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 Welcome to Hooked on Spain Holidays and our walking holiday in Northern Spain. This particular hiking holiday in Spain explores the fabulous Picos de Europa Mountains of Northern Spain situated to the west of Bilboa and south of Santander. This hiking vacation is available as a eleven night self guided tour. This Trek for certain allows you to see the high peaks of Green Spain. The Picos de Europa are without a doubt the most impressive mountains of Spain emerging from a coastal landscape as a natural frontier between the green north of Spain and the more arid Castille. The heart of the Picos is formed by three whimsical limestone massifs, that aren’t easily crossed on foot or by car (luggage transport). During the our 12-day hiking trip you actually cross the Picos from north to south and back again, and also spend 2 days in the Cantabrian mountains on the south side of Picos. In this depopulated region, with a completely different landscape of conglomerate rock, where bears and wolves try hard to survive.
1st June to 21st July and from 28th August to 15th October
( Level 3 self guided tour )
Day 1 Arrival at Arenas de Cabrales.
You can leave your car at the private parking lot for the duration of the trip. If you arrive by plane at Bilbao , Santander or Asturias airport, public transport can be booked.
Day 2 Sotres
After a 15 minute transfer to Poncebos you either walk or go by funicular railway to the village of Bulnes which cannot be reached by car. From here you continue along old stone footpaths through meadows and shrubs to Sotres, the highest village in Picos. (5,5 - 6 hours). If a 1200m ascent is too much for a first day you could also walk from Tielve to Sotres (4 hrs).
Day 3 A circular walk
A circular walk through the Eastern massif of Picos which was exploited in the 19th century by mining industries; a whimsical limestone landscape with its sharp ridges, depressions and shafts. Brightly coloured alpine flora is hidden among the rocks. There is a good chance of seeing chamois, vultures and different kinds of eagles. Several options (4 or 5,5 hours).
Day 4 Ascent to the Vega de Urriellu mountain refuge
Ascent to the Vega de Urriellu mountain refuge located at 2000 m, right at the foot of the outstanding silhouette of the Picu Urriellu in the heart of the Central massif (5,5 hours ). The Picu Urriellu is one of the most famous climbing areas in Spain because of its 500 m vertical wall and conical top. You will take sleeping bag and some belongings for just one night with you to the refuge. The rest of your luggage will be transported to the hotel in Espinama.
NOTE Until the first half of June the climb to the refuge cant be guaranteed because of snowfall. In case the mountain hut cannot be reached, you will walk via a lower track to Espinama on day 4 and do a circular walk on day 5 (ascent by cable car). August not bookable because accommodations donut accept 1 night stays in this crowded month.
Day 5 Central Massif to Espinama
Further you go into the heart of the central Massif to the Jou sin Tierra, one of the deepest and widest natural depressions (dolines) in the Picos. Then you climb to a pass at 2350m and walk through a truly impressive moon like landscape to the southern edge of the massif and on to Espinama (6 hours). Descent by cable-car.
Day 6
Today you can choose for a day of rest or make a very spectacular circular walk (5,5 hours). After taking a bus to Fuente Dé (1100m), you follow an easy land rover track to Caben Remoña (1750m). From there an old steep mining path leads you up in tight bends to the polje Vega de Liordes (2100m) and back again to Fuente Dé, where you take a bus back to Espinama. On Saturday and Sunday you’ll have to walk in the morning to Fuente Dé (1 hour extra) because there are no busses
Day 7 Trevino
After several strenuous days an easy day-walk through the quiet beech woods (4-5 hours) from Espinama to the rural accommodation in Treviño, an authentic 17th century farmhouse. You also could choose to take a rest day and travel with the luggage to Treviño.
Day 8 Llanaves de la Reina
Today you walk along a land rover track (closed to the general public) through woods and high meadows to the Collado de Llesba (1650 m). From here you may climb up and down to the Pico Coriscoa (2234m) with excellent views of the Picos. Then you descend over grassy slopes to Llanaves de la Reina (5 or 7 hours)
Day 9
Today you explore the empty and vast region on the south side of the Picos, where bears and wolves hide from human beings. Strange conglomerate rock and totally different flora. At the end you pass through the former domains of the queen of Spain; almost abandoned villages which were once the summer residence for huge herds of sheep. (8 hours)
Day 10
Transfer to Ponton pass (1450m) from which you walk (4 hours) mainly through dense beech woods down to the village of Oseja, and then up again to a cosey hostel in Soto de Sajambre. If you are tired from yesterday’s walk, you can also start your walk in Oseja (1,5 hours walk) or drive directly to the hostel with your luggage.
Day 11 Santillan
Day-walk along the Senda del Arcediano, an old footpath that was created by an enlightened archdeacon in the 17th century. First up to Collado de Beza (1495m) and then you’ll descend for hours through quiet summer meadows and open beech woods.
True pastoral scenes on your way. After the 5,5 hour walk you can take a taxi from Amieva or follow the partly paved land road right to the door of your typical rural pension in Santillan (8,5 hours).
Day 12 Your tour is complete
After breakfast your holiday comes to an end. A taxi will take you to Cangas where you can take buses to Oviedo, Bilbao or back to the first accommodation in Arenas de Cabrales.
Difficulty: Walks of 4 to 8 hours during which you climb and descend 750m as an average; maximum 1200m up (day 6) and 1100m down (day 8). Two possible rest days.
Accommodation: 10 nights in family run hotels and pensions with en-suite bathrooms in all the rooms and 1 night in dormitory a large restaurant-sitting room with fireplace and basic toilets. Blankets can be rented at the hut.
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What is Included
- 11 nights Bed breakfast and dinner
- 10 nights in hotels , 1 night in Dormitory in mountain hut
- Information Pack
- Luggage transfer per schedule
- maps and walk instructions
- Transfers as per schedule
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Extras
- Transport before and after tour
- Single Rooms
- Entrance to attractions
- public transport
- Funicular railway and cable car
- Travel Insurance
- Rented blankets at mountain hut
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2009 Prices
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Tour Code Picos12
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Price per persons based on 2 persons sharing double room
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£706
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Single person
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Not Available
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high season supplement per person 15/7-21/7,28/8-31/8
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£33
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How to get there
By plane to Bilbao or Santander airports where transfers are available to Arenas
Fly Easyjet or others to Bilbao or Ryanair to Santander
By Ferry to Santander or Bilbao.from UK.
Transfers from Bilbao around 3.5 hours ( cost around 32€ )and from Santander around 1.5 hours.
Private transfers from Santander to Arenas are around 90€ for 1-4 persons paid locally
Extension Hotels: Bilbao, Sotres , Trevino and Llanaves de la reina
Click below to view our Worldwide walking holidays
Photo by Anneamrie Dekkers , Marieke Knaapen
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