ADVENTURE IN ANDALUSIA

DAY 1.- Transfer from Sevilla to Isla Cristina. Meeting point for all groups Sevilla airport at 17:00. If people arrive earlier, they could visit on their own Sevilla Old City Center. We arrive to Faro del Sur offices and we have a meeting about the different activities we are going to accomplish. Accomodation at our apartments.

DAY 2.- TOURING KAYAK. Taking advantage of high tide and after receiving a short training about how to manage into the kayak, we get into the marshes world where we will enjoy a unique ecosystem. Several areas of salt plants mixed with swaps and navigation channels that we cross, slowly, enjoying fauna and flora diversity… Ancient mills, fishing port, shore carpenters, the fish market…Smells and flavors that we thought we had already lost. You do not need previous experience for going in kayak; the only requirement is being able to swim. Route takes 4 to 5 hours.

Rest of the day is free. We advise for this free time to visit the old town where is possible to taste the real flavour of the fishing village and visith the fish auction that takes place at the harbour every afternoon. Very interesting.

DAY 3.- DOÑANA PROTECTED AREA. One of the most awaited days for bird lovers. We will be leaving early in the morning with our biologist and guide to tour the landscape of this protected natural area. Doñana is a vital stopover, breeding and wintering ground for many birds, and over 360 different species seen at various times of year. We will start our birdwatching in the well-known village of El Rocío, where the marshes become waterlogged with the first autumn rains, flooding the clay soil and creating a fantastic place for spotting waders such as flamingos and other animal species such as wild horses and organically farmed livestock. You can also see a huge variety of birds of prey on the wing, such as kites, western marsh harriers and if we are luky, the spectacular western imperial eagle. During the spring the African birds visit us to breer, plenty of colours and activity. We will then visit the Mediterranean forest which is the house of deers, wild boars, rabbits and the Iberian linx. In the afternoon, we will get close to Natural Park Dunas del Asperillo by taking a path that will get us to a desert beach. If there are people interested it is possible to do a horse route by the dunes on the Park. After that, we make our way back to Isla Cristina.

DAY 4.- PORTUGAL BY BICYCLE. Today we take the bicycles and go to the Portuguese Algarve. We cross the marshes by a Coastal Green Track, between former salt plants and tidal mills. We will visit an artisanal salt plant on the way to Ayamonte, on of the last ones in Spain. After, we will go on a green trak, a former rail way, to the lovely town of Ayamonte. We wait the ferry at the dock as to cross Guadiana river and reach Portugal. These Natural parks and reserves are privileged places for observing fauna and flora. We will stroll around Vila Real de Santo Antonio, a charming village, and continue by river bank until the river‘s mouth to Atlantic ocean. We will rest at one of the lonely beaches where you might swim. Go back to Isla in the afternoon.

DAY 5.- SAILBOAT. Today we will leave to sail in our sailboat Alcyon. If the weather and sea conditions are good we will go to open ocean to enjoy sailing. During the journey we will teach you the secrets of this ancient art and you will be able to drive the boat with the help of our skipper. We will try to watch dolphins and seabirds riding the waves, swiming in the sea will be possible and we will have a nice snack ... We will have few hours to feel the magic of the ocean and discover a world of wind and sea, sky and tides. 

We advise for this time to walk along the natural beaches where is possible to see dunes, a stone pine tree forest and sometimes camaleons close to the bushes. It is also possible just rest at the beach.

DAY 6.- HIKING IN SIERRA DE ARACENA NATURAL PARK. Very early in the morning the van picks us up and we go to the north to Castaño del Robledo, a mountain village. From this point we make a gentle walk through paths and tracks that, even today, comunícate small white villages. This route crosses mountains, chesnut forests and also pastures of cork oaks and olm oaks where the Iberian porks run freely. In the afternoon, after enjoying the gastronomy, we will have a glimpse to the Rio Tinto mines. Then we go back to Isla Cristina.

DAY 7.- Free till 12:00. Then, we will pick you up at the appartments and go to Seville. We will arrive there by 14:00h.