Cultural ecosystem services are the non-material benefits that people obtain from ecosystems such as aesthetic quality of landscapes, recreation and learning opportunities, or even therapeutic or spiritual contributions to human wellbeing. The assessment, quantification and mapping of ecosystem services, and in particular cultural ecosystem services are essential for a proper understanding of the values of natural capital and for a better integration of these values in management and decision-making processes. Our study aims to assess and map the cultural ecosystem services in a protected area, through the perception of tourists, as their beneficiaries. To this purpose, we use the concept of social values for ecosystem services, as perceived, non-material values that the public attributes to ecosystems and landscapes. The analysis focuses on an area in the upper Râul Târgului catchment in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains, which is part of two NATURA2000 SCI sites. The data regarding the perceived social values was obtained through participatory mapping methods and was then analyzed using GIS tools. Our results showed Recreation as the most appreciated social value for cultural ecosystem services, followed closely by the Aesthetic and Education values. Important hotspots for social values were identified along the river valleys, tourist trails and on the mountain tops. These results offer useful information that can be used towards a better planning of tourism infrastructure and activities in the upper Raul Târgului catchment area.