Cantabria & Asturias Tour

Cantabria & Asturias 8-Day Tour is a self-guided, circular "move-on-each-day" route through eight different locations, combining coastline, fishing ports and green valleys with the backdrop of the Picos de Europa. From the medieval village of Santillana del Mar, with its Romanesque cloister and Altamira Caves museum, the route heads through the lemon groves of Novales to Comillas, with its harbour and Gaudí's El Capricho, then along the beaches of Oyambre and Merón, past the fishing village of San Vicente de la Barquera, to Pechón.

Crossing into Asturias at Unquera, past the sumptuous villas of Colombres, the route follows the Sierra de Cuera to the fishing village of Llanes, then on to Arenas de Cabrales, close to the Picos de Europa, where riders can swap the bike for a hike through the dramatic Cares Gorge or a funicular ride to the mountain village of Bulnes, finishing the day with Cabrales blue cheese and Asturian cider.

The route continues along the limestone gorge of the River Cares to the Nansa Valley, with an optional detour to the stalactite caves of El Soplao, then through the rural village of Carmona to Cabuérniga, Cantabria's oldest village, with a side trip to Bárcena Mayor and the mountain pass of Palombera. The final stage follows the River Saja and Besaya through the medieval village of Riocorvo to the spa hotel at Puente Viesgo, with its prehistoric cave paintings at Monte Castillo.

Highlights:

• Beautiful headland of Pechón
• Cantabria's oldest village, Bárcena Mayor, near Cabuérniga
• Lemon groves of Novales and Comillas' El Capricho by Gaudí
• Landlocked beach of Gulpiyuri near Llanes
• Cares Gorge hike or funicular to the mountain village of Bulnes, with Cabrales blue cheese
• Spa hotel and prehistoric cave paintings at Puente Viesgo

Surface and terrain:
Generally easy to intermediate cycling. Shorter and longer route options supplied for most days. Carbon, e-road, trekking and e-hybrid bikes offered.

Suitable for:
Self-guided cyclists wanting a full circular tour of Cantabria and Asturias, with flexible daily distances and an optional hiking day in the Picos de Europa.