The Cantabrian Mountains are one of Europe’s best kept secrets. Here you have a great chance to observe brown bears and wolves in the wild. We have mapped out this unique journey that guarantees spectacular encounters! We guide you through impressive and desolate mountain ranges, beautiful mountain meadows and vast heathlands. The special combination of iconic animals in a diverse landscape results in unique observations. It’s up to you to enjoy top nature, rural culture, comfortable nights and an authentic cuisine the fullest!

What makes this trip so unique?

• You’ll be on the lookout for bears and more during a long weekend!
• You’ll be guided by the most experienced bear and wolf guide in the Benelux.
• You’ll enjoy the stunning Spanish countryside.
• We’ll take care of you from start to finish, so you’ll return home from this nature break feeling completely relaxed!

A must for nature lovers

This trip is entirely centred around a single goal: spotting bears in the wild, in one of Spain’s most beautiful mountain landscapes. We fly to Madrid and drive straight through to the green north, where vast forests, valleys and mountain slopes form the perfect habitat for the Cantabrian brown bear. We head out into the field on the very first evening: armed with telescopes and binoculars, we scan the slopes as the evening light slowly glides across the landscape.

The following days are entirely devoted to targeted observations. We make repeated trips to strategic vantage points and rotate locations to maximise our chances. Important to note: this is a trip where bears are viewed from a distance, often through a telescope, so that we do not disturb the animals and the observations are conducted in an ethical manner. That is precisely what makes it so special: you see the bear as it truly lives, in its natural environment, without stress or commotion.

A biodiverse area

Whilst we wait and keep an eye out for bears, there will be plenty of opportunity to spot other interesting mammals, such as Cantabrian chamois, wild boar, otters and wildcats. We will also spend time during the day in areas rich in birdlife. Eagles, kites and vultures are the bird species that dominate here. But birds such as the red rock thrush, blue rock thrush, grey bunting, red-backed shrike, alpine chough, etc. also belong to the bird families that will cross our path.

As well as brown bears, there is a small chance of spotting Iberian wolves. Northern Spain is one of the few places in Europe where you can observe wolves in the wild from a distance, without the animals noticing you. If we’re lucky, it’s always a delight to see! But bear in mind, May is the hardest month to spot wolves… But we’ll tell you more about that later.

Double the chances

Halfway through the trip, we move on to a second mountainous region, which again offers excellent opportunities to spot bears. By combining two areas, we not only increase the chances of multiple sightings, but you also get a good impression of the variety of landscapes and wildlife in northern Spain. On the final morning, there is one last opportunity for observation, after which we drive back towards Madrid for the evening flight home, hopefully with a memory card full of nature moments and a head full of fresh mountain air.

The Cantabrian brown bear

The brown bear population in Cantabria, which was once threatened with extinction, now stands at over 400 and continues to grow by 30–40 individuals each year. Still endangered, but well on the way to full recovery. During this trip, you will periodically find yourself among communities that are once again living alongside the local bear population. A unique experience that you cannot have anywhere else in Europe in this way.