Observe Cantabrian Brown Bears in Asturias’ Natural Parks

4 Hours

This guided tour takes you into Asturias’ Natural Parks to find Cantabrian brown bears (Ursus arctos arctos). Due to various conservation measures, the number of brown bears in Asturias has tripled in the last decades. Nowadays, over 300 individuals roam Asturias’ dense woodlands and rugged mountains. And their number is growing! That, together with the presence of an experienced official guide, gives you a high chance to spot brown bears in Asturias!

Brown bears in Asturias’ mountains and natural parks

You will meet your specialized wildlife guide in Somiedo Natural Park, famous for brown bear observation. The guide’s knowledge about recent sightings and the behavior of bears increases your chance of observing them. However, this can never be guaranteed. If seeing bears is the main purpose of your visit to Asturias, we advise you to plan at least two days to try to find these iconic animals.

Other mammals

You will have an unforgettable day in the Asturian nature. Your private guide tells you everything about the brown bears, their habitat and their role in the ecosystem. He also has many stories and anecdotes about the relationship between bears and the people of Asturias. There’s also a chance to spot bear traces like footprints. Furthermore, there’s a high chance to spot other animals: red deer (Cervus elaphus), chamois (Rupicabra rupicabra), wild boars (Sus scrofa), badgers (Meles meles) and beech martens (Marten foina). There’s even a possibility to encounter other rare mammals such as wolves (Canis lupus) and European wildcat (Felis silvestris)!

A bit of background on Cantabrian brown bears in Asturias

The brown bear present on the European continent is a relative of the North American grizzly bear. The subspecies ‘Iberian brown bear’ is present in two different geographical and genetical populations: in the Pyrenees (around 40 individuals) and in the Cantabrian mountains (around 300 individuals). The latter, in turn, is divided into two subpopulations: the eastern (Palencia, Cantabria and Asturias with over 40 bears) and the western one (Galicia, Leon and Asturias with over 250 bears).

 Natural Park Somiedo is home to the largest number of brown bears on the Iberian Peninsula. Thus, if you want to observe these majestic animals, book this tour with us for an unforgettable experience!

Note: Although we do our best to update the availability on our website regularly, before booking we recommend you to send us a message. This can be done via the inquiry form below or via info@intoasturias.com. Indicate the desired tour date, number of persons (adults and/or children), and whether you need transportation or not. We’ll then check the real-time availability of our guides and come back to you within 24 hours to confirm the tour date or propose another date, in case our guides are not available.

Want to read more about brown bears in Asturias? Read our blog!

You will meet your private guide in Pola de Somiedo, a village at the foot of the Natural Park Somiedo and easily accessible by car. The tour takes place in the afternoon and evening. It consists of a combination of driving, very short walks and spending time at bear observation points. Your personal guide has a background in environmental sciences and years of experience in wildlife observation. Therefore, he can tell you everything about brown bears in Asturias, their role in the natural environment and in the Asturian culture. Moreover, he’ll explain the genesis of the area that you’re in and points you at typical landscape elements. You’ll have ample opportunity to enjoy the views on the typical bear habitat here: rugged rocks with caves and open areas of wild flowers, grass, blueberry bushes and bright purple heather between mixed woodlands of beech, oak, ash, and cherry. There’s also a high chance to spot other wildlife such as red deer (Cervus elaphus ) and chamois (Rupicabra rupicabra).

The trip costs includes:

  • A private guide during your whole tour
  • Use of high quality optical instruments (i.e. telescope and binoculars)
  • Insurances

The trip costs excludes:

  • Transportation to and from Pola de Somiedo
  • Transportation during the tour (in principle, you use your own vehicle)
  • Breakfast or Dinner. You can take a few snacks with you and have breakfast or dinner before or after the tour.
  • Additional expenses (food, souvenirs)

FAQs

How do I book this tour?

It is best if you first send us a message via the enquiry form below or via info@intoasturias.com, indicating the desired tour date and number of persons (adults and/or children). We’ll check the availability with our guides and come back to you within 48 hours to confirm the tour date or propose another date, in case our guides are not available.

You can then book this tour via the secure payment process on our website.

How do I pay for this tour?

You can pay for this tour via the secured payment process on this website. Alternatively, you can make a bank transfer to the account indicated in the email that you will receive after your inquiry.

How high are the chances I will spot a bear?

We cannot guarantee that you will spot a bear during our excursion. However, based on recent sightings and the experience of our guide, the chance of spotting a bear during our tours is around 70%. The best months to spot the bears are April, May and June. 

Is this tour suitable for children?

We advice a minimum age of 12 years for this tour. Of course, it depends on your kids. They should be able to hike small distances (1-3 km) over mountainous terrain and be silent and patient at the bear observation points. We have special discounts for children (see prices).

Is there a children discount for this tour?

Yeah! Children from 5-11 years pay 50% of the tour price, thus €22 per child. There’s also a 50% reduction in transportation costs for kids in case you need private transportation.

What do I need to bring?

Comfortable shoes, hat or cap, sunscreen, raincoat, extra set of clothes, water, food and a spotting scope or binoculars if you have one.

I do not have my own transportation. Are there possibilities to hire a car and driver for this tour?

Yes! Contact us below or via info@intoasturias.com for more information about this option.

I am no longer able to participate in this tour. How do I cancel it?

The possibility to cancel a tour depends on the reasons and timing. For more information, please check ‘Cancellation Policy’ under the Terms and Conditions on this website.

I am not able to join this tour on the selected dates. Is it possible to select another date?

Yes! Contact us at info@intoasturias.com, tell us about your preferred dates and we will do our best to meet your preferences!

Overall Trip Rating:
5.0
- Based on 8 travel reviews
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8
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  1. Understanding of the bears living in Somiedo
    By Noemi
    from France
    October 15, 2020
    What I find particularly interesting about this tour, is that the guide talks about all living and non-living elements of the bear’s habitat. Not only that, but he explains the relationship between the different landscape elements, vegetation, human land use, and other animals. This way, you get a much more ‘holistic’ understanding of the bears living in Somiedo.
    Date of Experience: October 14, 2020
  2. Amazing experience
    By Gabi and Klaus
    from Germany
    June 4, 2022
    It was an amazing experience to see 2 bears in the mountains of Somiedo. Also our guides were competent and explained a lot of the nature and the culture of Somiedo.
    Date of Experience: May 31, 2022
  3. Friendly and Professional
    By Chris H.
    from United Kingdom
    May 10, 2023
    I returned from Asturias two days ago, and I had an amazing trip! The bear observation tour was very good. It took a while before we saw the bear near La Peral village, but our guides showed us other wildlife in the meantime. The guides were friendly, professional and provided several telescopes which was very helpful. The landscapes in Somiedo and Picos are beautiful, with delicious food and friendly people! Asturias feels like an authentic place to visit but is also very welcoming to tourists. That was our impression as non-Spanish speakers anyway. We hope to visit again soon!
    Date of Experience: May 01, 2023
  4. Loved the Experience!
    By Erwin W.
    from The Netherlands
    May 10, 2023
    We loved the excursions. In the morning session we saw 2 cubs playing on a lawn high on a mountainside. The mother did not appear. Later we did see the mother bear with two cubs at a great distance in another place. The guide told us a lot about the behavior and occurrence of bears in Somiedo. We have also seen tracks in the mud, and scratch marks on wood. And also other interesting animals (Iberian grass snake). Thank you for arranging this tour for us!
    Date of Experience: May 02, 2023
  5. Great insight into the local area and wildlife
    By Matthew
    from United Kingdom
    May 8, 2024
    We loved the trip we booked with you. David was an excellent guide and gave us some great insight into the local area and wildlife. We did both walks that you recommended, albeit we had to avoid the summits as it was too windy. Both walks were fantastic, thank you for the recommendations.
    Date of Experience: May 03, 2024
  6. Bears, deers, wild boar and a pair of Egyptian vultures!
    By Callum
    from UK
    July 1, 2024
    We thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Álvaro was excellent: calm, friendly, knowledgable, skilled and professional. The drive to the viewing location was relatively quick and Álvaro drove slowly enough that we could follow behind easily. Of course seeing all of the small birds and other wildlife was very satisfying: bears, deers, wild boar and a pair of Egyptian vultures. We will definitely go again!
    Date of Experience: June 30, 2024
  7. Great morning
    By info@intoasturias.com
    from The Netherlands
    August 1, 2024
    We had a great morning. The surroundings are really beautiful and our guide was able to point out some animals to us. He also had enough equipment with him, so he could set the telescopes at different heights. This also allowed the children to see the animals well!
    Date of Experience: July 25, 2024
  8. Lots of explanation and excellent material
    By Anita and Michiel
    from The Netherlands
    August 17, 2024
    The bear safari in Somiedo was very nice. We saw a bear!!! Beautiful. Nice tour with lots of explanation and excellent material. Many thanks for arranging these guides. We are impressed by these beautiful areas anyway! We walk a lot and enjoy nature enormously. So again... THANK YOU!!!
    Date of Experience: August 16, 2024

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Observe Cantabrian Brown Bears in Asturias’ Natural Parks
From € 45
/ Adult
From € 22
/ Child

Trip Facts

  • 4-5 hours
  • Short walks from max. 1 km
  • Early mornings and afternoons
  • 1- 8 persons
  • Not included (but possibilities for private transportation)
  • English and Spanish
  • Mid March, April, May, June, July, August and September (other dates possible in consultation)
  • 5
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