Picos Mountains, Spain

Arrival to Arenas to Cabrales the gateway to the Picos National Park. If you arrive by car you can leave your car at the private parking lot for the duration of the trip.

You are in for a treat with a fabulous walk today along farm tracks that run between Arenas and Poo de Cabrales. If you wish to walk a little further you can choose to extend the walk to Humones Col with amazing panoramic views across the valley of Cabrales.

After a 30 minute transfer to Tielve, one of the most authentic villages in this part of the Picos where people still make a living raising livestock and producing a famous blue cheese, Queso de Cabrales. You walk up through a fairy-tale landscape of moors, old beech woods and streams to a pass at 1240m and then down to Sotres (1050 m), the highest village of the Picos de Europa. (4 hours). 5.6 miles 8.9km 575m up, 250m down

A circular walk through the Eastern massif of Picos that was exploited in the 19th century by mining industries, a limestone landscape with its sharp ridges, depressions and shafts. Brightly coloured alpine flora is hidden among the rocks. There is a good chance of seeing chamois, vultures and different kinds of eagles. Several options (4 or 5.5 hours) 7.8 miles 12.8km 500m up, 800m down.

Today you choose among three different walks: an adventurous and varied circular walk of 5,5 hours through the meadows and beech woods of Tresviso, in which you gaze deep down into the Urdón Gorge and walk through quiet woodland where you may hear the sound of the rare Capercaillie OR another technically easy but longer walk of 6,5 hours, to the summer meadows of Áliva and back down, in which you walk into an interesting glacier valley up to 1650m, in the shadow of the impressive limestone walls of the Central and Eastern Massifs.

Halfway you can take a rest on the terrace of the Hotel Refugio de Aliva, with extraordinary views OR should you prefer a more relaxing day today, we have included a description of a shorter circular walk which starts directly from the hotel, in which you walk through woods and fields enjoying the quiet surroundings of the village of Sotres.

The most spectacular walk of the entire trip, as you climb up to the mountain refuge Vega de Urriellu, located at 2000 m, right at the foot of the outstanding silhouette of the Picu Urriellu in the heart of the Central massif (5,5 hours). The Picu Urriellu is one of the most famous climbing areas in Spain because of its 500 m vertical wall and conical top. If you still have energy left, you could take a short walk around the refuge to the edge of the Jou sin Tierra, one of the deepest and widest natural depressions (doline) in the Picos. You will take some belongings for just one night with you to the refuge. The rest of your luggage will be transported to the hotel in Arenas. 6.8 miles 11km 1200m up, 165m down

In the morning you follow the same track as the day before, back to Pandebano pass, and then turn west. A footpath leads through natural meadows and shrubs down to Bulnes (4,5 hours), which can only be reached on foot or by cable railway (since 2001). Here you can either take the funicular railway train through the tunnel to Poncebos or extend your walk for another 1,5 hours through an impressive gorge where vultures nest.  At Poncebos you take the public bus to Arenas or if the public bus is not running a taxi will pick you up in Poncebos and drive you to Arenas de Cabrales, to the same hotel where you started the trip. 7.8 miles 12.5km down 1275-1600m

After breakfast, your walking holiday in the Picos de Europa ends. If you have to go back to the airport in Bilbao or Asturias, we can arrange bus tickets for you.