Pollino National Park Birding & Wildlife Tour, Italy

Birdwatching & Wildlife Tour in Pollino National Park, Italy

This 5-day Pollino National Park Birding & Wildlife Tour that will take you to the north-western area of Calabria, Italy. This unique wildlife trip into the Pollino National Park has in its strengths offering an extremely interesting naturalness, a millenary history, and a food and wine culture with deep roots. Our explorations in search of wildlife will take place between the coastal area of Sibaritide and the mountainous reliefs of the Calabrian side of the Pollino National Park.

We will explore some of the best spots for bird and wildlife watching (mountain areas, rural areas, river gorges, wetlands and many other environments) with the aim of maximizing the chances of observing and photographing the highest number of species.

Among these: the Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus), the calabrian black squirrel (Sciurus meridionalis) the golden Eeagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the griffon v0lture (Gyps fulvus), the eurasian roller (Coracia garrulus), the Common Rock Trush (Monticola saxatilis), the red-rumped swallow (Cecropis daurica) the Apennine yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata pachypus), the southern spectacled salamander (Salamandrina terdigitata), the southern Italian asp (Vipera aspis hugyi), the european pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis).

The trip is mainly designed for wildlife watching enthusiasts but also to meet the needs of all nature lovers. The activities that we will carry out will very varied: birdwatching sessions, trekking, e-bike walks, and visits to the historical villages will make this adventure complete from every point of view.

Particular attention will be paid to the typical products of the place and to the authenticity of the local cuisine which can boast elements of absolute pride such as, for example, the famous “Cerchiara bread”.

Tour Highlights include:

Dozens and dozens of observable birds, including raptors, water birds, and colorful species such as the European roller
Trekking is one of the wildest parks in Italy
The endemic herpetofauna of southern Italy
Exploration of unique scenarios, from the karst plateaus to the Ionian coast
Discovering northern Calabria: medieval villages and food and wine tradition

Alternative Tour Name: Wild Calabria Tour

Day 1

Day 1 - Road to Calabria region

Early morning rendezvous in Rome or Naples and transfer to northern Calabria region. Arrival at the hotel located in Cerchiara di Calabria, the heart of Pollino National Park. Visit the historical city center with packed lunch. Bird watching in the surrounding area. Dinner in a typical restaurant with a menu based on home-made pasta and traditional cheeses and cured meats.

Day 2

Day 2 - From coastal wetlands to mountain streams

Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the coastal wetlands on the Gulf of Taranto. Early morning bird watching at the mouth of the Crati river, habitat used by dozens of species of migratory and nesting birds. Moving to the Roseto area for a refreshing swim and packed lunch. Transfer to the Oriolo village and visit of its historical city center. Exploration of the Ferro torrent and herping session. Return to Cerchiara and dinner in a typical restaurant with a menu based on grilled meat and local vegetables dishes.

Day 3

Day 3 - Ecotourism in the Pollino National Park

Breakfast in the hotel. Trekking and wildlife watching in one of the most suggestive areas of the Park, close to Basilicata and Calabria border. Packed lunch and visit of the village of San Lorenzo Bellizzi. E-bike walk in the hills with departure from Cerchiara di Calabria. Dinner in a traditional restaurant with a menu based on home-made pasta.

Day 4

Day 4 – Calabrian biodiversity

Breakfast in the hotel. Exploration of the Raganello river (no gorges), in search of amphibians, reptiles and birds. Visit to the village of Civita and packed lunch. Exploration of the beech forest of the Fagosa and bird watching session focused on forest birds. Birding and herping in the steppe areas of the park. Return to Cerchiara and dinner in a typical restaurant with a menu based on local vegetables, traditional cheeses and cured meats.

Day 5

Day 5 - The Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Armi

Breakfast in the hotel. Trekking in the early morning to reach the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Armi.

Visit of the sanctuary and observation of birds of prey. Packed lunch.

Return to Rome or Naples

Wildlife Species expected to see:

Mammals:

Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus), eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), Calabrian black squirrel (Sciurus meridionalis), european badger (Meles meles), Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus), crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata).

Birds:

Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), white stork (Ciconia ciconia), eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leuorodia), flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus) , northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Audouiin’s gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii), caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia), european nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), european bee-eater (Merops apiaster), eurasian roller (Coracia garrulus),
black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius), red-rumped swallow (Cecropis daurica), common rock trush (Monticola saxatilis), greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla), calandra lark (Melanocoryphala calandra), wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), collared flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), red-billed chough (Phyrrocorax phyrrocorax), eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus), black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala), rock bunting (Emberiza cia).

Reptiles:

Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni), european pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis), four-lined nnake (Elaphe quatuorlineata), Italian Aesculapian nnake (Zamenis lineatus), southern Italian asp (Vipera aspis hugyi).

Amphibians:

Southern spectacled salamander (Salamandrina terdigitata), Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex), Italian newt (Lissotriton italicus), Apennine yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata pachypus).

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Number of Travelers	Cost Per Traveler (€)	Total Cost (€)
1	1600	1600
2	1000	2000
3	800	2400
4	700	2800

Pollino National Park Birding & Wildlife Tour, Italy - 5 Days