{"id":56034,"date":"2025-12-11T22:16:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:16:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/picos-de-europa\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:17:25","slug":"picos-de-europa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/en\/picos-de-europa\/","title":{"rendered":"My journey through the Picos de Europa National Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Another dream has come true\u2014a journey in the Spanish mountains of Picos de Europa<\/strong>, which I combined with several very beautiful towns by the ocean. These wildly beautiful mountains are located at the junction of three Spanish provinces: Cantabria, Asturias, and Le\u00f3n. The route I took is of medium difficulty\u2014this is hiking without climbing, on well-marked trails in the mountains and along the ocean coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such a combination gives the best feelings from a trip to this part of Spain. The mountains and the ocean both literally take your breath away. The nature is gorgeous and little-known outside Spain. If you love the Dolomite Alps and have already visited the Atlantic coast of Portugal\u2014it\u2019s time to discover northern Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I invite you to dive into my route; I\u2019ll explain how best to plan your trip and get the most from the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picos de Europa \u2013 where the National Park is located<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Picos de Europa<\/strong> is a mountain range in northern Spain and an eponymous national park, located in the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria, and Le\u00f3n<\/strong>. The main summit, Torre Cerredo (2648 m)<\/strong>, is the highest point in both the Cantabrian Mountains and Asturias. Climbing to the summit is considered “not very difficult” and doesn\u2019t require special equipment or climbing skills. The first ascent of Torre Cerredo was by a group led by the French mountaineer, cartographer, photographer, and artist Aymar d’Arlot de Saint Saud on June 30, 1882. He also produced the first map of the Picos de Europa area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the rather ambitious name \u201cPeaks of Europe\u201d\u2014one version connects it to the fact that these were the first mountains visible to sailors returning to Europe from America. Another version says that pilgrims who walked the Camino de Santiago<\/a><\/strong> from central Europe found these high mountains reminiscent of the Alps<\/a><\/strong>, and they said \u201cpeaks like in Europe.\u201d Locals, meanwhile, traditionally call them simply \u201cthe Peaks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any case, Picos de Europa National Park<\/strong> is the second-most-visited in Spain, where you can hike, climb, go rafting, and observe diverse wildlife and plants. It\u2019s very popular with Spaniards, and for some reason still little-known elsewhere. Maybe because you can still hike here cheaply, staying in convenient mountain refuges, small villages with hostels, hotels, and campsites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I fell in love with the Picos de Europa mountains and really want to share my experience of hiking and traveling in these places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to Picos de Europa<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The nearest airports to Picos de Europa are Santander Airport<\/strong> in Cantabria, Asturias Airport<\/strong> (also called Oviedo-Ran\u00f3n, OVD) in Asturias, and Bilbao Airport<\/strong> in the Basque Country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I flew to Bilbao from Barcelona, because at that time it was cheapest to fly from Chisinau to Barcelona and from there by Vueling straight to Bilbao (tickets to Santander were three times more expensive).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started my route in the Picos after walking the Camino Lebaniego (from San Vicente de la Barquera to Espinama, from where I headed up into the mountains).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to do this (that\u2019s just my thing\u2014walking Camino every year). Better rent a car to save time and not wait on public transport, or hike up first to the parking area where everyone leaves their car, and then start the mountain trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to plan a trip to Picos de Europa<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The ideal time to visit the “Peaks of Europe” is June through September. You can visit in August<\/strong>, but keep in mind it will be crowded. This is the sunniest time of year, which is when the most tourists come. It\u2019s also when there can be wildfires that might interfere with your trip in the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you pick June<\/strong> or September<\/strong>, you\u2019ll find fewer people, so main sights (like hiking trails) will be more or less empty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you love wildflowers and birdwatching, then consider coming here in April, May, or October\u2014these are great months to spot endemic animals and flora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was in Picos de Europa in the second half of September 2025. The weather<\/strong> was simply perfect<\/strong>\u2014it rained just once, and that day I hadn\u2019t gone up in the mountains yet. On other days it was sunny, with temps of +20\u201322\u00b0C, and very comfortable for hiking with a backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 1: San Vicente de la Barquera \u2013 Potes \u2013 Monastery of Santo Toribio \u2013 Espinama<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I did this route in five days while walking the Camino Lebaniego \u2013 read about it here<\/a><\/strong>. If you\u2019re driving, you can see everything much faster. I highly recommend seeing these places\u2014there\u2019s plenty to discover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you don\u2019t plan to walk this way, I recommend visiting Potes<\/strong> itself, the symbolic gateway to the Picos de Europa park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Potes<\/strong> is a town located 100 kilometers from Santander<\/strong>. It\u2019s mainly known for its closeness to the Picos de Europa mountain range, so there\u2019s usually no lack of travelers here. Potes is also called \u201cthe city of bridges and towers<\/strong>\u201d: the unique atmosphere here will appeal to all lovers of the Middle Ages. The heart is the Old Town<\/strong>, where it\u2019s nice to get lost among the labyrinth of narrow streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to fall in love with Potes. This attractive town on the river features cobbled streets, stone bridges, and historic Casona monta\u00f1esa<\/strong> houses. There are many restaurants serving traditional local and European cuisine. It\u2019s also the gateway to the Valle de Camale\u00f1o<\/strong> and the Central Massif of the Picos de Europa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to do in Potes<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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