Self-Guided - Picos De Europa
Fuente De, Bulnes, Cares Gorge
€50.00
695 Euro
Single room supplement(with other hikers) - 155 Euro
Solo traveller supplement - 220 Euro
The Picos de Europa are a range of dramatic mountains inland from the northern coast of Spain. They straddle the 3 regions of Asturias, Cantabria, Leon and Castille. The name derives from ships arriving from America and these were the first landmark “The Peaks Of Europe”
The Picos de Europa consists of three massifs Central, Eastern and Western. The Picos are mainly limestone and thousands of years of weather and glacial action has sculpted the peaks into some awesome landscapes.
The central and western massifs are separated by the breath taking Cares Gorge(Garganta del Cares), a 1.5km deep gorge with a stunning path running along the water canal that feeds two hydro electric stations. The highest peak is Torre de Cerredo at 2650m but the most recognisable peak is Naranjo de Bulnes or Picu Urriellu at 2529m.
The Picos De Europa, has Cantabrian brown bears (Ursus arctos pyrenaicus) and wolves (Canis lupus signatus) live in the more remote regions. There are about 150 bears in the massifs and they are timid. There are roughly 2000 grey wolf in Spain with only a fraction of the population existing in the Picos. The main mammal you will encounter is the Rebeccos(Cantabrian Chamois), there were reportedly 8000 sightings in 2008
We have designed this walking holiday to walk some of the best bits of the Picos de Europa. We walk through the Eastern and Central massifs and utilise the El Cable(cable car) at Fuente De to gain 850m and to make the walking easier for some. We walk to the beautiful village of Sotres straight over the Eastern massif below the foot of the peak of Naranjo de Bulnes . We also walk to Bulnes which until 2001 was not connected by any transport but now the Funicular train connects the village to main road. Then we walk the Cares Gorge. The walking holiday stays for 2 nights in each hotel with only 1 night at the Cares gorge, your luggage is moved onwards for you to the next hotel.
We have chosen family run hotels that are good quality, comfortable and cook quality local traditional food. All the rooms are en-suite. We use local taxi drivers and we keep your transport to a minimum.
Whats included?
7 breakfasts and 2 evening meals in Picos De Europa, All luggage transfers, transfers to/from trail heads, comprehensive walk pack
Day 1
Arrive in Espinama - Transfers available from Santander OR Bilbao
Hotel Posada Sobrevilla III or Hostal Remona Dinner in hotel.
Day 2
Transfer to Fuente De (5mins) Catch El Cable(cable car 10 Euro one way Adult, 4 Euro one way Child)
Refugio Veronica Circular 12km - 5-6 hrs 600m Ascent/Descent
Circular walk to Refugio Veronica taking in some vast views of the Picos De Europa.
OR Walk 2 -
If bad weather or lots of snow - Espinama – Pido- Las Ilces – Espinama 12km 4-6hrs 500m Ascent/Descent
Walk from hotel no transfer to Fuente De.
A beautiful walk through the woods of Monte De Carbon along an easy to navigate and walk route. No need for transfer can walk straight from hotel in Espinama.
Dinner in hotel.
Day 3
Walk to Sotres 15 km 4-6 hrs – via GR202 750m Ascent/650m Descent
Walking from the hotel, you take the Gr202 all the way to Sotres. You can walk up to the Refugio De Aliva for a drink and rest. A beautiful walk along the Duje Valley.
Check into Hotel Peña Castil
Day 4
Sotres – Tielve – Sotres – 14km 4 -6 hrs 750m Ascent/Descent (can be shortened with a taxi from Tielve 9km)
Another great walk rising out of Sotres you will walk over grazing land with some stunning views down the Rio Duje Valley. Walk through disused farmsteads along a track before the final descent to Tielve. From here you need to walk along little used road for 2km before taking an ancient mule trail back into Sotres. Lunch can be had at the Hostal Duje just a little down the road towards Sotres.
Or
Jito De Escardi Circular 17km 5-7hrs – Ascent 850m/Descent 850m
After a short transfer from Sotres to Jito Escardi you follow this classic walk into the Western massif passing the disused mineral mines of the area. You can climb Mancandu peak – if you enjoy some scrambling. Transfer back to Sotres(10mins)
Day 5
Sotres – Bulnes – Funicular train(17 Euro one way)10km or walk to Poncebos
13km 360m Ascent/1200m Descent
A lovely walk out of Sotres and over the Collado Pondebano and then down to the village of Bulnes. Bulnes did not have any means of access till 2001 apart from on foot. Lunch can be had at Bulnes. Then you can either catch the Funicular train down to Poncebos or walk along a stunning gorge down to Poncebos.
Transfer to Arenas De Cabrales(10mins) check into Hotel Picos De Europa
Day 6
Transfer to Poncebos
Garganta del Cares Walk Up to 24km 300m Ascent/Descent
(You cannot catch a taxi from Cain as this is a 2.5 hr road journey.)
The famous Cares Gorge is 1.5km to the valley floor and is 12 km long to the village of Cain. You will pass through tunnels with amazing scenery. A walk well worth doing. This was built to serve the canal that runs parallel to the path.
This walk is a return walk to Poncebos, it is 24 km return from the village of Cain(12km each way) It is not hard walking but it is vertiginous. You can walk as long as you want on this day but bring lunch if you do not intend walking to Cain.
Transfer to Arenas De Cabrales
Day 7
Stay in Arenas for a 3rd night and walk the Sierra Juan Robre from the hotel OR
Transfer to Santander (1.5hrs) or Bilbao (2.5hrs)
Check into City hotel – We use centrally located 3 * hotels with breakfast
Evening meal of your choice
Day 8
Check out of Hotel and Transfer onwards
Santander - 1hr 30 mins - 130 euro each way for a group up to 7
Bilbao - 2hr 30 mins - 230 each way for a group up to 7
Contact us if your group is bigger
Public transport - To the start - Bus from Santander to Potes, then a taxi for the final 30mins
Return at the end - direct bus to Santander
Posada Sobre Villa III or Hostal Remona - Espinama
Hotel Casa Cipriano or Hotel Pena Castil - Sotres
Hotel Juansabeli or Hotel Picos De Europa - Arenas de Cabrales