Magical places are always beautiful and deserve to be contemplated ... Always stay on the bridge between the invisible and the visible

Paolo Coelho

Vendicari and Noto

 

DURATION

From 9.00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.

 

TYPE

Trekking through a natural path of Vendicari Natural Reserve and birdwatching activities

 

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Easy

 

AVAILABILITY

Soon available (summer/autumn)

 

TRANSFER

Free from Catania and surrounding area or meeting point

 

CERTIFIED GUIDES

Our guides are all associated with AIGAE

Birdwatching Vendicari and visit to Noto

€ 99,00


Prices shown are per person. For groups of at least 3 people, € 20.00 discount per person

4-12 years 30% off

0-3 years Free

BOOK EXCURSION

 

Description of the itinerary

For bird lovers and all others! The Vendicari Nature Reserve represents one of the most important wet zones in the Mediterranean area, as well as one of the best-preserved natural areas in Sicily. Vendicari is a hugely varied territory that includes lagoons or "Pantani", and sand dunes. Come and see the spectacular coastline of our many beaches (including the famous Calamosche beach), that alternate between craggy rock to fine sand beaches on uniquely coloured, crystalline waters.

The excursion is an easy trek along a trail that runs parallel to the coast, and which traverses the marshes’ reserve. In addition to appreciating the natural splendor of the reserve, you will see the many historical treasures present in the Reserve, such as the Byzantine village dating back to the 6th century A.D., and the ruins of the Sveva Tower, a fortified tower from the 15th century!

We will then make a stop in observation huts, equipped with binoculars and books to help you identify the most characteristic birds in the area. Armed with these, we can closely observe the different species that overwinter and nest in the marshes, including spatulas, flamingos, kingfishers, cranes and many other remarkable and rare species.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Sicilian Capital of Barocco, Noto, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002. Come alone, or come in a pack! There is sure to be something on this tour for everyone in the family.

List of the bird species presence in Vendicari Reserve:

SUMMER SEASON: Redshanks, Eurasian curlews, Curlews, Avocets, Pantanas Spotted, Redshanks, Yellow legged gulls, Audouin’s gulls, Bar tailed godwits, Eurasian Spoonbills, Red knot, Slender billed, Gulls, Kentish plovers, White Stork, Black Stork, Eurasian teals, Garganeys, Dunlins, Caspian terns, Common sandpipers, Grey plovers.

AUTUMN SEASON: Black headed gulls, Common selducks, Mediterranean gulls, Flamingos, Ciconiiformes, Cranes.

WINTER SEASON: Coots, Common Shelducks, Black-necked Grebes, Great crested Grebes, Kentish plovers, Little stints, Common redshanks, Lesser black backed gulls, Hoopoe, Blue footed boobies, Dunlins.

SPRING SEASON: Pochard, Knights of Italy, Small Curlews, Large Curlews, Marsh sandpiper, Greenshank, Squid Childonias niger, White-winged tern, Gull-billed tern, Little gulls, Sandpipers Birds, Ruddy turnstone, Grey plover, Western marsh harriers, Ospreys, Little Egrets, Squacco herons, Purple herons, Eurasia spoonbills, Flamingos, Doves, Cuckoos, Hoopoes, Wood warbler, Common redstard, Woodchat shrike Northern wheatear.

Includes

  1. An experienced naturalistic guide member of the Italian Association of Environmental and Walking Guides (AIGAE)
  2. Free Pick-up/drop-off at your hotel or at the meeting point
  3. Binoculars and bird identification cards
  4. Everything in the tour description

Languages

The excursion will take place in Italian or English

Recommended Equipment

  • Sports or hiking shoes;
  • Rucksack with water bottle;
  • Optional equipment: windcheater, backpack containing rain-jacket and rain-pants, sunscreen, hat, swimsuit in summer.
  • A camera. You can take as many pictures as you want;
  • A good attitude and a great respect for nature

Requirements

Your safety is paramount and you will be accompanied by expert guides at all times: please rest assured that extreme safety precautions are taken at every step of the process. We strongly advise those who are not in good health to refrain from attending the walking excursions, especially those suffering from cardioid or respiratory diseases.

Note

In case of bad weather conditions, the guide reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary to ensure the safety of everyone present. In the winter season and/or in case of adverse weather conditions, the Company “Funivia dell’Etna”, who provide the cable car and bus ride, reserves the right to completely or partially cancel the excursion. The excursion will be relocated to a lower altitude.

€ 99,00


Prices shown are per person. For groups of at least 3 people, € 20.00 discount per person

4-12 years 30% off

0-3 years Free

BOOK EXCURSION

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