Picos de Europa 8-day walking trip

Settle into your comfortable hotel located in the village centre. Time to try the local cider on one of the terraces, or to visit Santa Maria de Llas Church of Romanesque origin. For walking gear or special food items, Arenas is an excellent place to do your shopping.

Challenge: Travel to Arenas de Cabrales

Villages along the way: Arenas de Cabrales

For a marvellous way to start the week you will enjoy a quiet walk along farming tracks between Arenas and Poo de Cabrales. If you want to extend your route until Humones Col, you can follow an extension route and, if you feel up to it, walk a bit further for getting amazing views of the valley of Cabrales at your feet.

Challenge: 12 km / 6,5 mi, 5 h, 560 m ascent and descent

Shorter tour: 9.5 km / 6 mi, 3.5 h, 380 ascent and descent

Villages along the way: Arenas de Cabrales, Poo de Cabrales

Short transfer to Tielve, one of the most authentic villages in this part of the Picos. Walk to Valfríu, where residents still produce the famous local blue cheese, Queso de Cabrales. Gradual ascent through a fairy-tale landscape of heather, old beech woods and streams to a pass at 1240 m, then down to Sotres (1050 m), one of the highest villages in the Picos de Europa. 

Challenge: 9 km / 5,5 mi, 3.5 - 4 hrs, 575 m ascent, 250 m descent

Villages along the way: Tielve and Sotres

Circular walk through the Eastern Massif of Picos, an area exploited by mining industries in the 19th century. A limestone landscape of sharp ridges, deep depressions and bottomless shafts. Brightly coloured alpine flora among the rocks. Good chance of seeing chamoix, vultures and different types of eagles.

Optional ascent to Pico San Carlos.

Challenge: 12.5 km / 8 mi, 5.5 h, 550 m ascent, 840 m descent

                        Optional ascent to Pico San Carlos: + 6 km / 4 mi, + 3 h, + 500 m ascent and descent

Villages along the way: Sotres

This spectacular route takes you up to the mountain hut at Vega de Urriellu, situated at the foot of the impressive ‘Picu Urriellu’ – also called ‘el Naranjo de Bulnes’. You start off with a transfer to Pandébano Col (elevation 1.240 m). From there you begin a steep ascent along a stone footpath, into a lunar landscape of outstanding beauty. This is the very heart of the Picos de Europa, home to chamois, vultures and alpine choughs. 

Once at the hut, after a well-deserved rest and time to properly admire the Peak, you retrace your steps - down to Pandébano Col - and continue walking back to Sotres. 

*In spring and autumn, snow may prevent you from doing the walk up to the refuge. In that case, today and tomorrow you will choose from the walking routes offered for Day 6.

Challenge: 18 km / 11 mi, 6.5 hrs, 1000 m ascent and descent

Villages along the way: Sotres

Today you choose from three different walks

The first option is The Capercaillie Route, an adventurous and varied circular walk through meadows and beech woods near Tresviso, with views deep down into the Urdón Gorge and quiet woodlands where you might hear the call of this rare bird - the ‘urogallo’. 

Valle de Áliva is a technically easier walk to the summer meadows of Áliva and back, exploring an interesting glacier valley at elevations of up to 1650 m, beneath impressive limestone walls of the Central and Eastern Massifs. Half-way you can stop for a rest on the terrace at the Hotel Refugio de Áliva, enjoying extraordinary views. 

The last option is a Circular walk from Sotres, a relaxing shorter walk, which starts directly from your hotel and takes you through woodlands and fields in the peaceful area around Sotres. 

Challenge: Capercaillie Route: 14 km / 8,5 mi, 6 - 6.5 hrs, 500 m ascent, 700 m descent

                       Valle de Áliva: 19 km / 12 mi, 6.5 hrs, 635 m ascent and descent

                       Circular walk from Sotres: 6 km / 4 mi, 2.5 hrs, 300 m ascent and descent

Villages along the way: Sotres

Your last day will be spent doing a short ascent up to Pandébano Col, followed by a long descent on all kinds of footpaths. This beautiful route takes you from Sotres up to the pass, then down to Bulnes. This authentic village, nestled among peaks, can only be reached on foot or (since 2001) by funicular railway. Once in Bulnes you can either take the funicular down to Poncebos  or continue another 1,5 to 2 hours on foot - through the spectacular Texu Gorge. 

Optionally, you can spend the day walking the Cares Gorge - a mainly flat, there-and-back walk.

Challenge: Bulnes: 13 km / 8 mi, 5 - 6 hrs, 425 m ascent, 1100 m descent

                  Cares Gorge: 23 km / 14,5 mi, 6.5 - 7 hrs, 600 m ascent and descent

Villages along the way: Sotres, Poncebos and Arenas de Cabrales

After breakfast your arrangement ends.

Challenge: Travel from Cabrales