Traveling through the southern Iberian Peninsula is a unique ornithological experience that visits the main wetlands of western Europe, including the Ria Formosa in Portugal and the Doñana National Park in Andalusia. 

On this trip, we’ll see over 150 bird species and also try an Iberian lynx search with a local guide from Doñana. Furthermore, the southern Iberian Peninsula climate offers in winter a good chance of sunny days and mild weather, which greatly contribute to a good birdwatching experience.

We’ll depart from Faro, a city connected to major European airports, to explore the western Algarve, its wetlands:  Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura, Lagoa dos Salgados, and Ria de Alvor. We’ll end the day in Sagres, the southwestern point of the European continent, a bird migration site and a stopover for pelagic birds at Cape St. Vincent.

On the second day, we’ll see seabirds in Sagres and Carrapateira, forest birds in the Monchique mountains, the highest point on our tour, and from there, we’ll head to the plains of Castro Verde, where we might encounter cranes in winter, great bustards, little bustards, black-bellied sandgrouse and the Iberian imperial eagle.

The third day will begin in Mértola, in the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, where we’ll see more birds of prey, steppe birds, and the wildest river in the southern Iberian Peninsula, the Guadiana. We’ll arrive at the end of the day in El Rocío, where we’ll stay for our tour of Doñana.

On the fourth and fifth days, we’ll dedicate ourselves to the northern and eastern areas of Doñana National Park, which is abundant with shorebirds, cranes, geese, flamingos, and several species of ducks, including the rares Marbled Duck and White-headed Duck.

On the sixth day, we’ll take a tour with a local guide through Iberian lynx territories and take the opportunity to visit protected areas of the park.

On the seventh day, we’ll return to the Algarve, en route to the Odiel marshes, a protected area near Huelva, the Castro Marim Marsh Natural Reserve, and overnight in Tavira.

On the eighth and final day, we’ll have a boat trip that, depending on weather conditions, will take place at sea to see seabirds, or in the Ria Formosa to see other aquatic birds. We’ll arrive in Faro later in the day.