Bear watching in Somiedo

Somiedo is one of the best places in the Cantabrian Mountains to see a wild brown bear: the concejo lies within the western nucleus of the population, the larger of the two. Even so, a sighting is never guaranteed. Bears are shy, they are watched from a long way off, and you should expect to scan a hillside for a good while before one appears.

This guide covers what makes the difference between seeing one and going home without: when to come, where to watch from, what to bring and how to do it without disturbing the animal.

When to see bears in Somiedo

There are two good seasons, and one time of day that holds for both.

• Spring (April to June): the best season. Females with cubs come down to feed on the first shoots and spend long spells on open slopes.
• Late summer and autumn (August to October): the hyperphagia weeks, when bears eat bilberries, hazelnuts and other fruit almost non-stop to build reserves before hibernating.
• Winter: the worst season. Activity drops to a minimum because most bears hibernate.

In either season, dawn and dusk are when bears are most active; around midday activity falls sharply.

Where: the viewpoints

In Somiedo you do not go looking for the bear on foot: you wait for it. Watching is done from viewpoints with a wide view of the opposite hillside, without leaving the path or the road.

• Mirador del Príncipe (La Peral): the best known. A short walk from the village car park, it overlooks the whole hillside opposite. It is especially good at dusk in spring.
• Caunedo viewpoint (Caunéu): on the rise just above the village, with wide views of the surrounding slopes. It is the most comfortable one: it has parking, picnic tables and panels on good wildlife-watching practice, and it is wheelchair accessible. It is right next to Casona de Lolo, one of the places to stay in Caunedo.
• Gúa viewpoint: very close to Pola de Somiedo, handy if you are staying in the main village.
• Aguino viewpoint: on the road from Pola de Somiedo to Aguino, at the spot known as La Faeda.

You can find the villages on the park map.

What to bring

• Optics: binoculars at the very least and, if you can, a spotting scope of 20x or more on a tripod. To the naked eye, a bear on the far hillside is a dot.
• Warm clothes: you will be standing still at first and last light, and it gets cold in the mountains even in summer.
• Patience: allow an hour or two per session, and several days if you want to improve your chances.

Rules for not disturbing the bears

• Never approach a bear or go looking for one away from the viewpoints. It is a wild animal and can be dangerous if it feels threatened.
• Keep quiet: noise scares wildlife away.
• Dogs on a lead, always.
• Leave no food or litter. A bear that learns to eat scraps ends up as a problem bear.
• If the animal notices you, withdraw quietly.

Bear watching with a guide

On a first visit, going out with a guide is the sensible choice: they know which slope the bears are using that week and at what time, and they bring a scope. The Fundación Oso Pardo runs bear-watching outings from its centre in Pola de Somiedo (tel. +34 985 76 34 06), which also houses the "Somiedo y el Oso" interpretation centre, a good first stop for understanding the animal before you go looking for it.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to see bears in Somiedo?

Spring, from April to June, when females with cubs come down to feed on the first shoots, and late summer and autumn, from August to October, when bears eat fruit almost non-stop before hibernating. In either season, dawn and dusk are the best hours.

Where can you see bears in Somiedo?

From viewpoints that look across to the opposite hillside: the Mirador del Príncipe in La Peral, the wildlife viewpoint at Caunedo, the one at Gúa, near Pola de Somiedo, and the one at Aguino, at a spot called La Faeda. Bears are always watched from a long way off, with binoculars or a spotting scope.

Do you need a guide to see bears?

It is not compulsory: the viewpoints are open to everyone. But on a first visit it helps a great deal to go out with someone who knows the slopes and the hours. The Fundación Oso Pardo runs bear-watching outings from its centre in Pola de Somiedo.

Is bear watching in Somiedo dangerous?

No, as long as it is done properly: from the viewpoints and at a great distance. The bear is a wild animal that avoids people; what you must never do is go looking for it, approach it or leave food.

How many bears are there in Somiedo?

There is no figure for the municipality alone. The Cantabrian population is above 300 animals and Somiedo belongs to the western nucleus, the larger of the two.

What else to look for while you wait

The same slopes where bears turn up are home to chamois and red deer, with golden eagles overhead. In autumn the wait also coincides with the deer rut. All the species are in the wildlife of Somiedo.