{
  "id": 15588249,
  "title": "The 2027 holiday trend set to put Spain’s secret wetlands on the map",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/the-2027-holiday-trend-set-to-put-spains-secret-wetlands-on-the-map",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T09:24:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euro Weekly News",
    "slug": "euro-weekly-news",
    "url": "https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/19/the-2027-holiday-trend-set-to-put-spains-secret-wetlands-on-the-map/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "From the expansive Doñana marshes to the viral landscapes of the Ebro Delta, a new travel trend is emerging to embrace the natural world. Birdwatching enthusiasts are flocking to Europe, as the activity climbs up the list of hidden escapes. Monfragüe National Park in Extremadura, known for its griffon vultures, ranks 14th in Europe, while Catalonia’s Ebro Delta holds the 12th spot and hosts over 300 species. Doñana National Park in Andalucia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts waterbirds and raptors, offering guided four-wheel-drive tours through its marshes.\n\nFor those seeking a start to their birdwatching journey, the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra in Malaga boasts vast flamingo colonies, easy to observe and photograph. Near Valencia, the Albufera Natural Park provides another excellent opportunity to connect with nature. Inland, Castilla-La Mancha’s Tablas de Daimiel National Park offers a wetland teeming with birdlife.\n\nTravel bookings for birdwatching experiences surged by 65% year-on-year from January to August 2026, according to GetYourGuide, which named the activity among its Hidden Trends. Voyageurs du Monde predicts that 2027 will be the peak year for birdwatching, with 57% more bookings for its birding holidays between July and October 2026 compared to the first half of the year.\n\nTom Barber, chief brand officer of Voyageurs du Monde, believes the appeal lies in stepping outside with binoculars and the refreshing simplicity of discovering the natural world. For beginners, he suggests a day exploring the Danube Delta in eastern Romania, home to some of the most significant wetlands globally. Greece’s northeast region has been a top seller, thanks to a crucial migration flyway. Autumn visits offer quieter lakes and rewarding sightings.\n\nPortugal’s coastline delights with seabirds, with the Azores and Madeira considered prime destinations by birder Cindy Brzostowski. Iceland’s Westman Islands are known for its vast puffin colonies. Sweden’s Falsterbo Peninsula, Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk, and Fair Isle in Scotland are ranked among the best by AllClear’s European ranking. Greece’s Kalloni Saltpans on Lesvos, Lake Kerkini National Park, Portugal’s Ria Formosa, France’s Camargue, and Hungary’s Hortobagy National Park round out the top six.",
  "summary": "From the vast marshes of Doñana to the viral landscapes of the Ebro Delta, a new travel trend is taking […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}