Trip Report - Diversity in Wild Spain (May 2026)

For many, Spain is the land of sunshine, beaches, and paella. But beyond the coast, the Iberian Peninsula reveals a surprisingly wild and unspoiled side—and that’s exactly where our trip took us in May 2026.

We set off from Málaga and, after a brief briefing, headed straight north. First stop: the Sierra de Cazorla, one of Europe’s largest nature reserves. The biodiversity there is impressive: in addition to red deer, fallow deer, Iberian ibex, and wild boars (including a mother with her piglets), we were thrilled by a wealth of bird species. In the distance, golden eagles, short-toed eagles, and booted eagles circled; up close, we photographed woodpeckers, goldcrests, hoopoes, and many more. The undisputed highlight: majestic griffon vultures, which can be observed here in just a few places from very close range and at eye level—an experience that gets under your skin!

After two days in Cazorla, a brief cultural stop in Úbeda took us on to the Sierra de Andújar, where we stayed for three nights. The landscape is gentler than in Cazorla, with vast pastures and rock formations—an ideal habitat for little owls, red deer, and, of course, the elusive Pardell lynx.

We needed an unusual amount of patience to spot the lynx this year. An early heat wave pushed temperatures up to 38 °C, keeping the cats in the shade during the day. So we spent many fruitless hours in the hides—but were ultimately rewarded with fantastic sightings and dreamlike photo opportunities.

We used the waiting time to explore other parts of Andújar: we spotted kingfishers along the riverbank, saw dozens of bats hanging in a tunnel, and on an evening safari we were lucky enough to spot several little owls, some of them right by the road—perfect for taking photos.

Culinary-wise, the week had a distinctly Spanish flavor: delicious local cuisine, paired with fine wines!

If you're in the mood for some video highlights, check out our Reel for the week here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZDJjt9D2U3/

Are you feeling the urge to travel? If so, we'd be happy to send you our brochure for next year!