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Spot wolves and wildcats in northern Spain with our complete wildlife package. These are some of the most elusive carnivores in Europe, and being able to observe them in nature is largely dependent on luck. However, due to the ecology of the Cantabrian Mountains and the experience of our professional guides, we strive to to ensure you enjoy an incredible wildlife experience while respecting the safety and tranquility of the animals.
What Is It?
Our vacation packages are pre-made holidays. As intoAsturias is based in northern Spain, we use our local expertise to craft itinieraries that boast the very best of the region. In this case, we’ve planned an 11-day trip with several guided tours, beautifully located accommodations, and unique activities, so you spend less time worrying and more time exploring. Our trips are fully customizable to suit your needs; simply send us an email and we’ll arrange it for you.
Here’s what we have in store for you…
What We Offer
1. Incredible Locations
Discover the most stunning parts of la España Verde (“Green Spain”) and Riaño, including the Picos de Europa and Somiedo Natural Park—all renowned for their striking landscapes and thriving wildlife populations.
2. Expert Wildlife Guides
- Observe Iberian wolves in one of the top destinations worldwide for seeing these canids in the wild. Riaño is particularly famous for consistent wolf sightings, especially from mid-July to late October, as it is home to a variety of wolf packs.
- Spot endangered Cantabrian brown bears, as well as an array of rare bird species and butterflies.
- Observe the Iberian wildcat. Parts of the Cantabrian Mountains offer excellent wildcat viewing opportunities—sometimes allowing multiple sightings in a single day—thanks to local rodent populations that draw them out into the open. They are most active during twilight and nighttime.
- Our local, English-speaking guides know exactly where to take you for the best vantage points, ensuring both an informative and respectful approach to wildlife observation.
3. Hands-On Nature Exploration
- We provide all necessary equipment—such as high-quality binoculars, scopes, and materials for butterfly spotting.
- The 4×4 vehicles allow you to reach remote areas regular cars can’t, offering breathtaking mountain views and the best spots for wildlife encounters (including places where wildcats may hunt in open fields).
- Learn about the natural habitat and daily routines of wolves, wildcats, and other fauna from knowledgeable guides who have been observing these species for years.
4. Comfortable Stays in Unique Accommodations
Relax in a carefully chosen of 3- to 4-star hotels and rural inns (casas rurales) that provide:
- Stunning views of the surrounding landscapes
- Delicious local cuisine showcasing regional flavors
- A cozy retreat after a full day of exploring
5. Cultural Encounters
Alongside wildlife watching, you’ll have the chance to:
- Sample traditional dishes and regional products
- Dive into the local history in small, charming museums
- Connect with local guides and community members who will share stories and traditions unique to these valleys
Read more about the proposed itinerary below!
Why Spot Wolves, Wildcats and Wildlife with intoAsturias?
- Curated Itinerary: We handle all the logistics—such as accommodations and guided tours—so you can focus on enjoying your adventure.
- Completely Customizable: If you’d like to change anything about the trip— the number of travellers, length of your stay, or order of the tours— we’d be more than happy to do so. Our trips are entirely customizable to suit your needs.
- Our Guided Tours: Our trips are designed to ensure a personalized, respectful approach to wildlife watching. In this trip, we offer small-group and private tours, led by local, English-speaking guides, so you get the most out of your wildlife tour while supporting local communities.
- Sustainability & Responsible Travel: intoAsturias is part of the Proyecto Corredor de Ecoturismo, an ecotourism corridor across northern Spain. This means we ensure your trip respects the natural environment and supports local communities. Read more about our commitment to sustainable travel here.
Spot Wolves and Wildcats in Northern Spain Today!
Ready to start your journey? Take a break from the everyday and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Book with us today for an unforgettable holiday experience!
To receive a trip proposal for the number of days and travellers, please contact us by email info@intoasturias.com. ¡Hasta pronto!
Itinerary
Your trip begins here!
After you arrive at the airport, you drive into the gorgeous Picos de Europa. You’ll be staying in a gorgeous 3-star hotel in the midst of the mountains, where you’ll have free parking, breakfast, and access to an outdoor pool.
Together with a local English-speaking guide, you will spend the day searching for a variety of birds. Some of these include:
- Golden eagle
- Short-toed snake eagle
- Buzzards and honey buzzards
- Bearded vultures
- Peregrine falcons
- Middle spotted woodpeckers
- Red-backed shrike…
And more!
You’ll also be able to access a lookout point to spot birds from above (vultures, blue nuthatches, goldcrests).
Included: Picnic with local products, birdwatching equipment.
Our next route focuses on finding butterflies in the Picos de Europa! You’ll travel by 4×4, along with an expert English-speaking guide, to an area of special botanical and butterfly interest (especially orchids and mountain butterfly species) within the national park.
The starting point of this route will be determined based on the area with the best blooming conditions at that moment, depending on the weather conditions.
Included: Picnic with local products, transportation, materials
We head towards Verdiago today, a small, picturesque village in the province of León. It’s surrounded by rugged mountains and lush natural landscapes, and you’ll stay in a 4-star, small-scale hotel. Here, you can enjoy the swimming pool that is open in the high season, as well as the shared garden.
Today, you’ll join experienced guides to search for wildcats, golden eagles, and the wolves that inhabit this area (Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre Nature Park). The guide speaks good English and will take you in his jeep.
Duration: Morning (4 hours) and evening (4 hours) – 8 hours in total
- Morning: Wildcats and golden eagles from a hide
- Afternoon: Wolves and other wildlife
This picturesque village is not far from the accommodation, and the view over the town and the lake is stunning. It offers a gateway into Spanish history; the current town of Riaño was built in the 1980s after the original village, along with about nine others in the area, had to be relocated due to the construction of a reservoir under the Franco regime.
Today, you venture into the Somiedo Natural Park, a stunning UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve known for its beautiful landscapes, lakes and rich biodiversity– as well as being a stronghold for the endangered Cantabrian brown bear.
You’ll be staying in a restored Casa Rural in the heart of the park, certified by the eco-tourism label Corridor de Ecoturismo de España Verde. All the main hiking trails start here: Lago del Valle or Braña de Sousas with a low difficulty level, Lagos de Saliencia, or Puerto de Somiedo.
Together with a local, English-speaking guide, you will explore Somiedo’s geology, flora, and fauna during a 4-hour tour. Since it is a private excursion, the guide can adapt the pace according to your wishes. The tour starts very close to your accommodation!
Today is a fun day, as you’ll start by immersing yourself in Somiedo’s museums and finish off with a completely unique bear-spotting tour!
Museums and interpretation centers in Somiedo
First, you’ll learn all about Somiedo by visiting a range of small museums. These include:
- The Bear House (Casa del Oso): In Pola de Somiedo, you can visit the Casa del Oso, an interpretation center in Somiedo and the headquarters of the Oso Pardo Foundation.
- The Nature Center at the Pola de Somiedo Tourist Office: In the tourist office of Pola de Somiedo, there is a beautiful exhibition about the geology, ethnography, flora, and fauna of this nature park.
- Ecomuseo de los Oficios and Ecomuseo la Casa: These two museums share an entrance ticket but are located in different villages. Note: Open only on weekends; in July and August, open daily.
Bear watching with an English-speaking guide
In a small group, you’ll head into the Somiedo Nature Park to observe brown bears with an English-speaking guide. This happens in the late afternoon and evening to maximize the chances of seeing bears. You might even spot other animals, such as wolves, wildcats, deer, and chamois!
This morning, you can take a beautiful hike to the Lago del Valle reservoir (12 km round trip). It is a well-maintained, flat path with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Afterwards, take the chance to sample traditional Asturian food at one of the small restaurants in Valle del Lago (the starting point of the route) or in Pola de Somiedo. You’re sure to enjoy it after the hike!
Today, you’ll be waving goodbye to northern Spain – hopefully with good memories and exciting stories to tell!
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