The Wild North

Wildlife viewing

Lifted by the gentle midday breeze, we follow the flight of the bearded vulture through the natural paradises of the north. Two weeks of unforgettable experiences in the Wild North. We’ll explore the most breathtaking landscapes of the mountain range, through rugged valleys, endless forests, and crystal-clear lakes.

What will we see? Travelers are accompanied by a specialist guide with extensive knowledge of birds, butterflies, and flora. We’ll explore the biodiversity of the mountain, subalpine, and alpine regions of the mountain range, visiting 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. Brown bear, bearded vulture, wallcreeper, red-backed shrike, butterflies, orchids

- Birds. Our journey takes place beneath the flight of the bearded vulture, which we’ll learn about in depth through the FCQ’s recovery plan. But the peaks and valleys through which it flies are home to more than a hundred species of birds, including the wallcreeper, the black woodpecker, the middle spotted woodpecker, the red-backed shrike, and the bluethroat.

- Butterflies. With their spectacular colors, butterflies are a fundamental part of the ecosystems we’ll explore. The Picos de Europa are a biodiversity “hotspot” for lepidoptera, with more than 130 species of diurnal butterflies within the National Park alone—a number that increases significantly when we include the surrounding areas. Species such as the Apollo (Parnassius apollo), the ant-eaters (Phengaris nausithous, Ph. arion), and the Lopinga (Lopinga achine) will accompany us with their fluttering.

- Cantabrian brown bear. Along the way, we’ll learn about the heartening story of the bear’s recovery in our mountains. Through the conservation program run by the FOP, we’ll learn all about this mammal, which we’ll try to spot in its natural habitat. And throughout these lands, we’ll be accompanied by many other species such as the wildcat, the chamois, and the deer, as well as the tracks of numerous other animals like the marten, the genet, and the badger.

- Flora. The rich variety of landscapes on our journey is accompanied by a great diversity of flora. More than 50 species of orchids, including marvels like Dactylorhiza insularis, as well as alpine and subalpine flora (Pulsatilla rubra, Gentiana?), in addition to lush forests, valleys, and mountain meadows. We’ll enjoy all the natural wonders the trail has to offer, set against the backdrop of the most spectacular landscapes of the “Wild North.” An unforgettable journey through the natural areas of the Cantabrian Mountains, where we’ll discover the Liencres Dunes and Costa Quebrada Natural Park, Liébana, the Picos de Europa National Park across its three regions (Fuente Dé, Covadonga, and Valdeón-Sajambre), the Ponga Natural Park, the Ribadesella Estuary Reserve, and the Somiedo Natural Park.