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The Birds, Wines & History of Extremadura
Tour Code: ESP66An 8-day holiday to sample the rich mixture of birdlife, wines and history in the land of the conquistadors.
£2,395 (Inc flights)
£2,195
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Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This holiday is designed to appeal to those who enjoy their birdwatching, but also appreciate some diversity to their holiday. Based in the historic Parador in Trujillo (the birthplace of Francisco Pizarro, one of the conquistadors of Peru, whose statue stands in the Plaza Major), this holiday promises to be a popular choice for those wishing to have an insight into the history of the area, to sample some local produce (especially wines), and of course to see some fabulous birds.
Central Spain is known the world over for its fabulous birdwatching, with Extremadura arguably being the jewel in the crown. The region is dominated by rolling grasslands, rocky hillsides, endless dehesa woodlands and overflying raptors, and is intersected by two great rivers, the Tagus and the Guadiana. Although Extremadura experiences long hot summers, this region stores one third of all the fresh water in Spain, in reservoirs such as the Embalses de Valdecañas and the Sierra Brava.
Extremadura has a fabulously rich and complicated history, having been occupied by Celtic tribes, the Romans and the Moors. This mix of cultures has left its legacy in the form of diverse architecture and culture, and wonderful local produce, including the internationally famous Jamon de Bellota, rich cheeses and superb regional wines.
With direct flights to and from Madrid, the tour will encompass all the different aspects of this part of Extremadura, combining culture and good food with wonderful birdlife, with the raptors and bustards being particular highlights.
- Single-centre tour based at the Parador in the beautiful medieval town of Trujillo
- Explore steppe & forested hills of Monfragüe National Park
- Flocks of Lesser Kestrels plus Black Storks & Pallid Swifts, Trujillo
- Watch Great Bustards & Little Bustards displaying
- Pin-tailed & Black-bellied Sandgrouse among grassland birds
- 16 species of raptor present in this area
- Enjoy a walking tour of Trujillo, and visits to two wineries
- Led by expert naturalist guide
Outline Itinerary
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Keith Hamilton
Keith grew up in the north-west of Cumbria, close to the sea, spending much of his youth exploring the countryside and becoming a lover of nature from a very young age. He received his first book on birds, Coward & Barnes ‘Birds of the British Isles’, aged 11, and still treasures it to this day! Over the years, birdwatching took Keith all over the UK, though the sea and the Lake District fells remained closest to home. He has been a council member of the Cumbria Bird Club and active member of the Carlisle Natural History Society. Butterflies are also a passion, and as a member of Butterfly Conservation Keith volunteered on the very successful Cumbrian Marsh Fritillary re-introduction scheme and Small Blue regeneration projects.
It was a birding trip to Extremadura in the early 2010s that changed Keith's life, not only for the astonishing birdlife or the amazing butterflies; it was a place to feel comfortable. Around eight years later, after many visits to different regions of Spain, Keith and his wife made the move to the Sierra de Gredos where they love to explore the rich diversity of species to be found there. Keith is an active member of the local butterfly and natural history groups, and, being a member of the butterfly conservation organisation ‘Zerynthia’, he has the necessary permissions to record butterflies and moths. Since moving to Spain he has enjoyed guiding guests around various areas on the peninsula, always finding it a pleasure to show his clients something new and interesting.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
