Hiking in the Courant d'Huchet nature reserve, the secret wild moors

In the heart of the Landes forest , the Courant d'Huchet nature reserve, also known as the Landes Amazon, is a unique site with an astonishing wealth of botanical diversity. Walking routes and guided tours allow you to explore much of the site, reconnecting you with nature and yourself. Discover!

Discovering the Landes Amazon rainforest

To discover this wild paradise, you need to travel between the Etang de Léon and the Atlantic Ocean, 10 km from our 5-star campsite in the Landes. This is where you'll find the Courant d'Huchet Nature Reserve , named after a small coastal river that rises in the Léon lake and meanders for 9 kilometres through the Landes forest before flowing into the ocean.

The walk takes you through a variety of landscapes: gallery forest, coastal dunes, mangroves and peat bogs have earned it the nickname of the Landes Amazon. Lovers of botany and unusual walks will be delighted.

15 km of trails in the forest and along the river

Right in the heart of this sensitive natural area, the 620-hectare reserve of the courant d'Huchet is open to all walkers, with almost 15 km of signposted footpaths. There are a number of signposted routes through the forest part of the reserve. You can hike with or without a guide.

Starting from the Pichelèbe reception chalet, you can hike as far as the Nasse dam, once used for eel fishing, the Pipe marsh and its bird observatory, the tip of Lac de Léon, Moliets beach and the mouth of the Huchet current. A topographical guide to the reserve is available from Tourist Offices.

A rich and original fauna and flora

With a naturalist guide, set off to discover this "Little Amazon" in the heart of the Landes. This is your chance to explore a luxuriant natural environment, preserved from the hands of man. The diversity of habitats is home to an original flora and fauna, making the site of major biological interest.

This wildlife sanctuary is home to protected species such as the cistude tortoise, the European otter and the rare genet. It is also home to a host of migratory and breeding bird species, including the Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Whistling Duck, Purple Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Osprey and Red Pipit. In all, 258 bird species have been recorded on this major migration corridor in Western Europe.

In terms of flora, the gallery forest, characterised by a willow and alder grove with royal fern, represents a unique and highly original environment on Europe's Atlantic coast. The reserve is also home to a large number of nationally protected species, including the Bayonne Astragale , the Dune Hawkweed and the Thyme-leaved Toadflax. There are also rare plants in the wild, such as water clover, bald cypress and marsh hibiscus.

Practical info:

• Themed tours offered all year round by reserve staff.
• Prices for guided walking tours: €6 / adult, €3 / child aged 6 to 17, free for children under 6.
• The nature reserve is a protected area. So please stay on the marked paths, don't pick any plants, and avoid making any noise so as not to frighten off the wildlife.
• Bicycles and dogs are not allowed in the reserve.
• Information and bookings at the Maison de la Réserve: 374 rue des berges du lac, 40550 Léon, tel. 05 58 48 73 91