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This was a one week natural history trip to the relatively unknown Sierra de Guara in the Spanish Pyrennean foothills. Our tour leader, Byron, was extremely well-organised, thoughtful, proactive and good fun. He was careful to include the interests of all in the party - birds, butterflies, flora and local history. We stopped in two lovely village locations. The accommodation was very good and we enjoyed, delicious varied picnics and excellent local cuisine. Byron's wonderful repertoire of birdsong ensured we 'captured' many of the smaller bird species at close range. The trip to the vulture feeding station was a highlight.
A.E. Derbyshire
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Spain's Sierra de Guara - Land of the Lammergeier
Tour Code: ESP13An 8-day holiday of gentle walks focusing on the birds, plants and butterflies of the little-known Sierra de Guara – a land of gorges, cliffs and canyons beloved of the Lammergeier.
8 days
from
£1,795 (Inc flights)
£1,795 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£1,645
£1,645
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The Sierra de Guara, protected by the high Pyrenees, is remote and peaceful, a land where gorges and canyons are home to breeding Griffon Vulture, Peregrine, and Golden and Bonelli’s Eagles. For the first part of the holiday we’ll focus on the plant and birdlife of the arid maquis-like vegetation, gorges and slopes of the sierra’s southern slopes from our base in the 8th century Moorish citadel of Alquezar. We’ll then transfer to the remote village of Nocito for the second part of the tour – a perfect base for exploring the diverse wildlife inhabiting the oak, Beech and maple forests of the damper northern slopes.
- Explore limestone cliffs, canyons & gorges for Lammergeier
- Haven for birds of prey such as Honey Buzzard & Short-toed Eagle
- Explore the back streets of Alquezar for Hoopoe & Spotless Starling
- Blue Rock-thrush, warblers, shrikes & Rock Bunting in maquis shrub
- Look for Wild Boar, Polecat & Pine Marten at night around Nocito
- The most thinly populated region of Spain’s Pyrenean foothills
- Enjoy a peace & solitude rarely found elsewhere in Europe
- Led by an expert naturalist guide
Grading
Grade A/B. Easy to moderate day walks, though some tougher options may be offered.
On an autumn reconnaissance visit to this little-known sierra in the foothills of the central Pyrenees, we initially explored by car for a full day, almost circuiting the Guara using the back roads between the villages of Alquézar and Bara. During over 12 hours on these roads we encountered not a single other vehicle — an astonishing achievement in today’s age, especially within Europe! However, as any map of Spain will indicate, the Sierra de Guara, protected as a parque natural since 1990, is one of Spain’s quieter regions and, although it does become a haven for canyoning and climbing enthusiasts during the summer months, we hope to find plenty of peace and quiet, and an abundance of birds and plants, as we explore its valleys, gorges and upland mountainsides during the course of this exciting holiday.
The Sierra de Guara is not a high range — Tozal de Guara, at 2,077 metres, being its highest summit — but, being protected by the high Pyrenees just to the north, its southern slopes, in particular, receive little precipitation and are consequently very dry. At lower altitudes it offers a pretty patchwork of rolling oak woods, almond orchards, olive groves and small, irregular wheat fields, traditionally farmed. Attractive limestone villages and their splendid churches ride the flanks of the sierra; their populations, like virtually all in rural Spain, are dwindling today and allowing nature back in. Above them lies a rugged land, clothed in stunted oak forest and maquis scrub and characterised by numerous spectacular gorges, canyons, cliffs and pinnacles fashioned from limestone and conglomerate. This is a land beloved of birds of prey. Griffon Vultures are numerous, whilst other resident breeding birds include Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Red Kite and Peregrine, and these are joined in summer by Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Honey Buzzard and Hobby.
On this 2-centre holiday, we will explore the region on a series of gentle walks, breaking each day with a traditional Naturetrek picnic lunch! It is the southern slopes of the sierra that we will focus on during the first part of this holiday, and during it we will be based in the magical fortress town of Alquézar, built around a spectacular 8th century Moorish citadel which sits on a pinnacle above the gorge of the Río Vero. This quaint and ancient town, with its narrow streets, sits like an eagle’s eyrie on a shoulder of the sierra and is a perfect centre from which to explore on foot the surrounding valleys, gorges and higher slopes … and from which to watch for passing birds of prey. The fortifications at Alquézar are typical of many forts built in this area, to the south of the Pyrenees, by the Moors or Christians as they wrestled for control over these northern limits of Muslim Spain throughout the Middle Ages. Today, like many of the deserted villages, they now provide a home for Hoopoes, Black Redstarts, Spotless Starlings and Rock Sparrows.
The maquis-like vegetation of the southern slopes is dominated by dense, low, evergreen oak scrub, mixed with junipers, pines, Strawberry Trees and Rosemary. It is a habitat favoured by such birds as Blue Rock Thrush, Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes, Melodious, Subalpine and Bonelli’s Warblers, and Cirl, Ortolan and Rock Buntings. Overhead, Alpine Swift, Crag Martins and abundant birds of prey are to be seen whilst, lower down, gorges and rivers lined with poplars support breeding Bee-eaters and Golden Orioles, and little fields hold Crested Larks, Thekla Larks and Tawny Pipits.
The northern slopes of the Sierra de Guara are very much damper, sustaining heavy winter snowfall. Consequently the vegetation they support is quite different from that of the arid southern slopes. The extensive oak forest and scrub here is largely deciduous, containing also Beech and maple, whilst the higher slopes are awash with rose and bramble cover. To explore this area during the second phase of our holiday, we will base ourselves in the village of Nocito. This remote and isolated village, situated towards the end of a long track, boasts fewer than 10 inhabitants and is an hour’s drive from the nearest shops! From it, we will explore almost entirely on foot, though we may include a night drive to look for the Wild Boar, Polecat and Pine Marten that may sometimes be seen on the road after dark. We will also enjoy a peace, solitude and magnificent night sky that is not easily found elsewhere in Europe.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Zaragoza and transfer Alquézar
Day 2/4
Sierra de Guara (southern slopes), from Alquézar
Day 5/7
Sierra de Guara (northern slopes), from Nocito
Day 8
Fly London
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Comfortable family hotels in Alquézar and the very isolated village of Nocito. All rooms have private facilities.
- Food: All included in the price.
Reviews
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I particularly liked the contrast between the two centres and the accommodation, both of which were highly enjoyable and charming in their own ways. Everyone went out of their way to be helpful and make our stay enjoyable. As ever Byron was helpful, informative and sociable. Thank you.
R.C. Hertfordshire -
Another lovely week with superb leaders. Thank you. They were kind, well informed and exceptionally knowledgeable and well prepared. The Hotel Mirabal and the manager could not have been more helpful. They had everything you could want and more. They were accommodating and thoughtful in every way.
V.S. London -
Accommodation at the first hotel (Hotel Maribel) was very modern and the food was plentiful and good, the room was cleaned everyday and was faultless.
Mr G. Kent -
Our tour leader Byron was very good at his job. A very likeable person with plenty of 'patience'. Couldn't fault him in any way.
Mrs B. Ireland -
The 2 trip leaders, Byron and Laura, were excellent both in their professional abilities and in the care they took of us during the holiday. Thanks to them the list of birds that I saw for the first time during this holiday is very long!
C.W. Worcestershire -
Please convey my huge thanks to both Byron and Laura for their expertise, organisation, hard work and good humour on the May fifth trip to Spain's Sierra de Guara region. They were superb throughout and it was a pleasure to be in their company.
E.M. Cheshire -
Byron has an infectious enthusiasm for the natural world. He is a thoughtful, effective and well organised leader. He has an amazing repertoire of bird song! He was additionally very knowledgeable about local history. Byron was careful to consider the specific interests of all group participants.
A.E. Derbyshire -
An excellent, well organised trip. Byron was the perfect leader with a wide appreciation of the natural and local history.
R.E. Derbyshire -
Enjoyed all aspects of the holiday - the leader, the itinerary, the group, the accommodation, the food and the weather!
P.D. Lincolnshire -
We enjoyed the holiday and being with like minded individuals, we have not been on an organised trip before… and found Byron, our guide, very good. He was sensitive to the interests of the party even though we were not all out and out birders. The walks were very good and Byron helped us to see birds we would not otherwise have noticed.
Mr & Mrs O. Buckinghamshire
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Thu 8th May – Thu 15th May
SPACES
£1,795
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,645
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£160
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Thu 7th May – Thu 14th May
SPACES
£1,895
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,745
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£170
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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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.
Enquire
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:
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