The Picos de Europa are a mountain range in northern Spain, that stands out because of both the hight of the mountains and their proximity to the ocean. It is one of Spain’s 15 national parks It is currently the second most visited national park in Spain, the first being the Teide national park in Tenerife.
The range spans over three regions of northern Spain: Cantabria, León, and Asturias and features several different peaks of over 2500 m and the park span over 67 455 hectares.
The Urrieles cluster is the ranges tallest point with several summits of over 2600 the tallest being Torre Cerredo that stands 2650 m tall.
The name Picos de Europa or in English “the Peaks of Europe” is said to come from the renaissance era sailors returning from the Americas on ships. As they would approach the coast of Spain, the first thing that was visible was the enormous peaks of the mountain range and that meant that they were back in Europe.
The way to make this decision is to consider what area of the rage of the park you want to visit. There are 3 distinct areas of sectors to the park: the Cantabrian portion, the Asturiano portion, and the Leonés portion.
If you are interested in the more northern sector of Cantabria, the best place to stay in the village of Potes. If you are headed to Asturias, Cangas de Onís is your best bet, and if León is your objective, head on over to Posada de Valdeón.
All of these villages are reasonably big, with good access and with all the services you might need.
Ideally, you should set aside at least 2 or 3 days for a proper visit. If you can take a week, you won’t regret it.
They are located in northern Spain, very close to the Cantabrian coast of the country. At it’s closest, the Picos de Europa is just 15 km from the ocean.
There is a great number of different hiking routes through the park. Here is a list of our expert guides top picks:
This cabale car station is located in the beautiful town of Potes. It easily the quickest and most comfortable way of getting into the heart of the park.
The ride takes just 4 minutes to get all the way up to 1823 meter. From here you can either set off on your voyage through the mountains or just enjoy the amazing views from here.
Santander is the largest city and capital of Cantabria, located in Northern Spain. The North of Spain is lush, green, and mountainous but at the same time is home to some of the most amazing beaches you will find in Spain. Asturias is no different. The city is wealthy and beautiful, full of culture, with all sorts of delicious local delicacies to be enjoyed.
There are many reasons to visit Santiago in addition to it being the final destination of the pilgrimage. Besides its main tourist attractions of monuments and museums, the city has an incessant cultural agenda with arts, entertainment and leisure time activities offered throughout the year such as music, lectures, theater, cinema, concerts, exhibitions and festivals.
Playa de Poo Beach This Asturian beach has an odd beauty. Located next to the Vallina river outlet, the beach is shaped like a funnel,
