Iberian Lynx and wildlife holiday in Southern Spain

Planet

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
We are a charitable foundation dedicated to the protection and restoration of wild areas in Europe. We support projects that protect and restore ecosystems, build coexistence with native wildlife, empower rural communities, and connect people to nature. As part of this work, our charitable, small-group journeys spotlight conservation success stories and Europe’s lesser-known wild areas, while generating funds for human-wildlife coexistence programmes.

Our aim is to create a positive cycle where wildlife conservation, responsible tourism and local livelihoods reinforce one another, giving communities a tangible economic benefit from protecting the wildlife and landscapes around them.

50% of the total cost of this adventure is a direct donation to our conservation partner, CBD-Habitat, supporting work to protect and restore Iberian lynx populations. Once on the brink of extinction, the Iberian lynx is now making a remarkable recovery, supported by coordinated conservation efforts across its remaining range. Funding helps support practical work including habitat restoration, threat reduction including wildlife underpasses, and the protection and restoration of populations of European rabbits, the lynx’s main prey.

Specifically, CBD-Habitat is working to improve connectivity between lynx populations as part of the EU’s recent LIFE LynxConnect programme, having previously played a key role in the EU LIFE projects that helped rescue the species from extinction through strategic captive breeding and release programmes.

The adventure is led by expert local guides, ecologists and conservationists, including founder, wildlife guide and former CBD-Habitat conservationist Samuel Pla Benitez, and CBD-Habitat Director and lynx ecologist Nuria Palomo El Khadir. This makes the adventure about more than simply wildlife watching, giving guests the opportunity to learn directly from people working on the ground to secure the future of the Iberian lynx.

CARBON REDUCTION
This adventure is designed around slow, low-impact travel through the dehesa, forests and landscapes of southern Spain, including the Sierra de Andújar and Extremadura. The itinerary allows guests to spend meaningful time in these important Iberian lynx habitats, with wildlife watching, ecological walks and hikes taking place on foot wherever possible. The small group format also helps to reduce the environmental impact per guest.

We coordinate airport collections and transfers using shared group transport to reduce the number of vehicles needed, and recommend lower-emission flight options where practical.

Food is an important part of the experience, with guests eating at local restaurants and enjoying authentic and local Spanish cuisine to reduce food miles. Vegetarian and vegan options can also be provided as lower-carbon meal choices.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
Our adventures focus on wildlife, but the very foundation of coexistence lies within the communities living closest to it. By working with local guides, conservationists, businesses and communities, our adventures aim to ensure that tourism supports the people who share these landscapes with wildlife.

Travelling through the rural landscapes of Andalucía and Extremadura, guests stay and eat locally, helping direct tourism spending into the communities they visit. The adventure also connects guests with people working to protect Iberian lynx and their habitats, offering insight into how conservation and local livelihoods can support one another.

By travelling as a small group and working with locally rooted partners, the adventure helps ensure that the benefits of wildlife tourism reach the people and businesses connected to these landscapes.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
The adventure is operated by a local wildlife tour group and hosted by its Director, Samuel Plá Benitez, a former CBD-Habitat conservationist. This small, locally based wildlife observation agency brings together guides with conservation backgrounds, creating employment and income opportunities connected to wildlife tourism and conservation. We deliberately focuses on lesser-known regions of Europe and works with communities living closest to wildlife, recognising their important role in creating long-term, sustainable coexistence.

Our approach aims to ensure that the economic value created by wildlife tourism reaches rural communities and supports livelihoods connected to healthy landscapes. By bringing visitors to lesser-known destinations and working with locally rooted partners, we help create opportunities for communities to benefit from the presence of wildlife and the protection of their natural environment.

All staff working on the adventure are paid above the minimum wage. The trip is LGBTQ+ friendly, and we aim to make reasonable adjustments where possible for guests with accessibility requirements, including mobility, vision, hearing or cognitive needs. This is an active wildlife adventure involving hiking and potentially challenging terrain, so some aspects of the itinerary may not be suitable for everyone. We encourage guests with specific accessibility requirements to contact us before booking so we can discuss their needs and the suitability of the itinerary.