Picos and Plains - The Best of Northern Spain

Tour Code: ESP05

A 10-day tour in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds in the Bay of Biscay and the special birds of the Picos de Europa mountains and the Zamoran plains.

10 days from
£2,295 (Inc ferry)
Land only price from
£1,995
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

This tour offers a chance to look for birds in two contrasting habitats in northern Spain – the Picos de Europa in the Cantabrian Mountains and the wide open plains of the Duero Valley. Our holiday begins with a ferry trip to Santander across the Bay of Biscay, where we’ll watch for whales, dolphins and seabirds. On arrival in northern Spain we head to the heart of the Picos in search of a range of high mountain specialist birds and mammals, before transferring to our second base in Zamora in the Duero plains.

  • Fin & Minke Whales, plus Common & Risso’s Dolphins in the Bay of Biscay
  • Balearic, Sooty, Cory’s & Great Shearwaters, skuas & petrels from ferry
  • Griffon Vulture, Water Pipit, Alpine Chough & Chamois in the high Picos
  • Black & Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, plus Honey Buzzard in Picos valleys
  • One of the world’s largest concentrations of Great Bustard in the Duero plains
  • Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Black-bellied Sandgrouse & Montagu’s Harrier
  • Led by expert naturalist guide

Grading

Easy day walks.

 

Northern Spain has a very great deal to offer the naturalist. The dramatic limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa in the heart of the Cantabrian Mountains are justly famous for their scenery and birds. Less well known, but only a relatively short distance to the south, are the wide open plains of the upper Duero Valley, which offer a striking scenic contrast to the mountains and some very different but equally exciting birds. Add to this a sea crossing that provides some of the best seabird and whale-watching possibilities that Europe has to offer and you have the makings of a very memorable trip indeed.

Our holiday starts with a ferry crossing from the south coast to Santander, a journey which at this time of year can produce sightings of an exciting range of whale and dolphin species. The ship is large and stable and provides a good vantage-point for scanning the sea ahead for that tell-tale fin or that column of spray, as one of these impressive creatures surfaces momentarily and ‘blows’. The ship crosses the continental shelf during the night and the morning will find us in the southern Bay of Biscay, a particularly rich feeding ground for whales. Here we have a chance of encountering such exciting species as Fin, Sei, Minke, Killer and Long-finned Pilot Whales, and Bottlenose, Common, Striped and Risso’s Dolphins. Seabirds are very likely to be in evidence too, and at this time of year we have a good chance of seeing Balearic, Sooty, Cory’s and Great Shearwaters, up to four species of skua, Sabine’s Gull, Grey Phalarope and petrels that may even include Wilson’s.

Once in Santander, we will make the short journey inland to Espinama in the heart of the Picos de Europa mountains. From our pleasant hotel here we are well positioned to explore the best that this remarkably unspoilt region has to offer. Amongst the high limestone crags and screes, reached by a short but spectacular journey on the Fuente Dé cable car, we will search for a range of high mountain specialists. Alpine Choughs, Water Pipits, Alpine Accentors, Crag Martins and the attractive Chamois are all common here and, with luck, we will find Snowfinch, Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and even Wallcreeper. Raptors are a conspicuous feature of the Picos and, amongst the Griffon Vultures which are so often to be seen cruising effortlessly along the skyline, we must keep an eye open for Egyptian Vultures, Golden and Short-toed Eagles and Peregrine Falcons.

Lower down, in the valleys, we will discover a very different landscape. Here there are mixed woodlands, tumbling streams, flower-filled meadows, orchards and quiet, timeless villages. Amongst them we will look out for Black and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Woodlark, Dipper, Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Bonelli’s Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Cirl Bunting. Overhead we could see Booted Eagle, Red Kite, Honey Buzzard or Goshawk, whilst at our feet the meadows dazzle us with their flowers and a range of butterflies that may include Scarce Swallowtail, Cleopatra and the strange Black Satyr.

After our time in the Picos we will head south-west towards Zamora. In the course of an easy but remarkable morning’s drive which takes us over a couple of passes and through a series of picturesque valleys, we will descend from high mountains onto the wide open rolling vastness of the Duero plains. Here, in accordance with European Union directives, a large area of the plains is being farmed in a manner sympathetic to a range of sensitive and declining grassland bird species. The result is one of the largest concentrations of Great Bustards in the world, together with good populations of Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel and Calandra Lark. With luck we will see all of these during our visit.

After this contrasting feast of scenery and birds in two rather forgotten parts of Spain, we will have to return to Santander. Counting the Mediterranean Gulls as we leave the harbour, we can look forward to more whales, dolphins, shearwaters and skuas as we once again cross the continental shelf out in the Bay of Biscay. Whatever we see, it is likely to be a fitting finale to a satisfying and memorable holiday.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Ferry from Plymouth to Santander
Day 2
Arrive Santander; transfer to Espinama, Picos de Europa
Day 3/4
Picos de Europa
Day 5/7
Zamora, Duero Valley plains
Day 8
Aguilar de Campoo
Day 9
Depart Santander by ferry
Day 10
Arrive Plymouth
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Ferries
  • Accommodation:

    Twin-bedded cabins aboard the ferry. Comfortable hotels in Spain; all rooms with private facilities.

  • Food:

    All included in the price, except for meals aboard the ferry and evening meal in Santander.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 3rd Aug – Tue 12th Aug SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£195
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Byron Palacios
TL Byron Palacios

Tour Leader: Byron Palacios

Byron is an Ecuadorian Ecologist and Field Ornithologist who has been working as a researcher and bird watching tour leader since 2000. A keen birder and nature lover by 'nature', Byron has a vast knowledge of the neotropical and Western Palearctic avifauna, particularly in his native Ecuador and other neotropical countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Colombia and the Caribbean region, including southern USA. His sharp ears and eyes permit him to locate the most elusive forest-dwelling birds in the field, successfully leading more than two-hundred trips so far! As a Field Ornithologist, Byron has contributed with many important discoveries for the Ecuadorian Ornithology, all published in scientific magazines and bulletins, such as the first record for Ecuador of the Thicket Antpitta (Hylopezus dives), Feb. 2007; the rediscovery of the Yellow-eared Toucanet (Selenidera spectabilis), Aug. 2006; and the discovery of the Choco Vireo (Vireo masteri), Sep 2004, A New Bird Species for Ecuador. Byron currently works as an independant Wildlife Consultant for leading wildlife companies and conservation organisations, having also become actively involved in many birding and conservation programmes in Spain, where his birding field skills have rapidly made him one of the authorities amongst the Iberian wildlife world. He endorses Leica Optics and Gitzo tripods, and currently lives in west Dorset, England, with his daughter Isabel and fiancé Gail.

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 2nd Aug – Tue 11th Aug SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,095
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£195

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

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  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
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