Trekkers, climbers and cavers have long frequented the Picos de Europa, drawn to the region by its challenging peaks, such as the monolithic Naranjo de Bulnes and the hardest rock climb in the world, spectacular long distance trails such as the famous Cares Gorge and complex cave systems, over 1000mts deep. Three massifs, Western, Central and Eastern make up this mountain range, forming the apex of the Cordillera Cantabrica which extends nearly the entire length of Spain´s ‘Green Coast’.
The summit of El Torrecerredo (2,648 m.), crowns this spectacular karstic range which is often described as a lunar landscape and with good reason, as much of the high Picos, is devoid of vegetation. In contrast the lower reaches often engulfed in the “orballu “ (swirling coastal mists) live up to their local name, ‘Green Spain'. Both the flourishing valleys and the upper meadows, festooned with wildflowers in the spring, provide excellent pastures.
There are still secluded rural hamlets that have no roads connecting them to the outside world, and the wildness of the landscape was one the main reasons that the Moors never conquered this part of Spain. Chamois are often seen across dotted across the hillsides, and due to a total ban on hunting are not at all shy, allowing us to approach well within camera range. Fire salamanders, a beautiful black and yellow striped newt, can often be seen, especially after a rain shower. The abundant bird life is dominated by raptors and vultures that constantly ride the thermals probing for sustenance. Around the rocky outcrops, kestrels, snow finches and wall creepers are all equally of interest to the ornithologist. .
 Dates & Prices
Start |
Finish |
Nights |
Price |
28/4/2012 |
5/5/2012 |
7 |
€599.00 |
19/5/2012 |
26/5/2012 |
7 |
€599.00 |
23/6/2012 |
30/6/2012 |
7 |
€599.00 |
30/6/2012 |
7/7/2012 |
7 |
€699.00 |
14/7/2012 |
21/7/2012 |
7 |
€699.00 |
| Single Supplement (when available) |
€130.00 |
What's
Included: 7 nights
bed & breakfast, 6 evening meals and 5 picnics. 5 days guided walking. Transfers from either Bilbao, or Santander airports.
Not Included: Flights, 1 Evening meal, Personal Insurance, Alcoholic Drinks & Items of a personal nature.
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Tour Details
Itinerary: During the course of the week, we will do 5 day walks in the Picos Mountains. Although we try and stick to the published itinerary, sometimes it may be necessary to change the walk (or order) due to adverse weather conditions.
Distances and times: Distances and times vary considerably throughout the week, 8 - 22 km per day, and ascents and descents of up to 1050 meters. 5 - 8 hours walking per day.
Group Size: Min: 4 Max 16.
Fitness: We grade the tour as 'Moderate' (with some ‘challenging’ parts). However the walking should present no difficulties for anyone in reasonable condition and accustomed to walking in hilly areas. On the Cares Gorge, there are sections somewhat vertiginous, but the path is wide.
Weather: Throughout the course of the "season", the weather can vary greatly. If you are coming on the earlier or later dates, it’s advised to bring warm clothing, as it can get quite chilly on the "tops". From June - Sept, temperatures can reach the mid 30´s (occasionally more) The Picos, being "coastal" are subject to precipitation at all times of the year, so waterproofs are a must. (When it rains, it tends to do so late afternoon onwards, so we are normally spared a soaking). .
Your Guide: These tours are lead by Pilar Sáiz. Pilar comes from a family of mountain peoples. She is a fully qualified mountain guide and has spent the last 18 years showing clients his beloved "back garden".
Insurance: All clients must have appropriate cover for the activities included for the duration of our trip.
General Information
Accommodation: This tour is based in the family run Hotel Torrecerredo. Arenas de Cabrales. Please see our hotel page within this web site for more information on the hotel facilities.
Baths/showers: All rooms are ensuite.
Breakfast: We provide a "Full" breakfast which consists of Fruit Juice, Tea / Coffee / Chocolate, Cereals, Ham / Cheese / Chorizo / Salam, Eggs to order, Toast / Butter / Marmalade, Sponge Cake, Fresh Fruit.
Evening Meals: 3 course evening meal, consisting of Soup of the day, choice of second course and a homemade sweet.
Single Supplements: Are available on request.
Language: Your guide and most of the hotel staff, speak English. But if you want to practice Spanish, you´re more than welcome!
Flights: If travelling from the UK, we recommend flying to Santander with Ryanair, or Bilbao with Easyjet.
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Highlights
Day 1 Transfers to Arenas de Cabrales
Transfer from either Santander or Bilbao Airports to our hotel in Arenas de Cabrales.
Arenas, located only 10 kms inland from the sandy beaches of Asturias´s rugged coast acts as a gateway to the Picos national park. Situated just north and in the middle of the three distinct massifs, it gives good access for visiting the main walking areas in the Picos mountains With a population of approximately 800 people, Arenas is the 'capital' of Cabrales and as such, is home to most of the local amenities, such as shops, bars, restaurants and a small medical centre.
Day 2 In the footsteps of a by gone age
As numerous picturesque bridges will testify, the Romans left their footprint on the area. They were here to exploit the local copper and in doing so left a network of paths across the mountains. More recently, zinc was the target and until as recently as the 1980´s was still extracted. Today we follow in the footsteps of this by gone age, by utilizing one of these old mining tracks to get high into the Eastern massif. |
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| Distance: 15km Accent: 900 mts Descent: 900 mts Duration: 5-6 hrs |
Day 3 The Cares Gorge
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The classic Cares Gorge has been described as the jewel in the crown of walking in Spain. For 12 km, the engineered path has been blasted into the rock face. Originally built in the 1940s as part of a hydroelectric scheme, it has now become one of the most popular walks in Spain. In places, the surrounding peaks rise over two thousands meters above the path and if we’re lucky, we may catch a glimpse of the rare and beautiful wall creeper. |
| Distance: 22km Accent: 350 mts Descent: 350 mts Duration: 6-7 hrs |
Day 4 The Naranjo de Bulnes, a climber´s mecca
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Although not the highest peak, it is without doubt, the best known. It was not until 1904 that "Pedro Pidal" the marquise of Villaviciosa, along with local shepherd "El Cainejo" made the first ascent. More than a century later "El Picu" as it is known locally once again became the centre of attention, with a new new route up its sheer 550 mt west face "El Orbayu" being regarded as, the worlds hardest rock climb!!
Standing at the base, admiring its beauty, it is common to see close-by, chamois grazing the barren terrain, along with alpine choughs playing with air currents |
| Distance: 16km Accent: 700 mts Descent: 700 mts Duration: 5-6 hrs |
Day 5 Rest day or visit to the Green Coast
Day 6 The Lakes of Covadonga
An absolute must for any visitor to the Picos is surely a visit to the Lakes of Covadonda. It was here and the surrounding area, that was deemed Spain´s first National Park in 1917. From the shore of Lake Enol, situated at over 1000 mts above sea level, not only the superb back drop of the main peaks of the Western Massif can be seen, but also the Asturian coast in the distance. |
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| Distance: 15km Accent: 150 mts Descent: 750 mts Duration: 5-6 hrs |
Outline Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival. Transfer from either Santander or Bilbao Airports to our hotel in Arenas de Cabrales.
Day 2: In the footsteps of a bygone age. As numerous picturesque bridges will testify, the Romans left their footprint on the area. They were here to exploit the local copper resources and in doing so left a network of paths across the mountains. More recently, zinc was the target and until as recently as the 1980´s was still extracted. Today we follow in the footsteps of this bygone age, by utilizing one of these old mining tracks to get high into the Eastern massif.
30 minute drive. Car park. Down to La Majada. Caves. Open terrain. Big drops. Great views. Settlement. Beech forest. Valley of the wolves. Climb. Beech forest. Big Peaks. Exposed. Mountain Hut. Cheese caves. Ghosts. Valley of the cows. Great views of central Massif. Views of Tresviso. Views of the Coast. Views of Portudera. in what has been described as “the most scenic exposure of compact limestone in Western Europe”.
Day 3: The Cares Gorge. A ten minute drive takes us to Puente Poncebos at the start of tjhe Cares Gorge. The goege path is a service path for a hydro electric scheme dating back to the 1930´s. We first have to ascend for about 45 minutes to reach the level of the hydro canal. From here the path has been literally blasted into the rock face or carved through short tunnels for most of its length. After crossing the river Cares 4 times on bridges, the path eventually emerges at the village of Cain, where we have lunch before our return along the same path back to the start. (we are sometimes asked why its not possible to be picked up in Cain and driven back. Simple, its 105kms on fairly bad road and quicker to walk)
Day 4: The Naranjo de Bulnes, a climber´s mecca. A short drive takes up to the high pastures of Pandebano. the route takes us first across pastures till we reach the summer huts at Teranosa with great views of the Texu gorge below us, with the village of Bulnes situated far below. From here the path becomes rockier as we start to climb into the luna landscape for which the Picos is famous. Rounding a corner we reach the Collado Viejo and our first view of the monolithic peak of Naranjo de Bulnes. After a short descent, our path now starts to climb again towards our goal, the refuge located at the base of the mountain. After ascending the final zigzags, we round a corner to see the mountain hut which has been the base for mountaineers over the last half century. We stop here for lunch and refreshments and the chance to explore the surrounding area, we descend via the same route back to our vehicles.
Day 5: Rest day or visit to the Green Coast. ..
Day 6: The Lakes of Covadonga. Today, we head off west the lakes of Covadonga, but before starting the drive up to the lakes, we make a short stop at the Covadonga sanctuary 'The Lourdes' of northern Spain. It was here, according to legend, legend that Christian re-conquest of Spain began. We continue up the windy road to the lakes, passing by the "Viewpoint of the Queen" on route. On leaving the often 'busy' lakes behind, we soon drop down into the 'majada' de Belbin, where during the summer months cheese is still produced in a very traditional manner. After filling our water bottles, we join an ancient Roman path that takes down us to the rarely visited foothills of the Western Massif for an ascent of Peña Pandescura (1000m) before dropping down through an ancient forest into the Casaño gorge where in the summer months its possible to bath in the rock pools along the course of the river. Following the banks of the river through chestnut forest, our route finally leads us to the hamlet of La Molina, for the short drive back to our hotel.
Day 7: Portudera. A ten minute drive takes us to the small village of Tielve. The farm track out of the village is at first steep, but after a few minutes becomes gentler as we contour up the Duje valley. After an hour, we reach the hamlet of Vallefrio and a quick breather. We now follow the valley up for a short distance to the Vallefrio Col, where we join the first section of the "Calzada Romana" old roman path. Another short section on this well defined path, brings us to the "majada" de Tordin with its huge cave entrance. The route now levels off as we traverse across the top of the Portudera plateau, with its stunning views of the Central massif in the near distance to the south and the coastal range of the Sierra de Cuera to the north. As we start to descend, Arenas de Cabrales along about 6 other villages come into view way below us. The descent soon enters an Oak forest and in many places the Roman cobbling is still intact as a tribute to these early invaders. We eventually emerge back in ‘our’ village via a bridge over the river Cares and on a warm day, a bracing dip in the river!
End of Tour: After breakfast on Day 8. Transfer back to either Santander or Bilbao (if required)
How to book: Please email or call us on +34 985 846 640 to check availabilty.
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