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Cantabria drive & discover
- Natural beauty and historical interest between the mountains and the sea
- Monumenal coastal towns: Comillas, San Vicente and Santillana del Mar
- Playa de Oyambre Nature Reserve
- A spectacular mountain scenery in the Picos de Europa National Park
- Santo Toribio Monastery and Sta Maria de Lebeña Church
- The vibrant city of Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum
From: 245 €
Tripcode: ESDD015
2 Comfort
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
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2 Difficulty
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
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Duration: 8 days
Details
Cantabria by Car: Infinite Beauty
Cantabria, the greenest province in Spain, with its ever-changing natural landscapes and charmingly unchanged villages. Enjoy the lovely coastal towns of Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera. Stroll along Playa de Oyambre to soak up the sun and the sea. Marvel at the well-preserved buildings of medieval Santillana del Mar. Then travel inland to admire the striking limestone beauty of the Picos de Europa. Your trip ends with a visit to Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrival in Queveda
Arrival at your charming accommodation, la Posada de Las Quintas, about a 2-hour drive from the airport. If there's time this afternoon, you may wish to visit the well-preserved Medieval village of Santillana del Mar. Admire its lovely Romanesque church or enjoy dinner on one of the outdoor terraces. Or, if you come by way of the coastal road, you might want to jump right in with a stop at Tagle beach for a paddle in the sea!
Challenge: Arrival in Cantabria.
Villages along the way: Queveda
Day 2-3: Excursions from Queveda
Queveda is perfectly situated for a number of interesting visits. Stroll about the lovely coastal town of Comillas and gawk at "El Capricho" designed by Gaudí. A bit further to the east, you'll find the beautiful beaches of Oyambre Nature Reserve and an excellent network of coastal walking paths. The Medieval village of Santillana del Mar is also nearby, as is the spectacular Cueva del Soplado with an unbelievable display of rare cave formations. Another possible destination could be the city of Santander, where you can enjoy a delicious seafood lunch.
Challenge: Visit historical and natural monuments near Queveda.
Villages along the way: Comillas, San Vicente, Santillana, Santander
Day 4-6: Inland to the Picos de Europa
Today you drive inland to encounter the breath-taking beauty of the Picos de Europa, a striking world of exotic karstic wonders. Towering peaks, plunging gorges, rushing rivers, extensive forests and tiny villages built in nearly impossible locations. Authentic rural life and deeply rooted traditions, as well as impressive natural and historical monuments: the Cares Gorge, the cable car at Fuente Dé, Sta. Maria de Lebeña Church or the Monastery of Santo Toribio. This is a land of so much beauty, you'll soon find that you've fallen in love.
Challenge: Visits to natural and historical monuments in the Picos.
Villages along the way: Potes, Cosgaya
Day 7: A visit to Bilbao
Today you drive back to Bilbao to become more acquainted with this vibrant city. The charming historical quarter, covered market place, dozens of tapas bars and of course the splendid Guggenheim Museum. A wonderful way to complete this incredibly varied journey.
Challenge: Drive to Bilbao to visit the city and its Guggenheim Museum.
Villages along the way: Bilbao
Day 8: End of arrangement
Your arrangement ends today after breakfast. So it's 'adios' to Northern Spain. But not for long, as soon you'll be aching to return.
Challenge: Return from Bilbao.
Villages along the way: Bilbao
Practical info
Included:
- 7 nights accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis
- Detailed maps and route notes in English
- 24 hour telephone assistance
Not Included:
- Lunches and dinners
- Personal expenses such as drinks, extra transfers, etc.
- Entrance tickets to museums, monuments and cable car
- Flights and transfers to and from the accommodations
Optional Services:
- Rental car from Bilbao airport
Getting there and away:
- The nearest airports to Cantabria are Santander and Bilbao airport, but since this trip ends in Bilbao, we recommend flying to Bilbao.
- Car rental services are available at both airports.
Reviews
Start: Queveda
Finish: Bilbao
Dates & prices
Trip availability: From early April to late October
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 245 €/person |
| in double room: | 265 €/person |
| in single room: | 375 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 375 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 275 €/person |
| in double room: | 295 €/person |
| in single room: | 420 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 420 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 245 €/person |
| in double room: | 265 €/person |
| in single room: | 375 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 375 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 275 €/person |
| in double room: | 295 €/person |
| in single room: | 420 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 420 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 245 €/person |
| in double room: | 265 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 375 €/person |
| in single room: | 375 €/person |