Itinerary
- Day 1
Bilbao
You'll land at Bilbao airport and get picked up for the drive to Hotel Rebeco in Cantabria, which sits right within the national park. The transfer should have you at the hotel by 3 p.m. at the latest. After settling into your room, you'll have dinner at the hotel to start the week.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Private transfer (if arriving outside scheduled pickup time; surcharges may apply)
- Day 2
Fuente Dé - Terenosa Hut
Your first hiking day starts with the Fuente Dé cable car, which takes you from 1100 to 1900 meters in just 4 minutes. From there, the terrain is fairly easy as you follow wide paths through the green Aliva Valley. You'll pass the Vega de Sotres and Texu de Sotres sheepfolds, then climb toward Terenosa hut using the old access road to Urriellu. The mountain setting here is really something special.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Fuente Dé cable car (1100m to 1900m)
- Hiking to Terenosa hut (approx. 17 km, approx. 520m ascent, approx. 1060m descent)
Landmarks Fuente Dé Cable Car Aliva Valley Vega de Sotres - Day 3
Terenosa Hut - Cabrones Hut
This is the toughest day of the entire trek. You start by descending from La Terenosa down to Bulnes, a village with no cars where you can only get around on foot or by funicular. After a break in the village, the Amuesa Canal climb begins and it's technical, testing your skills as you move through difficult terrain. By the time you reach Cabrones refuge, the most remote shelter in Picos de Europa, you'll have pushed yourself hard in the wild mountain setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking from Terenosa hut to Cabrones hut (approx. 11 km, approx. 1510m ascent, approx. 800m descent)
- Visit to Bulnes village
Landmarks Bulnes Amuesa Canal - Day 4
Cabrones Hut - Urriellu Hut
Today you'll hike about 5 km through the dramatic Jägerscharte pass, where anchors in the wall help you through one of the route's most exciting sections. You arrive at Urriellu, the biggest and most well-known refuge in Picos de Europa, sitting below the iconic peak with the same name. If the weather looks good and the group wants to try it, there's an optional climb of Peña Castil peak in the afternoon, or you can spend the time resting and recharging.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking from Cabrones hut to Urriellu hut via Jägerscharte pass (approx. 4.5 km, approx. 390m ascent, approx. 450m descent)
Optional Activities
- Peña Castil peak climb (approx. 5 hours, group dependent)
Landmarks Jägerscharte Pass Peña Castil - Day 5
Urriellu Hut - Jermoso Hut
After your rest day, you traverse the entire massif from the Asturian side to the southern part, crossing the impressive limestone Jou de los Boches depression. From there, you reach the Cantabrian side and pass the Cabaña Verónica emergency shelter, built from an aircraft carrier dome, then continue to Jermoso hut. In the afternoon, you hike across a lunar-like desert landscape to the Leonese side where, if conditions allow, you might catch the park's most beautiful sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking from Urriellu hut to Jermoso hut (approx. 9.5 km, approx. 880m ascent, approx. 780m descent)
- Crossing Jou de los Boches
Landmarks Jou de los Boches Cabaña Verónica - Day 6
Jermoso Hut - Fuente Dé
Your final trekking day is a long descent back to Fuente Dé. You hike toward Vega de Liordes, Spain's coldest recorded location at negative 35.6°C in 2021, then tackle the steep Pedabejo canal for your last major descent of the week. The route finishes through a nice beech forest, which gives you a pleasant change from the limestone terrain you've been hiking for the past several days.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking from Jermoso hut to Fuente Dé (approx. 11 km, approx. 400m ascent, approx. 1390m descent)
Landmarks Vega de Liordes Pedabejo Canal - Day 7
Cantabria
After five days of hard trekking, you get a full rest day. There are several activities you can do depending on what interests you and how much energy you have left. Check with the hotel staff about what's available and what the costs are for whatever catches your attention.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- 4x4 route in the Palentina Mountains (bear region)
- Canoeing on the Deva river
- Surfing at the coast
- Horseback riding
- Canyoning
- Relax at Hermida Spa hot springs
- Visit the medieval town of Potes
Landmarks Palentina Mountains Deva River Hermida Spa Potes - Day 8
Bilbao
You'll have breakfast at the hotel one last time before the transfer takes you to Bilbao airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
