Spring at its best timing for Andalusian butterflies
Enjoy stunning landscapes throughout this butterfly tour
Together with birds, wild orchids and loads of spring flowers
or request a private tour
Spring butterflies of Andalucía
Welcome to our best tour for spring butterflies in Southern Spain. Perfectly timed for targeting a variety of both early and late species, May also bring the most flowered landscapes in Andalucía. A plethora of butterflies, orchids and general wildlife.
Tour highlights
South Spain at its best time. Around 55 species of butterflies expected plus a nice array of wild orchids. Reasonable driving times daily. A two-base tour to allow easy access to great butterfly spots. Iconic scenery daily.
Tour itinerary
We will meet in Málaga or its airport in the morning and drive directly into the beautiful Ronda mountains. We'll enjoy several stops at the Genal Valley which should produce species such as Black-veined White, Provençal Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary and Spanish Gatekeeper. Chances on puddling.
Night in Ronda.
Today we'll be checking a variety of spots across the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park that have proven to be really productive on previous tours. A lovely path along the Guadalete river may also offer some Fragrant, Tongue and Lizard Orchids. There'll be chances on Aetherie Fritillary, Sage Skipper, Geranium Bronze, Southern Gatekeeper and with luck even Spanish Purple Hairstreak.
The following species should be expected in good numbers: Marsh Fritillary, Cleopatra, Brimstone, Small Skipper, Spanish Marbled White, Southern Blue, Painted Lady and Meadow Brown.
Night in Ronda.
Today we'll cover Álvaro's personal favourite location, the Sierra de las Nieves National and Natural Parks, at short distance of Ronda.
These stunning mountains are home to around 90 butterfly species, and by moving across different altitudes -from 1000 to 1400 masl- we'll be targetting a wide array of butterflies.
The possible species today include Spanish Fritillary, Queen-of-Spain Fritillary, Lorquin's Blue, Panoptes Blue, Large Tortoiseshell, Souther Marbled and Roses-Red-Underwing Skipper.
Night in Ronda.
Today we'll be travelling from Ronda in SW Andalucía to the Sierra Mágina Natural Park in NE Andalucía (around 3 h drive), across scenic olive farms and truly Andalusian hinterland landscapes.
There'll certainly be some butterfly stops on the way, including a nice area at short distance drive from our hotel. Some noticeable or expected butterflies could include Bath White, Long-tailed Blue, Adonis Blue, Small Heath and Grayling.
Night in Huelma (Jaén).
Today we'll explore the Sierra Mágina Natural Park, one of the hidden gems in the butterfly community of Southern Spain, with some 102 species being recorded to date. We'll be driving a track and enjoying many easy stops along the way, including mountain passes, fountains and a variety of habitats. We usually enjoy great numbers of butterflies on this location. Some remarkable species include False Ilex Hairstreak, Mazarine Blue, Escher's Blue, Spanish Fritillary and Rock Grayling.
The commonest species there are normally Common Blue, Cardinal Fritillary, Small White, Meadown Brown and Clouded Yellow. We sometimes count these by dozens while doing our checklists.
Night in Huelma.
A day to explore one single but extensive valley in the higher Sierra Mágina -1600 masl-. This picturesque area is easy to wander across and should still be very verdant. Numbers of Blue Spot Hairstreak, Queen-of-Spain Fritillary, Clouded Yellow and Spanish Gatekeeper are often really good. There could be chances on Spanish Fritillary, Berger's Clouded Yellow, Mountain Argus and Panoptes Blue.
Night in Huelma.
After a relaxed breakfast we'll head back to Málaga for departure. A stop at the Mediterranean coast for Desert Orange Tip and African Grass Blue would be possible if everybody's flight times allow for that.
What wildlife to expect
Butterflies
This butterfly tour aims enjoying a wide array of species common in Southern Spain but also some other species that only occur in very localized locations of South Spain within their European range.
Some remarkable butterflies we'll be looking for:
- Provençal, Marsh, Spanish and Aetherie Fritillaries
- Spanish Festoon and Southern Scarce Swallowtail
- Moroccan and Desert Orange Tips
- Black-veined and Spanish Marbled Whites
- Lorquin's, Panoptes and False Baton Blues
- Nettle-tree Butterfly, Cleopatra and Cardinal
This tour normally produces a daily average of 25-30 butterfly species.
Other invertebrates
Good chances to find other interesting invertebrates as European Solifugid, Owlflies, Thread-winged Lacewing -endemic to the Iberian Peninsula- and Stripped Oil-Beetle.
Birds
Andalucía's birdlife is notorious and hence we shall enjoy many bird sightings. Hard to point just a few birds, but perhaps Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle, Rock Bunting, Black Wheatear, Thekla Lark, Blue Rock Thrush and Red-billed Chough are among the most iconic species we may come across.
Wild Orchids
Attention will be paid to some of Álvaro's favourite orchid locations. Even though the dates are normally a bit late in spring, we still should encounter a few species in full flower: Lange's Orchid, Sombre Bee Orchid (arnoldii), Sawfly Orchid (ficalhoana), Woodcock Bee Orchid, Yellow Bee Orchid, Man Orchid and Small-flowered Tongue Orchid. Read our article on Andalusian Orchids.
Other flora
The tour will take us to a wide variety of habitats. Among them we'll particularly enjoy the mediterranean forest of our native Cork and Holm Oaks. Wild Peonys, Rockroses, Toadflax, Viper Bugloss and many other wildflowers should be in full bloom.
We guide this butterfly tour in Spain by means of Andalucía Slow Tours, S.L., a local travel agency accredited by the Spanish Tourist Board with number CIAN 297083-2.
SHARED TOUR
16-22 May 2027
* You can also book this as a private tour with guaranteed departure or on different dates (read below)
PRICES
Rates per person: 1400 €
TOUR PARTY
Min. 3 - max. 7 fellow travellers (1 guide)
Tour leader: Álvaro Peral
PRIVATE TOUR
Choose your date: from early March till mid July
FARES (2027)
Private tour for a solo traveler: 3800 €
Private tour for 2 pax: 2000 €
Private tour for 3-7 pax: 1400 €
All prices are per person.
PICK UP
In private tours you can choose either Málaga, Granada or Ronda as meeting point.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Transfers from/to Málaga
- Transport
- Professional guiding services (in English)
- Guidebooks and daily butterfly checklist
- Holiday report
- Basic insurance
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Flights
- Accommodation (around 70 eur/night in single occupancy). We can prebook and you pay at arrival
- Food or drinks (around 40 eur/full day)
- Personal costs
- Travel insurance
ACCOMMODATION
2 bases: first in the iconic town of Ronda (below) and then in Huelma near Jaén.
PACE
Easy walks mostly. No steep ascents but moderate walking skills are needed.
WEATHER
Generally sunny, warm and nice temperatures but chances of showers. Spring weather even in May can be unpredictable!
FOOD
We'll enjoy breakfast and lunch in local establishments en route. Picnic may be an option in some days. Trippers will have options for dinner at short distance from our hotels.
What trippers say
Thanks Alvaro for a superb tour. I just loved the views of many butterflies, my favourite the Spanish Festoon. See you again next year!
Gyorgy Liptovszky, 2022
A quick email to say thank you very much for a really enjoyable week Butterfly hunting around Ronda. What an afternoon to end with all those Fritillaries!
Richard Tripp, 2024
