Find your perfect trip!
Find your perfect trip!
4-day Picos de Europa Challenge MTB Holiday
4-day Picos de Europa Challenge MTB Holiday
style :
Level :
e-bike :
Duration :
4 days
Comfort :
period:
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Code:
ESSB034
4-day Picos de Europa Challenge MTB Holiday
4-day Picos de Europa Challenge MTB Holiday
Self-guided Picos de Europa MTB tour
Is this tour for me?
This 4-day Picos de Europa MTB challenge is a demanding self-guided ride around the spectacular Ándara massif in the eastern Picos de Europa. Designed for experienced riders, this tour blends technical trails, striking landscapes, and welcoming mountain hospitality.
Tour Highlights
- Challenging routes on mining tracks, livestock paths, and sections of quiet paved roads
- Demanding terrain with steep climbs, fast descents, and technical sections
- Optional rental of conventional or electric mountain bikes (650W)
- Charming accommodation in emblematic mountain towns
- Luggage transfers between hotels for a lighter, more enjoyable ride
- Excellent local restaurants serving hearty regional cuisine
View map
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at Cabrales and ascent to Sotres
Day 2: From Sotres to Potes (36 km / 22.4 mi)
Day 3: From Potes to Arenas de Cabrales (49 km / 30.4 mi)
Day 4: End of programme
Day 1: Arrival at Cabrales and ascent to Sotres
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
Day 2: From Sotres to Potes (36 km / 22.4 mi)
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
Day 3: From Potes to Arenas de Cabrales (49 km / 30.4 mi)
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 ascent, 1,725 descent
Villages along the way: Potes, Mogrovejo, Pembes, Aliva, Sotres, Arenas
Day 4: End of programme
After breakfast your arrangement ends.
ACCOMMODATION
Where will you stay?
For this cycling tour, we have carefully selected three welcoming family-run accommodations that combine comfort, character and a convenient location along the route. The hotels are bike-friendly and chosen with cyclists’ needs in mind, and used to welcoming travellers on bike tours.
Extra nights can be booked at any of the accommodations along the route.
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Hotel Sotres (Sotres)Hotel Sotres is a family-run hotel, opened in 2005, offering spectacular views of the Picos de Europa from its rooms and terraces. It also features a restaurant serving traditional local cuisine.
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Hotel Picos de Europa (Arenas de Cabrales)Hotel Picos de Europa is a family-run hotel located in the heart of Arenas de Cabrales and offers a comfortable stay with a garden, several terraces, an outdoor swimming pool, private parking, a lounge and a library.
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Hotel Valdecoro (Potes)Hotel Valdecoro is a 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 pleasant lounge with a fireplace and free Wi-Fi will become the point for chatting with friends.
PRACTICAL INFO
How do I get to Cabrales?
The nearest airports to the Picos de Europa are Oviedo - Asturias (OVD), Santander (SDR) and Bilbao (BIO).
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. 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.
Departure from Arenas de Cabrales
- Travel to Oviedo by direct bus
- For Santander or Bilbao, take a taxi to Unquera, then continue by bus
Airport transfers (arrival and departure) can also be arranged in advance through S-Cape Travel. Costs vary depending on the number of passengers, the airport, and the transfer time.
More information on how to get to the Picos de Europa on our blog.
Where is Picos de Europa?
The Picos de Europa is a mountain range in northern Spain and home to the country’s oldest national park, shared by the regions of Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León.
When to go?
The best time to go to Picos de Europa is late spring, summer and early autumn. During these months, temperatures are mild, days are often sunny, and snow has usually melted from the mountains. Outside this period, snow and ice can remain at higher altitudes, which may affect both cycling conditions and driving.
Tip: Please note that two mountain races take place in the area on the first and second weekends of June, attracting large numbers of visitors. If you plan to travel around those dates, a couple of days' flexibility will help us confirm your trip.
Travelling by car
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).
Bike rental options
All rental bikes include a repair kit, inflation pump, helmet and padlock as standard.
Depending on the bicycle type, the following accessories can be added free of charge on request:
- Map holder
- Phone holder
- One front pannier
MOUNTAIN BICYCLES
- Model: MMR KUMA 29
- Type: Front Suspension
- Frame: Aluminum 6061-T6 double hydroformed
- Brakes: Shimano MT-200 Hydraulic
- Covers: Hutchinson Python 2
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
Navigation app and tracks
Included in your booking is access to the tour on our navigation app. You can also download the tracks and follow the routes on your own device, but we recommend checking the app for the day-to-day itinerary.
Weather & Climate
The weather in the Picos de Europa can be unpredictable, with cool temperatures and sudden changes — even in summer. In the higher areas, you might get more sun, as you're often above the clouds (around 1000m).
| Month | Temperature (ºC) | Hours of sunshine | Rain (%) |
| Apr | 8–12 °C | 5 h | 45 % |
| May | 11–16 °C | 6 h | 35 % |
| Jun | 14–19°C | 7 h | 25 % |
| Jul | 16–21 °C | 8 h | 20 % |
| Aug | 16–22 °C | 7 h | 20 % |
| Sep | 16–21 °C | 6 h | 30 % |
| Oct | 11–16 °C | 5 h | 45 % |
What gear do I need?
Besides sun protection (cap and sunscreen) for the summer season, we recommend bringing a windproof jacket and some light warm clothing, as the weather in Picos can change quickly.
On a couple of the routes, you will pass through a village, but there may be no other opportunities to refill your water bottle, so make sure to carry enough water for the day.
Optional accessories such as a front pannier and a phone holder can be added to your bike rental. We highly recommend the phone holder for easy route navigation.
Difficulty & Terrain
This is a moderate to challenging mountain bike trip, best suited to riders with a good level of fitness and some off-road experience. The routes include long climbs, technical descents, rocky and loose surfaces, and continuous elevation changes. Daily distances are manageable, but the combination of terrain and elevation gain requires both stamina and bike-handling skills. For riders who want to reduce the physical effort while still enjoying the spectacular landscapes and trails of the Picos de Europa, e-MTBs are highly recommended, making the longer climbs much more enjoyable.
How to Book & Our Terms
When you make a booking, we first check availability and do our best to confirm all your chosen options. Once everything is confirmed, we’ll contact you. If something isn’t available, we’ll get in touch to discuss alternative options with you.
You can note any preferences or questions in the comments box at the final step of booking. For full details, please see our Terms & Conditions and How to book pages.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 3 nights' accommodation with breakfast
- Welcome dinner in Hotel Sotres
- Transfer from Arenas to Sotres on Day 1*
- Luggage transfer between accommodations
- Detailed digital route notes and maps (in English)
- Access to the trip via the GUIBO navigation app
- 24-hour telephone assistance
* You can also choose to cycle up to Sotres while we transport your luggage from Arenas. See Day 1 of the itinerary for details.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Other dinners and meals
- Bicycle rental (see optional services)
- Lunches and dinners
- Personal expenses
- Flights and transfers to and from the accommodations
- Travel insurance
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- Transfers from/to the airport on arrival/departure
- Mountain bike rental, with conventional and electric models available
- Shipment of printed documents to the first accommodation
REVIEWS
Sure! For this tour, we recommend adding an extra night in the medieval village of Potes, which is well worth a visit. The surrounding valley offers quiet secondary roads and scenic gravel tracks, perfect for a relaxed ride exploring some of the area's charming villages and beautiful landscapes.
Yes, helmets are mandatory in Spain. If you rent a bike with us, helmets are included. However, if you prefer to bring your own helmet, that's absolutely fine!
There is no exact answer to this question, as battery range depends on several factors, including rider weight, terrain, weather conditions, and, above all, the level of assistance used during the ride.
The e-MTBs offered on this tour are equipped with high-capacity batteries that are generally sufficient for completing the routes. However, to maximize battery life, we recommend using the assistance modes efficiently and reserving the highest support levels for the steepest climbs.
Sure, please do! Although our office is not open to the general public, we are always happy to welcome our clients in person and assist with any questions they may have. You can find us on the main street between 9:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday, right next to BikePicos, our bike partner for this tour.
Why book with S-Cape?
Local experts
We know the trails inside out - we've walked them all, so we can guide you.
Travel your way
Go when you want, with whoever you choose - we take care of the rest.
Our Navigation App
Our app has every route mapped, with daily details and extra info for a seamless journey.
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4-day Picos de Europa Challenge MTB Holiday
Contact
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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)