Picos De Europa
Across the Picos De Europa - 6 Nights Hiking Holiday
€50.00
Out of stock
925 Euro
Single room supplement 155 Euro
Picos 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 breathtaking 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 exsisting 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 guided 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.
We walk for 5 days before we transfer to Bilbao or Santander for your onward journey.
Day 1
Meet at Bilbao or Santander airport and transfer to Espinama
Hotel Posada Sobrevilla III – Dinner in hotel and go through the week.
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.
Dinner in Espinama restaurant
Day 3
Hike from the hotel.
Espinama - Refugio Aliva - Sotres 15km - 5-7hrs 750m Ascent/Descent
A stunning walk right over the Central massif through the limestone landscape, walking along good paths but must be wary of navigation. All the way to the refugio at Naranjo de Bulnes(lunch can be bought here). Enjoy the dramtic peak above you before the beautiful long descent down in to the valley and on Sotres.
Check in Hotel Casa Cipriano or Hotel Pena Castil
Evening meal in hotel
Day 4
Sotres – Tielve – Sotres – 14km 4 -6 hrs Ascent/Descent 700m (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.
Dinner in Hotel
Day 5
Sotres – Bulnes – walk to Poncebos 13km Ascent 1200m Descent 700m
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 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) and check into Hotel Picos De Europa.
Or
Walk to the refugio at Naranjo de Bulnes 17km return. This is a beautiful walk that takes in some breath taking scenery as well as walking to the iconic Naranjo De Bulnes.
Day 6
Transfer to Poncebos(10mins)
Garganta del Cares Walk Up to 24km Ascent 1000m Descent 1000m
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 we will walk the full gorge to Cain but people can decide when they have walked enough.
Transfer to Arena De Cabrales(10mins)
Dinner in Hotel
Day 7
Check out of hotel.
Transfer to Bilbao or Santander(depending on arrival airport)
Posada Sobrevilla III :- A beautiful hotel based in Espinama. Good rooms and breakfast. Eat here on first night only. Good selection of restaurants on Espinama village. Wifi in rooms.
Hotel Pena Castil :- Great hotel with great food.
Hotel Casa Cipriano :- A nice hotel with a the local bar attached. Excellent restaurant. Wifi in rooms.
Hotel Juansabeli :- A good hotel with fabulous food. Wifi in rooms