5-day Picos de Europa Family Walking Holiday

Settle in at your hotel situated at the very start of the cares Gorge in Poncebos. If you arrive early, you can walk up in aprox 20 min. to Camarmeña and enjoy your first views of the Picu Urriellu. Just before dinner time the S-cape team will present itself and explain all details of the tour, when you will do self-guided walk, when you will meet the guide, how the luggage transport is organized etc.etc. After that you will have dinner on your own (not inc.) 

Challenge: 45 min. 150 m ascent and descent

The Cares Gorge is an absolute classic from the localhiking repertoire; a stunning route walked by thousands each year, along a 12 km / 7,5 mi channel which feeds the hydroelectric station in Poncebos. After your lunchpack for today has been delivered by S-cape and the luggage has been put into the support vehicle, you start the self-guided walk with a short but steep ascent of 150 m on a zig-zag trail. After 45 min, the path levels off and you continue the rest of the way to Caín nearly “on the flat” (12 km). From Caín a 4x4 taxi will take you to the next accommodation in Espinama, a beautiful drive of aprox. 1.5 hours across the mountain pass Pandetrave. 

Challenge: 3.5 - 4 hrs, 12 km / 7,5 mi, 300 m ascent, 50 m descent 

Villages along the way: Poncebos, Caín, Posada de Valdeón, Espinama

Today you first walk in 1 hr to Fuente Dé in order to take the pre-booked cable car high into the central massif. After a short climb, you'll descend gradually to the Áliva Pass (1645 m) and follow a glacier moraine down the Duje River valley to the bucolic Vegas de Sotres from where taxis will drive you in 10 min to Sotres (1050 m altitude). In this highest village of the Picos, a very tasting blue cheese is made that you will have to try.

Challenge: max. 13 km / 8 mi, 380 m ascent and 900 m descent, 5 hrs

Villages along the way: Espinama, Sotres

The highlight of this trek of highlights, takes you up to the legendary Picu Urriellu – also called Naranjo de Bulnes – a stunning peak and mecca for world-class rock climbers.

Because we will traverse an alpine area, today a mountain guide will acompany you. He or she will meet you in the morning at the hostal and can help you to decide what to take up exactly to the hut, as luggage transfer is NOT incuded today. You will have to pack some items in your rugsack, including at least sheets, some extra warm cloths, a tooth brush and slippers. The bulk of your luggage stays behind in Sotres, safely stored in a private garage.

When everyone is ready to go, a 4x4 taxi will drive you all to the start of the walk at Collado Pandébano. Here the apline adventure starts as you follow a footpath up into the lunar landscapes at the heart of the central massif, home to chamoix and alpine choughs. The last zigzags up to the hut are very demanding, but you will forget about the effort as soon as you reach it and enjoy the views all the way to the ocean! There might be snow to play with still!

Today dinner at the hut is included so you will only have to carry the lunchpack for today.

Challenge: 4 hrs, 7 km / 4,5 mi, 950 m ascent, 125 m descent

After a typical mountain-hut breakfast we descent along the same path to Pandébano (how easy it is now!!) where the S-cape Team awaits with the lunch in the shade. Finally you say goodby to the guide and get into the 4x4 taxi for a last drive to Poncebos or Arenas de cabrales, depening on how you travel on. Extra Taxi transfers can be arranged to nearby airport (Oviedo,Santander or Bilbao).

Challenge: 2.5 hrs, 7 km / 4,5 mi, 125 m ascent, 950 m descent.