Asturias Spring Wildlife Tour

Our wildlife programmes offer some of the best wildlife watching  from the open ocean to the great extensions of the Northern Plateau of Spain. Renowned for its birding diversity and the opportunity to experience the splendour of the ocean.
The sea element offers both cetaceans and Pelagic birds. Details of sightings within the programmes will be provided within each of our 6-day holidays. In Spain our local Guide, Javier Gil Vaquero or Fernando Jubete, , one of Spain’s top Wildlife Guides will take over. He will make your visit a memorable experience. As you join him in observing some of the best wildlife in these incredibly spectacular places. Nice hotels and good food and wine will enhance your visit! (Paul Burley)

On Sunday – Meet at the Plymouth Ferryport where we catch the 1645 sailing to Spain. A 2-berth cabin is provided and upgrades are available as detailed in Essentail Information. Our Guide, Paul Burley, will meet you in the Terminal Building at Plymouth Ferryport.

We will be setting off from Plymouth and crossing the English Channel towards the Ushant on the north western tip of France. Hoping to see Great skua, Manx shearwater, Kittiwake, Gannets and more. Also be looking for Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Harbour porpoise and Minke whale. These animals are frequently seen in these waters throughout the year.

As we cross the English Channel we will be looking for cetaceans. We often see Minke whale, Common dolphins, Harbour porpoise and Bottle nose dolphins. We will also be looking for Manx shearwater and Gannets before continuing through the night to the Bay of Biscay.
The next morning, Monday,  we will be nearing the northern shelf of the bay where we will be looking for whales and dolphins as we cross towards Spain. Good numbers of dolphins are often seen in the north of the Bay. As we venture further south we will hope to see Cuviers beaked whale, Striped dolphins, Pilot whales and maybe the occasional Fin whale before arriving in Spain.  

We reach Santander at 1400 and there join our coach for the ride to Panes on the edge of Asturias. We check into the welcoming Hotel El Tilo for three nights’ half-board and dinner with wine. Our Spanish Guide, Javier Gil Vaquero joins us for a talk about the days ahead.

Tuesday
Javier joins us today as we leave the hotel and drive through the impressive Hermida gorge and onward to Fuente de where we take the cable car to the upper mountain. In search of two of the most sought after birds in the area, the Wallcreeper and Snowfinch.
We will also be looking for Cantabrian Chamois, Yellow billed chough, Alpine accentor, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture and the incredible Bearded vulture. In the late afternoon we return in the cable car and drive to our hotel for our evening meal.

Wednesday
Today we visit the area of the Milenary chestnuts, near the town of Pendes and Cabanes on the south side of the Picos de Europa National Park. One of the least known birding places in the Picos de Europa.
With meadows and scrubland it is a great place to observe Middle spotted woodpecker, Sardinian warbler, Dartford warbler, Ortolan bunting, Rock bunting, Blue rock thrush, Alpine swift and large numbers of Butterflies and reptiles such as the impressive Ocellated lizard.
It is also a fantastic place for raptors. As the large south facing walls of the mountain makes this the home range and nesting place for Golden eagle, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Short toed eagle, Black kite and of course the Majestic Bearded vulture.
This is a mountain area of great scenic beauty with easy walking in the heart of the Picos de Europa. After a good days birding we once more return to our hotel for our evening meal.

Thursday
After breakfast we drive to San Vincente de la Barquera situated in the Oyambre national park. We will have a short stop to birdwatch the local area before continuing to Santander to board the ship for the return sailing to England.  Where we will once again be looking for Cetaceans and birds through the Bay of Biscay and in the English Channel on the following day.

 We reach Plymouth at 1115 on Friday.

The cost includes ; ferry crossing with cabin; three nights with half-board at a 3* hotel, services of a British and a Spanish Guide, all excursions as detailed.

4-berth cabin(for two) £120 : 4-berth outside Cabin (for two) £180 –
NB These prices are for the cabin, not per person :
( There are no 2-berth outside cabins).

Departure Date June 8^th 2025           Cost  £715 
Single supplement (Room & cabin)  £135

Online Booking Form

Pick up point-  Plymouth Ferryport