Grand Cantabria & Asturias Cycling Tour

Day 1: Arrival – Santillana del Mar
You will be picked up from your arrival point and transferred to the charming medieval village of Santillana del Mar. After an introduction to your bike and a route briefing, the rest of the day is yours: wander the cobbled streets of the village, visit the modern museum of the Altamira Caves, or take a short ride through the surrounding country lanes down to the coast.

Day 2: Santillana del Mar – San Vicente de la Barquera (36 or 62 km)
You will ride west through green meadows, hills, valleys and a stretch of unspoilt coastline and beaches. Novales sits amid lemon groves with fine rural architecture, while Comillas offers a beach, a harbour and a pretty square with tapas bars, alongside the architectural sights of Gaudí's El Capricho and the Palace of the Marqués de Comillas. You will cycle through the Oyambre Nature Park and along the beaches of Oyambre and Merón, with the Picos de Europa visible in the distance above San Vicente.

Day 3: San Vicente de la Barquera (free day, rides of various distances)
Spend time getting to know this pretty fishing village, with its many seafood restaurants and dramatic setting. Choose one of the free-day routes: ride to the mountain village of Carmona, take a train to the fishing village of Llanes in neighbouring Asturias and cycle back to San Vicente, explore the unspoilt hill country behind the village, or simply spend a lazy afternoon on the beach.

Day 4: San Vicente de la Barquera – Llanes (47 km)
You will ride west around the headland of Pechón, with its magnificent coastline, before crossing the River Deva at Unquera into Asturias. Colombres is home to the grand villas built by the indianos, emigrants who made their fortune in the Americas and returned to build here. The route continues between the coast and the dramatic Sierra de Cuera, foothills of the Picos de Europa, before a descent through eucalyptus forests brings you to unspoilt beaches and the charming fishing village of Llanes.

Day 5: Llanes (free day, rides of various distances)
Visit a string of fine beaches, including the landlocked beach of Gulpiyuri, or ride through the hills and valleys behind Llanes. Alternatively, rest the bikes and take a canoeing trip on the Deva or Sella rivers, or hike through the dramatic Cares Gorge in the heart of the Picos de Europa. You can also take a train to Ribadesella to visit the Tito Bustillo Caves and their prehistoric paintings before cycling back, or simply enjoy the lively atmosphere of Llanes.

Day 6: Llanes – Arenas de Cabrales (37 km)
Turning south towards the Picos de Europa, you will ride a spectacular route over the pass of El Mazuco and the Sierra de Cuera before the mountains themselves come into view. You will pass pastures and hills typical of Asturias, before a final descent takes you into the valley of Cabrales and the village of Arenas de Cabrales, famous for its blue cheese and gateway to the Picos, where you will spend the next two nights.

Day 7: Arenas de Cabrales (free day)
A free day in Arenas de Cabrales. You can cycle to the mountain village of Sotres (34 km round trip) or continue further to Tresviso (57 km round trip), which, like Cabrales, is famous for its blue cheese matured in caves and for its spectacular setting. You could also take the funicular railway, or walk, up to Bulnes, once among the most isolated villages in Spain, or walk the celebrated Ruta del Cares through the heart of the Picos de Europa — or simply take the day off and enjoy the village atmosphere of Arenas.

Day 8: Arenas de Cabrales – Picos de Europa (Potes or Cosgaya) (50 km)
You will follow the River Cares, with the Sierra de Cuera to your left and the Picos de Europa massifs to your right. In Panes, the Cares flows into the Deva, and you will follow the valley through the dramatic gorge of La Hermida to Potes. Mountains close in on every side as you reach the valley of Liébana, completely encircled by peaks. You can choose to stay in the village of Potes or in nearby Cosgaya for the next three nights.

Days 9–10: Picos de Europa (free days, rides of various distances)
Two free days to explore the valleys of Liébana. The cable car at Fuente Dé offers breathtaking views of the mountains, home to brown bear and wolves. You can hike through the lush green valleys or higher mountains, or visit the busy market village of Potes with its mix of farmers, tourists and mountaineers. You could also cycle up to the Monastery of Santo Toribio or the country monastery of Piasca — there is no shortage of things to do in this magnificent setting.

Day 11: Descent of the Miera Valley to Somo (43 km)
A vehicle transfer takes you to the Cantabrian Mountains to begin the descent of the Miera Valley, starting at 822 metres above sea level, down to your final stop in Somo. A ride through the limestone valley of the River Miera brings you down to the farmland around Somo and the Bay of Santander, passing the mountain village of San Roque de Riomiera and the spa village of Liérganes with its charming old quarter.

Day 12: Somo (free day, rides of various distances)
Somo has a beautiful beach with miles of golden sand. A short boat ride across the bay takes you to the lively city of Santander, capital of Cantabria, where you can enjoy the belle époque atmosphere of El Sardinero or shop in the town centre. You could also cycle through green country lanes to the beaches of Loredo, Langre or Galizano and the village of Ajo, known for its paellas, or eat freshly grilled sardines in the seaside restaurants of Pedreña.

Day 13: Departure from Somo
After breakfast, you will be transferred from Somo to Santander or Bilbao, bringing your tour to an end.