Exciting ways to see the wildlife of the Region of Murcia!

Where to see animals from whales to eagles in the Region of Murcia!

Wild animals are all around is, of course, but so accustomed are we to small insects and birds that we rarely stop to remember that not so far away are some of the most fascinating and impressive of the many species that exist on Planet Earth.

It sometimes seems incredible that just a short distance away from our world of tarmac and concrete are majestic beasts which have existed far longer than human beings, and that all we need to do is make a small effort to admire them in their natural habitats, whether they live in the mountains, the wetlands or the sea!

So explore the great outdoors and take a look at the Region of Murcia’s natural open-air zoo!!

Whale and dolphin spotting in Mazarrón

Did you know that only a few kilometres off the coast in the bay of Mazarrón the seabed abruptly plunges to a depth of over 2 kilometres, and here migrating whales and dolphins can often be seen? Among the species found here are the bottlenose dolphin, the stripe dolphin and the sperm whale, and it’s not a difficult area to reach for adventurous snorkelers and those who prefer to admire the spectacle from the safety of boars.

Businesses such as Cetáceos y Navegación make this an easy option: all you’ll need is swimming gear, a towel, a healthy respect for nature and a keenness to learn: book up here!

Birdwatching

There are as many as 22 ZEPAs, or birdlife protection zones, in the Region of Murcia, some on the coast and others inland, occupying a total area of more than 200,000 hectares, and here you can see species such as flamingos, stilts and short-toed snake eagles every day.

Whether you’re at the beach or in the mountains, the Region has a startling array of birdlife, the highlights including the salt flats of San Pedro del Pinatar, the mountains of the Sierra de la Pila, Calnegre, Cabo Cope, Monte de las Cenizas, Sierra del Carche,,, further details can be found in Spanish here.

Get to know the sea turtles

See turtles are not found only in the Tropics, these charismatic creatures also live all year round in all parts of the Mediterranean, most notably the loggerhead turtle. This species usually favours shallow water, feeding on molluscs and jellyfish, and in recent years the population along the coastline of Murcia has increased significantly.

Fortunately, there are workshop experiences where we can learn about how these marine creatures live without intruding on their natural environment, such as the “Territorio Tortuga” experience at the Las Salinas visitors centre in San Pedro del Pinatar on 28^th June this year. If you can’t make it on that date, not to worry: the San Pedro tourist office can offer you plenty of other ideas related to the fascinating world of sea turtles!

Diving into the world of marine life

At popular diving locations such as Cabo de Palos, Islas Hormigas and La Azohía, you can observe a host of unusual species like manta rays, seahorses, octopuses and sun fish (curiously, known in Spanish as “peces luna”, or moon fish!). In addition, wonder at the spectacle of groupers, morays and the numerous shoals of mullet.

If you’ve never tried your hand at snorkelling or diving with air bottles, this might be the perfect summer for you to start. There are a host of dive centres and schools along the coast offering courses, dive “baptisms” and guided excursions suited to all levels of expertise and experience. In this way you can get to explore the numerous underwater caves along the Murcia coastline, find out more here!

Lastly, if you want to find out about five trips and excursions to add to the magic of the summer in the Region of Murcia, try downloading this guide.

Source: ITREM