Spain: Canary Islands

Island endemics on the volcanic slopes of Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria

The Canary Islands offer an intriguing blend of African, European, and Atlantic elements—reflected not just in their landscapes and culture, but also in their unique birdlife. This carefully paced tour takes you to three of the most bird-rich islands in the archipelago—Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria—in search of a suite of sought-after endemics and island specialties. Over the course of eight days, you’ll explore laurel forests, pine-covered slopes, volcanic plains, and coastal wetlands, encountering island icons such as Tenerife Blue Chaffinch, Fuerteventura Stonechat, and the rare Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch. Other highlights may include Bolle’s and Laurel Pigeons, Houbara Bustard, Barbary Falcon, Trumpeter Finch, and the endemic subspecies of African Blue Tit, Egyptian Vulture, and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Each island presents its own set of habitats and target species, and the itinerary is designed to give you ample opportunities for rewarding birding while keeping travel time manageable. With local flights between islands and comfortable accommodations, this is a well-balanced trip combining exciting species, scenic variety, and logistical ease. For those with an interest in regional variation, the tour also offers a chance to observe several island-specific subspecies—many of which are under consideration for full species status. While birds remain our primary focus, you’ll also have the opportunity to take in some of the region’s dramatic volcanic scenery, coastal cliffs, and traditional villages along the way. This is a rewarding island-hopping journey through one of Europe’s most distinctive birding destinations.

Connecting tours: This tour can be seamlessly combined with our subsequent Birds and Wine tour in Portugal.

EUR 3 900

/ person sharing

single supp. EUR 420

Included
Excluded

Itinerary

Please note that while the general itinerary is set, hotels and daily activities may slightly differ depending on circumstances.

  • Day 1 ⎸ Arrival in Tenerife

    Upon your arrival in Tenerife, we’ll welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel to get settled. If there's time in the afternoon, we will take a walk around the hotel grounds, where you may encounter your first endemic species of the trip: the Canary Islands Chiffchaff.

  • Day 2 ⎸ Teno and Monte del Agua

    Today, we’ll head to the western part of the island to explore Teno and Monte del Agua. These lush areas are the best places to search for two of the island’s trickiest endemics—Bolle’s Pigeon and Laurel Pigeon. While birding in this stunning landscape, you also have a good chance of seeing Rock Sparrow and the striking Barbary Falcon.

  • Day 3 ⎸ El Teide and the Blue Chaffinch

    We’ll spend the day exploring the spectacular surroundings of El Teide, the highest peak in Spain. As we drive the scenic road through the national park, we’ll stop at various birding hotspots. In the Canarian Pine forests, we’ll search for the highly sought-after Tenerife Blue Chaffinch, along with other local specialties like Island Canary, Tenerife Goldcrest, and Berthelot’s Pipit. You may also spot the local subspecies of Great Spotted Woodpecker.

  • Day 4 ⎸ Northern Tenerife and Flight to Fuerteventura

    This morning, we’ll head to the north coast of Tenerife for a sea-watching session, with good chances of observing Cory’s Shearwaters. Depending on our sightings so far, there may be time to focus on any local endemics we still need. In the afternoon, we’ll fly to Fuerteventura and drive to your hotel. If time allows, we’ll visit El Cotillo for some coastal scenery and your first opportunities to see Houbara Bustards, Eurasian Thick-knee, Lesser Short-toed Lark, and Great Grey Shrike.

  • Day 5 ⎸ Catalina García, Tiscamanita, and Tindaya

    Today offers a variety of habitats and species. You’ll visit the ponds of Catalina García, the vulture restaurant at Tiscamanita, and the historic village of Betancuria, where you have a good chance of seeing the endemic subspecies of African Blue Tit of the eastern Canary Islands. In the afternoon, you'll explore the reservoir at Los Molinos, the agricultural plots of Las Parcelas, and the plains around Tindaya—great places to look for the endemic subspecies of Egyptian Vulture, flying flocks of Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Ruddy Shelduck, and the colorful Trumpeter Finch.

  • Day 6 ⎸ Fimapaire, Gran Tarajal, and El Carmen Saltpans

    You’ll start the morning early at the Fimapaire Barranco, an excellent site to look for the endemic Fuerteventura Stonechat and Barbary Partridge. Later in the day, you’ll head south to explore Gran Tarajal, Alares Pond, El Carmen Saltpans, and Barranco de la Torre. These locations provide good chances for waders and desert passerines, including Spectacled Warbler, Trumpeter Finch, and possibly Laughing Dove.

  • Day 7 ⎸ Flight to Gran Canaria and Blue Chaffinch Search

    Today, you fly to Gran Canaria for a focused day of birding. Your main goal is to find the Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch—one of the rarest forest passerines in the Western Palearctic. Along the way, you may also see the Gran Canaria subspecies of African Blue Tit, European Robin, and Great Spotted Woodpecker, as well as the Canary Island subspecies of Common Kestrel and Great Grey Shrike, Canary Islands Chiffchaff, and the eastern Canary Islands subspecies of Lesser Short-toed Lark.

  • Day 8 ⎸ Departure from Gran Canaria

    On your final morning in Gran Canaria, you'll have time to look for any species that may have eluded you. Afterwards, we’ll drive to the airport, where your birding adventure comes to an end.

Focus:
Birds
Other wildlife
Photography
Culture & history
Gastronomy
Other
Physical difficulty:
Walks
Other activities
Drives
Terrain
Altitude
Climate
Comfort:
Lodging
Transport
Meals