The flora and Fauna of the Natural Parks

One of the most enriching experiences you can have is to discover the natural heritage of a region with an expert guide. Orchids, rare plants, birds, amphibians, butterf lies, dragonf lies, traces of animals, volcanoes, lava f lows and some unique geological phenomenon are some examples of what we’ll see during five intensive days of real wild nature. Our itinerary will take us to visit 6 Natural Parks from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean sea.

Duration: 7 days / 6 nights

Price: from 971,00 €/per person (double room) Minimum: 8 people

Type of accomodation: small hotels and cottages

Detailed Itinerary:

1^st day – Arrival and accommodation at a cottage · Homemade dinner with local products. The meals are based on Catalan traditional gastronomy. Lunch will be at local restaurants or ecological packed lunches on activity days.

2^nd day – We’ll walk around La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. There are forty volcanic cones and more than 20 basaltic lava f lows. Not only volcanoes and lava f lows, but we’ll enjoy the extraordinary biodiversity of a small territory that hides unique fauna and flora species: two-tailed pasha butterf lies, stag beetles, autochthonous crayfish, white-throated dippers, forest birds, pedunculate oak, orchids, amongst many more species.

3^rd day – Transfer to Queralbs village to get the ‘rack and pinion’ railway (the only one in the Pyrenees) that will take us to Núria valley, at 2.000m altitude. Walk at The Headwaters of Ter and Freser Natural Park, between 1.280 and 3.000m altitude. This will be a perfect day to enjoy alpine f lora and fauna: Mountain Pines,rhododendrons, gentians, arnicas, Apollo butterf lies, chamois, marmots, vultures, lammergeiers, are just a few of what we can find.

4^th day – The characteristics of Puigsacalm and Bellmunt mountains Natural Conservation Area is that it’s a natural environment in the middle of the mountain with humid climate of Atlantic inf luences. These attributes result in luxuriant vegetation and amazing landscapes. There are a mosaic of meadows and deciduous forest that lend us the opportunity to see many species of orchids, butterf lies and different kind of birds.

5^th day – Transfer to Cap de Creus Natural Park. A place where the sea and the rocks meet, making a unique landscape home to special flora and fauna: cork oaks, cistus, Tree Spurges, blue brooms, Hermann’s tortoises, Audouin’s gulls, Bonelli’s eagles, beetles, endemic mollusks, … Later on we’ll go to Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park: one of the most important wetlands of Catalonia, a site characterized by today’s f luvial courses and old rivers’ mouth. We’ll stop to watch the big ornithological diversity of wetlands: white storks, great crested grebes, shorebirds, little egrets, purple swamphens, etc.

6^th day – Walk in the Bac valley, in the Alta Garrotxa Natural Interest Area: it’s a territory of remarkable extension and unique biodiversity. The etymology of the word ‘garrotxa’ describes this region perfectly: rough and broken ground. It’s a rugged landscape with many cliffs and narrow valleys, the ideal place to watch birds of prey and different species of limestone flora. It’s easy to see the Egyptian vulture, lammergeiers, griffon vultures, yews, polygala vayredaes, daffodils, bees and orchids, amongst others.

7^th day – Check out from accommodation.

What is included?

6 nights in cottage.
6 breakfasts, 2 ecological packed lunches, 3 lunches of local products in restaurants, 6 dinners. Transfers from/to airport.
All transfers required.
Professional expert guide in flora and fauna.
Access to 6 Natural Parks with official guide.

What is not included?