What are we gonna see?
Travelers are accompanied by a specialist guide with extensive knowledge of birds, butterflies, and flora. We will explore the biodiversity of the mountain, subalpine, and alpine regions of the Cordillera, touring the Dunas de Liencres and Costa Quebrada Natural Park, Liébana, the Picos de Europa National Park, the Ponga Natural Park, and the Somiedo Natural Park. We will be able to spot brown bears, bearded vultures, wallcreepers, rock thrushes, butterflies, orchids, and more.
– Birds. Our tour takes us under the wing of the bearded vulture, which we'll learn about through its recovery plan with the FCQ. But the peaks and valleys it flies over are home to more than a hundred bird species, including the wallcreeper, the black woodpecker, the middle spotted woodpecker, the red rock thrush, and the bluethroat.
– Butterflies. With their spectacular colors, butterflies are a fundamental part of the ecosystems we will explore. The Picos de Europa are a hotspot of Lepidoptera biodiversity, with more than 130 species of diurnal butterflies within the National Park, with this number being even greater if we include the park's surroundings. We will be accompanied by fluttering species such as the apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo), the antbird butterfly (Phengaris nausithous, Ph. arion), and the lopinga butterfly (Lopinga achine).
– Cantabrian brown bear. Along the way, we'll learn the happy story of the bear's recovery in our mountains. Through its conservation program, supported by the FOP (National Park of Cantabria), we'll learn all about this mammal, which we'll try to spot in its natural habitat. And in its surroundings, we'll be accompanied by many other species such as wild cats, chamois, and deer, as well as the tracks of numerous species such as martens, genets, and badgers.
– Flora. The richness of the landscapes on our trip is accompanied by a great diversity of flora. More than 50 species of orchids, with wonders like the Dactylorhiza insularis, alpine and subalpine flora (Pulsatilla rubra, Gentiana sp.), as well as lush forests, valleys, and mountain meadows.
We'll enjoy all the natural wonders along the way, set against the backdrop of the most spectacular landscapes of the Wild North.
An unforgettable journey through the natural spaces of the Cantabrian Mountains, where we will discover the Liencres Dunes and Costa Quebrada Natural Park, Liébana, the Picos de Europa National Park in its three aspects (Fuente Dé, Covadonga and Valdeón-Sajambre), the Ponga Natural Park, the Ribadesella Estuary Reserve and the Somiedo Natural Park.
Accommodation:
Rural inn (2 keys)/3* Hotel
Rural house (3 triskelions)
Rural hotel (2*)/Apartment (2*)
Activities:
9 days: Wildlife and flora watching with a specialized guide (butterflies, birds, flora, brown bear, bearded vulture).
Visit to a beehive, cheese factory, and the “Shepherd for a Day” ecotourism experience.
Guides specialized in ecotourism, lepidoptera, flora and birds.
Meals: Breakfast included. Half-board and full-board options available.
Domestic transportation included in scheduled activities.
Others: Travel insurance. Liability insurance.
Transfer option.
Complementary activities not included in the program (optional):
Ecotourism experiences (pottery workshop, cider house visit, etc.): from €15.
“Travel Notebook” Workshop: from €60.
Extra cultural activities (visit to caves with cave paintings, visit to monuments, etc.): to be determined.
Bike route: from €60.
Extra wait times for mammal sightings: from €40.
– Contribution to the local economy. We have collaborators who live and work in the region we visit, creating a collaborative network and contributing to the maintenance and conservation of rural and natural areas.
– Collaboration with conservation associations. We collaborate with the Bearded Vulture Conservation Foundation and the Brown Bear Foundation on their conservation and recovery programs for these two species, promoting their work and encouraging visitor contributions through sponsorship or donations. These activities are part of scientific tourism and are offset by the carbon footprint generated during their implementation.
– Senda collaborates with the Zerynthia Association for the conservation of Lepidoptera as a member. It also collaborates in conducting Lepidoptera censuses for the BMS.
– Ecotourism experiences. We promote a shift in the tourism model toward more sustainable practices, as well as supporting the promotion of the areas we visit as ecotourism destinations.
All the companies that collaborate with Senda Ecoturismo on this experience are certified with the ecotourism quality seal (Natura 2000 Network, Spanish Ecotourism Club, Green Spain Ecotourism Corridor, etc.).
Within this certification, companies commit to various sustainable practices.
Senda Ecotourism's sustainability commitment.
Senda Ecoturismo is a travel agency specializing in ecotourism activities. All of our activities meet a series of sustainability criteria:
– Small groups (maximum 8 people) to fully enjoy the experience and minimize the impact.
– Minimal consumption. Activities are designed to ensure you get to know each space, avoiding long journeys whenever possible and minimizing emissions.
– Guided activities. All activities include a specialized ecotourism guide, who accompanies travelers, offering a more comprehensive overview of the area they're visiting and providing information on conservation and best environmental practices in the area.
– Carrying out activities in natural spaces. Raising awareness of the natural and cultural values of the regions we visit, emphasizing the need for conservation.
– Contribution to the local economy. We have collaborators who live and work in the region we visit, creating a collaborative network and contributing to the maintenance and conservation of rural and natural areas.
– Collaboration with conservation associations. During our trips, we collaborate with the Bearded Vulture Conservation Foundation and the Brown Bear Foundation on their conservation and recovery programs for these two species, through publicizing their work and encouraging visitor contributions to the programs through sponsorship or donation.
– Deseasonalization of supply. We focus on offering our experiences outside the summer months, especially during spring and fall.
– Carrying capacity and decentralization of activity. We choose uncrowded areas with high natural values and few visitors for most of our activities.
– Good observation practices. In addition to guaranteeing sightings, we promote respectful flora and fauna observation activities that comply with the safeguards that ensure our activities do not cause disturbance to the environment or to protected species.
