SIERRAS BÉTICAS PHOTO TOUR

We propose you a twin centre wildlife photography holidays in inland Andalusia. Experience a 7-day photography tour with use of 6 hides and several guided phototrips. Photograph the wildlife of Southern Spain together with local experts Antonio Pestana and Álvaro Peral.

SUGESTED TOUR PROGRAMME

Day 1: Álvaro receives you in Málaga airport. Transfer to Ronda (1h 15min drive). If time allows, we can stop on route to photograph the endemic Southeastern Spanish Ibex at El Torcal. The scenery here is amazing for landscape photography too. Arrival to your hotel in Ronda.

Day 2: Morning stay  at the Chaparro Hide, a hide for woodland birds of the mediterranean forest. Possible species include Cirl Bunting, Subalpine and Dartford Warblers, Redstart and Mistle Thrush. Afternoon guided trip across the always impressive Ronda gorge and old town. Here we will try to photograph the acrobatic Red-billed Choughs in flight in the sunset light. Overnight in Ronda.

Day 3: Morning visit to the Majoleto Hide, a mountain hide with superb results with Black Wheatear and Rock Bunting as resident species. In spring and early summer the hide is frequented by Spectacled Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Black-eared Wheatear. After a nice local meal you will have a free afternoon to enjoy walking in Ronda. Overnight in Ronda.

Day 4: In the morning we will set off East to our second base for the tour. On route we will enjoy bird photography in Fuente de Piedra. This is Andalucía's largest lagoon. At certain moments of the year it is possible to photograph Greater Flamingo in flight. Winter is good for Common Crane, whereas spring is magnificent for Gull-billed Tern and a variety of waterfowl. We will arrive to our base in Cabra in the afternoon. There Antonio will welcome you and he will be your guide from now on. In the afternoon there's a planned stay at the El Llano Hide. At this hide there will be chances to photograph a good array of woodland birds. Overnight in Cabra.

Day 5: You choose your hides for the day! We recommend to visit the Buzzard Hide in the morning (November till March). Or maybe you'd want to try the Bee-Eater hide instead -from Late March to late June-. The Kingfisher hide or a bush birds hide are other possibilities for you to choose from that work year round. After the morning hide session, Antonio will treat you for lunch to a local Montilla-Moriles winery nearby. In the afternoon/evening there will be a second wildlife experience planned for the day. This one will depend on the calendar and recent bird status. You can choose it to be a Little Owl hide session (June to August) or a guided trip to see White-headed Duck and the very charming village of Zuheros. Night in Cabra.

Day 6: Morning photography session at either Santa Rita Hide or El Pinar Hide. Antonio help you choose according to your target birds and recent status. There will be great opportunities to photograph a nice array of species, including Hawfinch, Crossbill, Sardinian Warbler and Serin as residents. Summer species: Mistle Thrush, Woodchat Shrike and Spotted Flycatcher. In winter this hide attracts several thrushes and with luck Brambling, Siskin and Firecrest. Afternoon or evening transfer to Málaga airport (1h 15min drive).

INCLUDED/NOT INCLUDED

Included: 7 hide access + 3 guided wildlife photo trips, all transport, guiding and taxes.

Not included: flights, accomodation, food (except the winery experience) and drinks. Please read below for details.

 

ACCOMODATION

We can recommend convenient and nice places to stay in both Ronda and Cabra. We can certainly do the booking and you can pay directly at your arrival.

In Ronda there's a wide offer. Individual rooms range from 30 to 40 eur per night if booked well in advance.

In Cabra individual rooms cost around 25 eur per night.

If needed, close to Málaga airport we recommend Holiday Inn Málaga Airport, at some 50 eur per night.

The total estimated cost for accomodation, based on single room, is 180 eur for 6 nights.

 

FOOD

Your guides believe food is important and know all the local stablishments. A plentiful 2-course meal with drink costs around 9 eur (Mo-Fr). You can probably enjoy spanish breakfast (tostada con café) with them before each morning hide session, depending on the planning. They will recommend you nice places for dinner. A tapas dinner should cost you around 7 eur.

 

OUR HIDES

Our hides are the key of these wildlife photography holidays. Chaparro, Majoleto, El Llano, The Buzzard, Santa Rita and El Pinar hides are permanent hides with spyglass. They can easily hold 2 photographers with plenty of equipment. There is no toilet inside them. If you choose to photograph Kingfisher, Little Owl or Bee-eater, these hides will be individual pop-up hides. Regarding lenses and cameras, a zoom lens (120-300, 100-400 and 150-600) and fixed lenses (300-400mm) would work best. We recommend bringing your tripod.

FARES

Solo traveler: TBA eur. All taxes included.

Group of two: TBA eur per person. All taxes included.

Larger groups: please contact us.

EXTENSIONS

This tour can certainly be extended or adapted to suit your preferences and target species. Some suggested experiences:

  • 1 or 2 day of raptor photography on migration at the Strait of Gibraltar (March and September).
  • Guided photo trip to get Great Bustard (November till May) and Roller (April till July).
  • Extra stays at hides for Kingfisher, Bee-eater and Little Owl (on due seasons).