SPA BIRDING: ROUGH & RUGGED, WITH A LITTLE TLC

A SOOTHING APPROACH TO SEEING GREAT NATURE. A spa and nature holiday. Staying full-board at Los Nogales Hotel provides the perfect place for both. This tour combines first-class comfort set in breathtaking countryside of epic proportions. A chance to relax and contemplate the joys of exploring one of the truly unspoilt areas of southern Spain.

DAY 1
You’ll be met at Malaga Airport from where we head inland to some en route birding at Fuente de Piedra- a vast salt-water lagoon famous for its large groups of Greater Flamingo. From here we’ll make our way on to our spa hotel, Los Nogales. Conditions permitting, we’ll take a short, evening trip to Mirador Los Lirios to take in the views.

DAY 2
Our route takes us to the semi-desertic terrain of Chillar. Vast carved-out geological formations vividly describe an ancient landscape, with views down into the valley of the Guadiana menor river as it snakes its way through bordering olive groves, and on to Los Picos de Guadiana – a serrated, bowed ridge reminiscent of a dinosaur’s backbone.

DAY 3
First destination, Llanos de Larva and plateaud-out highlands, habitat to the Black-bellied sandgrouse. We’ll make our way along lands adjacent to the Guadiana Menor river, appreciating a variety of nature that is dependent on the life source that it provides in such arid lands.

DAY 4
Into woodland habitats at Guazalamanco, where winding, cacading streams of crystal-clear spring water make their way through the limestone rock formations. From this enchanting space, we’ll take the track along to La Cantarilla from where we have splendid views into the Guadalentin Canyon from the birdwatching observatory.

DAY 5
Bags packed and back and Malaga, stopping en route for birding at Embalse de Negratin – one of the largest reservoirs in the whole of Andalusia, and on to the airport and a time to reflect on the wonders of one of the lesser, but nonetheless extraordinary parts of Spain.

WE HOPE TO SEE …

Spectacled warbler