Butterfly Holidays, Tours & Excursions, Picos de Europa, Spain

During the week's tour, we will explore the forests, haymeadows and high peaks of the valley of Liébana, situated on the southeastern flank of the Picos de Europa, from a comfortable, family-run hotel in Pesaguero. We can expect around 100 species of butterfly from our daily exploits (of a total of 155 recorded in the area), including such memorable creatures as Large Chequered and Marbled Skippers, Apollo, Mountain Clouded Yellow, High Brown and Queen of Spain Fritillaries, Cardinal, Lefèbvre's and Chapman's Ringlets (the latter endemic to northern Female Scarce Copper - Lycaena virgaureae © Teresa Farino

Female Scarce Copper
Lycaena virgaureae © Teresa Farino Spain), Esper's Marbled White, Scarce and Purple-edged Coppers, Spanish Purple Hairstreak and Gavarnie and Dusky Large Blues, amongst a host of others. A visit to the limestone

In searching for butterflies we will, of course, not be ignoring the many other delights of the Picos de Europa, including its spectacular scenery, colourful wildflowers, birds galore and the occasional reptile, amphibian or mammal, as well as having the opportunity to experience a traditional agricultural regime which has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

Every evening we will set the moth-trap on the terrace of Teresa's home (just opposite the hotel), and will spend an hour or so before breakfast examining the contents. Given good weather the trap Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth - Hemaris tityus © Teresa Farino

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth
Hemaris tityus © Teresa Farino attracts a phenomenal number of moths, and every year we discover species not previously recorded in the Picos de Europa. To date Teresa has recorded more than 550 species of macromoth here, and at this time of year, we should encounter a number of British rarities such as Goat Moth, Portland

All the records we collect will be submitted to an ongoing database of the Lepidoptera of Liébana: a project initiated by Teresa in 1988.

For the Children's Special, we might also incorporate a day-trip to the fabulous sandy beaches of the nearby Cantabrian coast.

Black-veined Whites
Aporia crataegi © Teresa Farino Price: £750, including half-board, en suite accommodation at Posada El Hoyal, picnic lunches, minibus/4WD transport throughout, all entry fees and the services of Teresa Farino as leader. A single-room supplement of £90 is applicable.

For the Children's Special, all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Under 14s qualify for a 20% discount, taking the price to £590.

This is a land-based tour. Flights and travel insurance (obligatory) are the responsibility of the client.

Pick-up details: Having consulted schedules for the cheapest and most convenient flights, for the first tour, Teresa will be meeting Ryanair flight 2612 on 3 July, which departs from London Stansted at 15.05 and arrives at Santander at 18.00. For the return trip on 10 July, we will be travelling to the airport to connect with Ryanair flight 2613, which leaves Santander at 18.25, arriving at Stansted at 19.15. Flight schedules have still to be confirmed for the children's special at the end of July.

Alternatively, those travelling to the Picos independently can arrange to meet the group at the hotel on the first evening.

Group size: maximum 8 persons.

Booking information: please contact Teresa Farino for further details and a booking form, or if you have any queries about these tours.

Report of butterflies
and moths seen during
this tour in 2005

E-mail:	teresa@iberianwildlife.com

Office phone:	(+34) 942 735154
Mobile phone:	(+34) 656 337129

Address:	Apartado de Correos 59 39570 Potes Cantabria Spain

Butterfly & moth holidays
in the Picos de Europa

Fabulous diversity of butterflies and moths in the mountains of northern Spain

Butterfly & moth holidays in the Picos de Europa

Fabulous diversity of butterflies and moths in the mountains of northern Spain

Butterfly & moth holidays
in the Picos de Europa