Spain's Costa Blanca

Tour Code: ESP70

An 8-day holiday of easy spring or winter birding in the wetlands, sierra and steppes of the Costa Blanca.

8 days from
£1,795
Land only price from
£1,595
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

The Costa Blanca is often overlooked as a natural history destination, yet this part of mainland Spain, better known for its beach resorts, is home to an abundance of wildlife, and birds in particular. This beautiful length of coastline offers a rewarding blend of wetlands, coastal habitats, sierras and open steppe, each supporting a distinct community of birds that changes subtly with the seasons. This 2-centre holiday explores these contrasting habitats at a time of year when it is pleasantly warm, escaping the cold, wet and dark days in the UK. Together, they provide an excellent overview of Mediterranean birdlife, including some of the most iconic of Spanish species and some of the finest winter and spring birdwatching in eastern Spain.

The wetlands of El Hondo and the nearby saltpans of Santa Pola form one of the most important refuges for aquatic birds in the Iberian Peninsula. Their mixture of freshwater pools, saline lagoons and extensive reedbeds attracts a wealth of species. In March, the air is filled with the display calls of Purple Swamphens, Great Reed Warblers and the trumpeting of Greater Flamingoes, while migrating waders pause on their way north. By November, the scene changes as wintering wildfowl arrive in large numbers, joining year-round residents, White-headed Duck, Red-crested Pochard and Marbled Duck among them, and raptors such as Marsh Harrier and Booted Eagle patrol the reed fringes. A short boat crossing takes us to Tabarca Island, a low, rocky outcrop surrounded by clear Mediterranean waters and home to colonies of Yellow-legged Gulls, Shags and Audouin’s Gulls. Offshore passage in spring can bring migrating terns and shearwaters, while in autumn the island serves as a brief resting point for southbound migrants. Inland, the Spanish steppes reveal a different landscape of open cereal fields and dry plains. Here, species such as Great and Little Bustards, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Calandra Lark evoke a wilder, older Spain — a timeless counterpart to the life-filled marshes nearer the coast.

    • White-headed Duck, Marbled Duck, Red-knobbed Coot & other wetland birds
    • Eagles and other raptors in the mountains plus Black Wheatear, Rock Bunting & Rock Sparrow
    • Look for Great & Little Bustards and Pin-tailed & Black-bellied Sandgrouse on the steppe

 

Grading

Grade A. Most of the walking will be on the flat, although there will be a couple of occasions where we will be in hilly terrain. All will be on paths or tracks and we expect to walk up to 4-5 miles a day.

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Alicante
Day 2/4
Salt flats and marshes around Santa Pola, plus Tabarca Island
Day 5/7
Sierra de Mariola and Yecla Steppe
Day 8
Fly London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    This is a 2-centre tour, staying firstly in a simple tourist hotel on the coast, followed by a converted 'finca' up in the hills.

  • Food:

    All food is included in the price.

Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Wed 11th Mar – Wed 18th Mar SPACES £1,795
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,595
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£280
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Neil Murphy
Neil-Murphy.jpg

Tour Leader: Neil Murphy

Neil first became interested in birds at about the age of 7, when his mum would show him birds in the back garden. This curiosity quickly developed as he started studying books and field guides, and learned just how much variety there was to be found across Britain and northern Europe! Neil joined a local youth wildlife group and the frequent field trips soon had him hooked, culminating in him wining a competition and a day out at Minsmere in 1982. From this moment, he never looked back! Birds have always been Neil's main interest and taken him to many countries, but an appreciation of the wider natural world also developed along the way, and he has since gained knowledge of butterflies, dragonflies, botany and most recently moths. Neil feels lucky to do what he loves as his job and, nearly 50 years later, have the opportunity to show the birds that he has loved since childhood to others. There is always something special or unexpected to see, even on the quietest days! 
 
Wed 4th Nov – Wed 11th Nov SPACES £1,795
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,595
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£280
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Neil Murphy
Neil-Murphy.jpg

Tour Leader: Neil Murphy

Neil first became interested in birds at about the age of 7, when his mum would show him birds in the back garden. This curiosity quickly developed as he started studying books and field guides, and learned just how much variety there was to be found across Britain and northern Europe! Neil joined a local youth wildlife group and the frequent field trips soon had him hooked, culminating in him wining a competition and a day out at Minsmere in 1982. From this moment, he never looked back! Birds have always been Neil's main interest and taken him to many countries, but an appreciation of the wider natural world also developed along the way, and he has since gained knowledge of butterflies, dragonflies, botany and most recently moths. Neil feels lucky to do what he loves as his job and, nearly 50 years later, have the opportunity to show the birds that he has loved since childhood to others. There is always something special or unexpected to see, even on the quietest days! 
 

2027

Departures Availability Cost
Wed 10th Mar – Wed 17th Mar SPACES £1,795
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,595
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£280
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Neil Murphy
Neil-Murphy.jpg

Tour Leader: Neil Murphy

Neil first became interested in birds at about the age of 7, when his mum would show him birds in the back garden. This curiosity quickly developed as he started studying books and field guides, and learned just how much variety there was to be found across Britain and northern Europe! Neil joined a local youth wildlife group and the frequent field trips soon had him hooked, culminating in him wining a competition and a day out at Minsmere in 1982. From this moment, he never looked back! Birds have always been Neil's main interest and taken him to many countries, but an appreciation of the wider natural world also developed along the way, and he has since gained knowledge of butterflies, dragonflies, botany and most recently moths. Neil feels lucky to do what he loves as his job and, nearly 50 years later, have the opportunity to show the birds that he has loved since childhood to others. There is always something special or unexpected to see, even on the quietest days! 
 
Wed 3rd Nov – Wed 10th Nov SPACES £1,795
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,595
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£280
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Neil Murphy
Neil-Murphy.jpg

Tour Leader: Neil Murphy

Neil first became interested in birds at about the age of 7, when his mum would show him birds in the back garden. This curiosity quickly developed as he started studying books and field guides, and learned just how much variety there was to be found across Britain and northern Europe! Neil joined a local youth wildlife group and the frequent field trips soon had him hooked, culminating in him wining a competition and a day out at Minsmere in 1982. From this moment, he never looked back! Birds have always been Neil's main interest and taken him to many countries, but an appreciation of the wider natural world also developed along the way, and he has since gained knowledge of butterflies, dragonflies, botany and most recently moths. Neil feels lucky to do what he loves as his job and, nearly 50 years later, have the opportunity to show the birds that he has loved since childhood to others. There is always something special or unexpected to see, even on the quietest days! 
 

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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