4-day Picos de Europa Challenge MTB Holiday
Self-guided Picos de Europa MTB tour
- Classic MTB tour at the Picos de Europa National Park, around the Ándara eastern massif
- Very demanding route through mining tracks, agricultural roads and some interior paved roads
- Conventional and electric mountain bikes (650W) optional rental
- Charming accommodation in emblematic towns
- Luggage transfers between hotels
- Good restaurants with typical (and hypercaloric) food from the area
Arenas de Cabrales is the perfect entrance to the Picos de Europa National Park with easy access by car or bus. Here we deliver your rental bike or we get yours ready in the BikePicos workshop at 18hrs and then we take you to the hotel in Sotres. If you want to do this way up (20 km and 950 m ascent, end of stage of the Vuelta 2017) by bike in the afternoon, go ahead! We'll carry your luggage anyway. In the evening you will have a welcome dinner at the Hotel.
Challenge: Travel to Cabrales
Villages along the way: Arenas de Cabrales, Sotres
From Sotres to the beginning of the Ándara mining tracks there are just 3 km of asphalt road. At the Hito de Escarandi, the mountain bike section begins with a descent to Bejes, passing through a magical beech forest, the Majada La Llama and a track above the Urdón gorge with vertiginous views. Try not to get too close to Salto de la Cabra (500 m drop to the Urdón gorge) or get among the herds of cows guarded by mastiffs accustomed to vis-à-vis wolves. In Bejes another vertical climb awaits you to Collado Pelea, before reaching the Cantabrian slope of the Picos de Europa and your comfortable hotel on the outskirts of the medieval town of Potes
Challenge: 36 km / 22.4 mi, 1350 m ascent, 2100 m descent
Villages along the way: Sotres, Bejes, Cabañes, Tama and Potes
Entertaining day full of continuous ups and downs along forest tracks in the Camaleño Valley, passing through the Santo Toribio Monastery and some towns with monumental mansions. Return to Cabrales along the Aliva glacier valley where thousands of cows graze while they are watched by griffon vultures and other birds of prey. The route seems long, but the last 25km are downhill, of which 5 are quite technical (with a lot of stones) but 17 can be done quickly on asphalt. As soon as you arrive in Arenas you can take a dip in the hotel pool and recharge your batteries in a restaurant or a sidrería.
Challenge: 49 km / 30.4 mi, 1,875 m uphill, 1,725 downhill
Villages along the way: Potes, Mogrovejo, Pembes, Aliva, Sotres, Arenas
After breakfast your arrangement ends.
Family-run hotel, inaugurated in 2005. The rooms and terraces offer spectacular views to the Picos de Europa. They have a restaurant with the traditional gastronomy of the area.
In the heart of the villa of Arenas de Cabrales, you can find this hotel which offers a garden, several terraaces, outdoor swimming pool, private parking, lounge, library and wifi area to its guests. A place to relax, dream, rest, enjoy ... and discover!
Modern hotel on the outskirts of Potes that has spacious and comfortable rooms, which have a rustic-style decoration and offer views of the surroundings. The common spaces stand out for their comfort and spaciousness, a pleasant lounge with a fireplace and free Wi-Fi will become the point for chatting with friends.
You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between end of June and end of October. In spring there can be snow on the high passes, which closes the passage.
The nearest airports to the Picos de Europa are Oviedo-Asturias (OVD), Santander (SDR) and Bilbao (BIO)
Arrive in Arenas de Cabrales
From the airports there are good bus connections to city centre bus stations, where you can catch a connecting bus to your destination (ALSA bus company, see time tables at www.alsa.es).
From Oviedo centre there are direct buses to Arenas de Cabrales, though these services cannot be booked in advance. From Santander and Bilbao, you take a direct bus to Unquera and then continue by taxi to Arenas de Cabrales.
NOTE: It is wise to book your bus tickets and taxi transfer in advance, especially for arrivals and when travelling in summer or on Friday afternoons. You can buy your bus tickets through the ALSA website www.alsa.es or through your S-cape office in Spain, also responsible for booking your taxi from Unquera to Arenas.
Departure from Arenas de Cabrales
Your trek ends in Arenas de Cabrales. Bus tickets can be booked in advance through S-cape Travel.
Airport transfers for arrival / departure can be booked in advance through S-cape Travel. Costs will depend on number of passengers, airport used and time of pick up.
If you arrive in your own vehicle, you can leave it parked on a public parking place in Arenas de Cabrales (free but unguarded parking).
MOUNTAIN BICYCLES
- Model: MMR KUMA 29
- Type: Front Suspension
- Frame: Aluminum 6061-T6 double hydroformed
- Brakes: Shimano MT-200 Hydraulic
- Covers: Hutchinson Python 2
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
Rental bikes ALWAYS include: repair kit, inflation pump and padlock.
Depending on the type of bicycle, you can add (free of charge, but on request): map holder, phone holder and/or 1 front pannier
Helmet available (on request). €5/adults
MOUNTAIN E-BIKES
- Model: MMR KORE
- Type: Front Suspension
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX (85 Nm)
- Battery: Bosch Power Tube 625
- Frame: Aluminum 6061hydroformed Double Butted
- Brakes: Shimano M420 180/160
- Covers: Hutchinson Griffus TLR
Available tracks for GPS and mobile on request. Self App for route tracking
Included
- 3 nights´accommodation with brakfast
- In double or double rooms for individual use with bathroom
- Welcome dinner (day 1)
- Transfer from Arenas to Sotres on day 1
- Luggage transfer between hotels
- Digital detailed route notes and maps in English
- Access to the trip on GUIBO
- 24-hour telephone assistance
Not Included
- Other dinners and meals
- Bicycle rental (see optional services)
Extras
- Transfers from any point in Asturias (airport, bus or train stations)
- Mountain bike rental, conventional or electric
- Shipment of printed documents to the first accommodation
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4-day Picos de Europa Challenge MTB Holiday
Contact
-
Edificio Sovega bajo, Crta General s/n
33554 Arenas de Cabrales
Asturias , Spaininfo@s-capetravel.eu
+34 (0) 985 846 455
UK call free 0800 707 44 35 -
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am – 6:00pm (CET)
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am – 6:00pm (CET)