Hiking In The Picos De Europa

Arrive at Bilbao airport and transfer to the hotel in Espinama. Leaving Bilbao behind us we head into the Cordillera Cantabrica. Standing on the river Nevandi at the southern edge of the Picos, Espinama makes an excellent base to prepare for our walk into the Central Massif. This once isolated village is surrounded by meadows and woods, dominated by the imposing karst peaks. We stay in a small family run posada.

Overnight Standard Hotel

We drive a short distance (5 kms) to Fuente De, nestling in a steep sided valley located at 1000m. The cable car whisks us up 900m – the views are already outstanding. From here we set off on our hike to Horcados Rojos along a well trodden path. You may choose to go for an optional ascent of Torre de los Horcados Rojos a 45 minute round trip. We will be rewarded with nice views of the surrounding peaks. We will continue after lunch to the Cabana Veronica refuge, a walkers rest stop and an opportunity to enjoy a warm drink in the open (approx 5 hours walking the whole walk). From here we return to the cable car, for a short ride back down to Fuente De.(+600mts / -600mts, 13kms)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We strike north, taking a track leading through farms and fields – a stiff 300m ascent to the Iguerdi pass, our route now is more moderate as we reach the Puertos De Aliva, the top of the pass framed by massif cliffs. From here an enormous U-shaped valleys extends beneath us, the tiny chapel of Ermita de la Virgen de Aliva giving us an idea of scale of this dramatic landscape. We follow the valley bottom, the product of massive glaciers from long ago, running parallel to the Rio Duje. Our base for the next 5 nights lies above us in Sotres, at 1045m it is the highest inhabited village in the Picos (approx 6 hours walking). Our hotel has been recently renovated but retains its tradition character. Sample the delights of Asturian gastronomy, relax in the bar or sit down beside the fire in the cosy lounge. The village of Sotres is in the heart of the Picos National Park – beside its splendid location, this traditional settlement is home to Cabrales cheese, famous amongst connoisseurs worldwide. (+850mts / -750mts, 19kms)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We drive the short distance down to the collection of red-roofed buildings known as Invernales de Cabao and cross the river. Then, ascending along a series of switch-backs, we gain height quickly to reach a viewpoint looking back towards Sotres. The track levels out now, ascending more gradually onto a kind of plateau. Here stands the tiny hamlet of Pandebano, where, in AD718, a battle took place between the Visigothic Christians and the remnants of a somewhat depleted Moorish army. Leaving our vehicle, we walk up to a saddle, where the huge monolith of the Naranjo de Bulnes (Pico Urriellu 2519m) comes into view. Rearing straight up from the surrounding rockscape, this rust-coloured mountain is the famous iconic image of the Picos. We walk up to the very base of the mountain where there is a refuge and the chance to see climbers attempting to scale the improbable sheer face. We retrace our steps to Pandebano where our transport awaits us to return to our hotel (approx 6 hours walking).(+800mts / -800mts, 16kms)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We start this morning with a short drive to Hito de Escarandi from where we start our walk at 1395mts through the Valdediezma beech forest and the Sobra Valley to Treviso where we will stop for a lunch break on route. After lunch we will continue down the Balcon de Pilatos to Urdon where we will meet our bus and return to Sortes for the evening. (approx 5 hours walking) (-1150mts, 10 km)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we drive down through Alpine scenery to Puente Poncebos at 218m. Here the medieval pack horse bridge spans the Cares river. This marks the starting point for the walk through the dramatic gorge of the Garganta del Cares – a cleft over 1000m deep and some 12km long. The path literally cuts into the cliffs in places; only with the aid of tunnels and bridges is it possible to traverse its entire length. This is one of the highlights of any visit to northern Spain and is a six hour round trip on foot, although walkers can turn back at any point and return to Poncebos where there are places to eat and drink. Finally, we return by vehicle to Sotres for a well-earned rest. (6-7 hours walk). (+300mts / -300mts, 24kms)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

A short drive to takes us to Hito de Escarandi (1395m) take us to the start of our walk to the Caseton Refuge from where we wills tart to ascend to Aldea Col (1850mts) where we will have a rest and enjoy a picnic lunch on the Andara Vegas prairie. After lunch we will descend back to the Refuge traversing the Macondiu mountain (1725mts) and the continue onto Jito de Escarandi (1300mts) where the minibus will be waiting to return us to Sortes. We will arrange a transfer back to the hotel or you may choose to walk the final 30 minutes back to Sotres. (Approx 5 hours walking + / - 1300m, 12 kms)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We leave the hotel for our 2.5 hour drive to Bilbao airport, where our tour ends.

Included meals: Breakfast