Guide · Spain · Winter
A spotted coat, long black ear tufts and a beard framing its face: the Iberian lynx is one of Europe’s most beautiful cats, and one of its greatest conservation successes. At the start of this century only a few dozen were left. In 2024, 2,401 were counted in Spain and Portugal. This guide tells you where and when you have the best chance of seeing one.
Short answer: go to the Sierra de Andújar in the province of Jaén (Andalusia), the best-known lynx area in the world. Come from December to February, when the lynxes mate and are also active during the day, and search along the public forest tracks at sunrise and sunset. A guide with access to private estates gives you the best chance.
Iberian or Eurasian lynx?
| Iberian lynx | Eurasian lynx | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Only in Spain and Portugal | Large parts of Europe and Asia, including Germany |
| Size | About half the weight | Bigger and heavier |
| Coat | Strongly spotted, with a clear beard | Less spotted, sometimes almost plain |
| Food | Mainly rabbits | Mainly roe deer and other small hoofed animals |
How many lynxes are there?
| Total (2024) | 2,401 lynxes, 19% more than the year before |
| Spain | 2,047, mainly in Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia and Extremadura |
| Portugal | 354 |
| Breeding females | 470; the target for a healthy population is 750 |
| Largest population | Sierra Morena, with 1,082 lynxes |
The recovery is thanks to a breeding programme, releases into new areas, and the recovery of the rabbit, their main prey. The growth continued: the 2025 count found 2,663.
Where to see the lynx
| Area | Chance | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra de Andújar, Jaén | Best | Search along the public roads and forest tracks at dusk and dawn. The El Encinarejo visitor centre knows which tracks are open or closed |
| Private estates in the Sierra Morena | Good, with a guide | Much of the land along the roads is private and fenced; guides with estate access greatly improve your chances |
| Doñana and El Rocío | Small | You find tracks more often than lynxes, but the birdlife makes it worthwhile |
| Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura | Variable | Large and growing populations, but less set up for visitors |
When to go
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| December – February | Mating season. The lynxes are also active during the day: the best time to see one |
| March – May | Kittens are born. Some tracks close to give the animals peace |
| June – September | Hot; the lynxes are mainly active at night and rarely seen |
| October – November | A reasonable chance at sunrise and sunset |
Be patient. Even in the best months visitors don’t always see a lynx, and staying a few days gives you a much better chance than coming for one. Combine it with the other wildlife of the Sierra de Andújar: the Spanish imperial eagle, the cinereous vulture, the griffon vulture and, from mid-September to mid-October, roaring red deer.
How to watch without disturbing
- Drive slowly, especially where signs warn of crossing lynxes: traffic is one of their biggest threats.
- Stay on the tracks and roads, and stay in or by your car if you see a lynx.
- Don’t chase a lynx for a photo.
- Choose a guide or hide that doesn’t use lures. Attracting lynxes with scent or food is not acceptable.
What to bring
Good binoculars matter most: lynxes often lie still on a rock or among the shrubs, and their spotted coat is hard to pick out. Bring warm clothes for the early morning; in winter the Sierra Morena can be cold.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Iberian lynx
Where can you see the Iberian lynx?
The best place is the Sierra de Andújar in the province of Jaén, Andalusia. Lynxes also live in the rest of the Sierra Morena, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Doñana, but they are harder to see there.
When is the best time to see a lynx?
From December to February, during the mating season, when lynxes are also active in daytime. Come at sunrise or sunset.
How many Iberian lynxes are there?
In 2024, 2,401 were counted: 2,047 in Spain and 354 in Portugal. At the start of this century only a few dozen were left.
Do you need a guide?
Not for the public roads, but a guide knows the best spots and often has access to private estates, which greatly improves your chances.
How is it different from the Eurasian lynx?
The Iberian lynx is smaller, more strongly spotted, has a clear beard and lives only in Spain and Portugal. It feeds mainly on rabbits.
Read more about the Iberian lynx and its main prey, the rabbit. You’ll find all Spanish animals on the Spain page.
