Cantabria & Asturias Loop Cycling Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Santander
You will arrive in Santander by train, plane or bus and the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Stroll along the promenade for spectacular views over the Bay of Santander, or head into the bustling bars for an evening of tapas.

Day 2: Santander – Santillana del Mar
You will be picked up from your arrival point and transferred to the charming medieval village of Santillana del Mar, where you will be introduced to your bike and briefed on the route ahead. Spend the rest of the day wandering the cobbled streets, visiting the Romanesque cloister of the Colegiata de Santa Juliana or the museum dedicated to the Altamira Caves, or take an early ride along the country lanes down to the coast.

Day 3: Santillana del Mar – Comillas (22 km or 50 km)
You will ride westwards through green meadows, hills, valleys and unspoilt coastline. Novales sits amid lemon groves and traditional rural architecture, before the route reaches the coastline where green meadows meet the Bay of Biscay. In Comillas you will find a fine beach, a harbour, a lively square with tapas bars, and Gaudí's El Capricho alongside the Palacio Sobrellano. The nearby beach of Oyambre is spectacular.

Day 4: Comillas – Pechón (28 km or 43 km)
You will follow the spectacular coastline along the beaches of Oyambre and Merón. San Vicente de la Barquera, a busy fishing village almost entirely surrounded by its two estuaries, changes constantly with the tides. The route then turns inland towards the valley of the River Nansa and the Tina Menor estuary, with wonderful beaches and coastline, before reaching the village of Pechón.

Day 5: Pechón – Llanes (47 km)
You will ride westwards around the beautiful headland of Pechón, then cross the River Deva in Unquera to enter Asturias. Colombres is home to the grand villas built by the indianos, emigrants who returned from the Americas with their fortunes. The route continues between the coast and the dramatic Sierra de Cuera, foothills of the Picos de Europa, before a descent through eucalyptus forests to unspoilt beaches and the charming fishing village of Llanes.

Day 6: Llanes – Arenas de Cabrales (39 km or 50 km)
Shorter and longer route options will take you towards Arenas de Cabrales and the Picos de Europa, passing a string of fine beaches including the incredible landlocked beach of Gulpiyuri. You can ride through the hills and valleys behind Llanes, or rest the bike for a hike through the renowned Cares Gorge, or take the funicular up to the mountain village of Bulnes. Round off the day with Cabrales blue cheese and local Asturian cider.

Day 7: Arenas de Cabrales – Nansa Valley (35 km or 42 km)
You will follow the River Cares through its impressive limestone gorge. In the village of Panes, the Cares meets the Deva, which you will follow downstream, watching canoes on the river, to Unquera before crossing into the valley of the River Nansa. You can extend the ride to visit the cave of El Soplao, with its stalactites and stalagmites, before resting in a charming rural hotel by the River Nansa.

Day 8: Nansa Valley – Cabuérniga (27 km or 57 km)
You will follow the River Nansa to Puente Nansa and on to Carmona, one of the emblematic rural villages of Cantabria. A climb leads to the valley of Cabuérniga, formed by the River Saja and famous for its cocido montañés bean stew. A side trip leads to the rural village of Bárcena Mayor, and more ambitious riders may continue up to the mountain pass of Palombera for views over Campoo and the valley of the River Ebro.

Day 9: Cabuérniga – Puente Viesgo (42 km)
You will follow the River Saja to Ruente, where another river emerges from a cave said to be home to the mythical anjana. The route continues through green meadows and pretty villages before a short climb to the River Besaya and the village of Ríocorvo, then descends to the River Pas and Puente Viesgo, where you can relax in the hotel's spa, visit the cave paintings at El Castillo, or ride along the Pas on the vía verde cycle path.

Day 10: Puente Viesgo – Santander
Today's ride runs largely on cycle path all the way back to Santander. You will follow the River Pas downstream and then the River Pisuerga upstream towards the Parque de Cabárceno wildlife park, where a cable car is available if you would like to visit. The route continues past the mountain of Peña Cabarga, with its viewpoint over Cantabria, before reaching the Bay of Santander and the cycle path back into the city, completing the loop.

Day 11: Departure from Santander
Your tour ends today. Depart from Santander, or take a transfer to nearby Bilbao.