie, or the also endemic Iberian Imperial Eagle, as well as other mammals like the Mouflon, the Wild Boar, or Deer. We will search for the lynx at dawn and again at dusk.The lynx is a magnificent huge cat that eats rabbits. It has been threatened with extinction but is now making a comeback, so we should consider ourselves quite fortunate to witness one.
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Andújar (or similar)
DAY 6
Lynx at sunrise in Andújar and up to Villacañas for birding
After our final sighting of the lynx at dawn in Andújar, we will proceed north to the Villacañas lagoon, where we should have nice views of Flamingos, White-headed Ducks, Gull-billed Terns, and Curlew Sandpipers. We’ll b...
After our final sighting of the lynx at dawn in Andújar, we will proceed north to the Villacañas lagoon, where we should have nice views of Flamingos, White-headed Ducks, Gull-billed Terns, and Curlew Sandpipers. We’ll be able to fantasize about the ancient windmills of Castilla La Mancha, which are included in the real Don Quixote story.
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Castilla La Mancha (or similar)
DAY 7
Villacañas - National Park of Monfragüe
We will search for the iconic steppe birds in the morning hours around Villacañas, focusing mindfully to the Great Bustard, Little Bustard, and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, and paying particular attention to the Montagu’s Harr...
We will search for the iconic steppe birds in the morning hours around Villacañas, focusing mindfully to the Great Bustard, Little Bustard, and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, and paying particular attention to the Montagu’s Harrier. Regretfully, the shift in agricultural practices is putting these lovely birds in danger of being extinct.Following lunch, we will travel west toward Extremadura, arriving to spend the night close to Monfragüe National Park, which we will have time to explore briefly.
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Near Monfragüe National Park (or similar)
DAY 8
Monfragüe National Park
We will spend the entire day in the well-known Monfragüe National Park, which is renowned for its diverse birds and offers fantastic chances to see Egyptian, Griffon, and Eurasian Black vultures. The Alpine Swift, Blue R...
We will spend the entire day in the well-known Monfragüe National Park, which is renowned for its diverse birds and offers fantastic chances to see Egyptian, Griffon, and Eurasian Black vultures. The Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Stork, and, with any luck, the Eagle Owl and Bonelli’s Eagle are other birds that can be considered similarly beautiful. We’ll spend the night close to the park.We will visit the well-known dehesas of Extremadura, where we will learn about the cork trees there and see fascinating birds like the bee-eater, woodchat shrimpke, and hoopoe, among others.
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Near Monfragüe National Park (or similar)
DAY 9
Monfrage to Évora
We will leave Monfragüe early in the morning towards Portugal, but we will make a stop near the plains of Cáceres to look for steppe birds again, with special attention this time to the Little Crake, Iberian Shrike and L...
We will leave Monfragüe early in the morning towards Portugal, but we will make a stop near the plains of Cáceres to look for steppe birds again, with special attention this time to the Little Crake, Iberian Shrike and Lesser Kestrel. We will leave Spain and head back towards Portugal to the lagoons of Albufeira do Divor in Évora with excellent opportunities to see birds, some of them very interesting such as the ¨Savi´s warbler, Crested Lark, the Pallid Swift, Black shoulder kite, or the Purple Heron.We will sleep in a rural hotel in the surroundings of Evora, and take the opportunity to visit part of the historical heritage of the interesting city in the afternoon.
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Évora (or similar)
DAY 10
Évora to Lisbon
We are going to try again early in the morning to witness the steppe and waterfowl species around Évora. We will travel to Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, after lunch, when the journey comes to an end.
We are going to try again early in the morning to witness the steppe and waterfowl species around Évora. We will travel to Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, after lunch, when the journey comes to an end.
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Price Details
Terms & Conditions
The terms of sale may differ based on the nature of your trip and how close your departure date is. Please review our conditions here for more information .
Recommendations
Although spring is the ideal time for this tour, April and May are the best times, when the birds are in full breeding season and the countryside is in bloom. It is advisable to wear birding clothes with pleasant temperatures in mind, but just in case you should bring something warm with sun protection and footwear that allows you to walk without problems.
Spotted Species
Here is a non-exhaustive list of Animal Species you can spot during this tour
Iberian Lynx
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) is a critically endangered feline native to the Iberian Peninsula...
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![[Iberian Lynx Land] [Black Vulture] @JoseLuisSanchez](https://wildexpedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Iberian-Lynx-Land-Black-Vulture-@JoseLuisSanchez-689x463.jpg "[Iberian Lynx Land] [Black Vulture] @JoseLuisSanchez")
