Active Family Holiday in Basque Country, Cantabria, and Asturias

Welcome to the beautiful region of Northwest Spain! Over the coming weeks, you will enjoy the stunning nature, culture, and gastronomy of this area.

✅ Check-in
Your accommodation for the next few days is a rural lodging in the heart of Picos de Europa National Park. The complex features an outdoor swimming pool, free parking, and a garden where you can relax and even have a barbecue!

Visit the mountain village of Potes

Today, you can explore the village of Potes, home to around 1,400 inhabitants with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. Two rivers run through the village, offering pleasant walking paths. Don’t forget to climb the tower for stunning views of the village and surrounding mountains!

Visit the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana

Just a few kilometers from Potes, you will find the impressive Santo Toribio de Liébana Monastery, the oldest in Spain, dating back to the 6th century. The monastery houses a significant relic—a large piece of wood from Jesus’ cross—brought here in the 8th century and preserved to this day.

Today, you will head to high altitudes! No visit to the eastern part of the Picos de Europa is complete without a ride on the Fuente Dé cable car. The gondola takes you to 1,800 meters in just a few minutes, where you can explore hiking trails of varying difficulty levels. A literal and figurative highlight of your trip!

Canyoning tour with an English-speaking guide

Travel through the canyons with a certified English-speaking guide. (Rest assured, we work with highly reliable, 100% certified partners for your safety!)

This is a group excursion, meaning there may be other participants. Suitable for beginners and experienced adventurers, ages 7 and up.

Today, you’ll drive through beautiful mountain landscapes towards the quieter, yet still breathtaking, Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park. Stop along the way at Riaño in the Riaño y Mampodre Regional Park.

Riaño was rebuilt in the 1980s after the original village and nine others were submerged to create a reservoir under Franco’s regime. The scenery is stunning, though the history gives it a unique atmosphere.

✅ Check-in

Your accommodation is a small 3-star rural hotel with a shared garden, picnic tables, and a river where you can dip your feet!

Breakfast is included, but for other meals, you can appreciate the local cuisine after a short,  7-minute drive to San Martín.

Today, you can cycle part of the stunning Senda del Oso (“Bear Route”). The trail follows a river through mountains, forests, villages, and tunnels.

✔ You can bike as far as you like – two routes are available, both approximately 20 km one way (same route back).
✔ You can spot bears at a bear sanctuary and enjoy the scenic views!
✔ Full-day activity

The Prehistoric Park in Teverga is a great family-friendly attraction featuring prehistoric animal replicas, cave art exhibitions, and a picnic area with a playground. It’s a perfect, more laid-back activity, and a fascinating glimpse into Asturian history.

Explore your Surroundings

Your accommodation is located in the heart of Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park. Here, you can immerse yourself in unspoiled wilderness home to bears, wolves, red deer, and other wildlife. There’s also a variety of scenic mountain hiking trails leading to:

• Cascada de Xiblu (Xiblu Waterfall)
• Cueva Huerta (Huerta Cave)

 A fantastic place for nature lovers!

🚗 Travel time: 2 hours (150 km)
Today, you’ll stop in Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, where you can visit lots of cultural points of interest. For example:
✔ The Cathedral, local markets, and the old town
✔ The Fine Arts Museum (featuring works by El Greco, Picasso, Goya, Dalí among others!)

✅ Check-in

You’ll stay in a quiet rural hotel, where breakfast is included and a restaurant on-site serves local organic food.

Today, you can visit the picturesque coastal town of Llanes, which offers plenty of things to do!

Take a short scenic walk along the Paseo de San Pedro, a historic coastal pathway. This trail has been in use since 1847 and was originally a whale-watching lookout. It was also used to monitor fishing boats and spot enemy ships.

For lunch, Llanes has many great restaurants to choose from. You’ll be sure to find something you’ll like!

Relax on the Beach

Alternatively, use this day to unwind by spending a leisurely day at one of the beautiful beaches in the area!

Today, you have the opportunity to go on an exciting caving tour! Led by an English-speaking guide, you will descend into caves, walk along rock ledges, and wade through underground rivers. As you explore, the guide will also explain the geology and history of the area — both an entertaining and educational adventure!

Today, you’ll head from the Asturian coast to the Basque coast, just a 2.5-hour ride away.

As you drive along the coast, you can stop in Bilbao and get to know the city.

Discover Bilbao

Bilbao is a large city, but you can see most of the main attractions in a day.

🚢 A great way to explore the city is by taking a boat tour to learn about its history and development.

🚴 Alternatively, you can rent a bike and cycle along the riverbank!

Plus, one of Bilbao’s biggest attractions is the renowned Guggenheim Museum, opened in 1997. The museum played a key role in Bilbao’s urban, economic, and social transformation. From the outside, the museum offers beautiful architecture that you can clearly see as you walk along the river. Inside, the museum houses rotating exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

✅ Check-in

Here, you’ll stay in a modern and spacious studio apartment, which includes a variety of amenities. Enjoy:

• A fully equipped kitchen and living area.
• Two single beds and a bunk bed.
• A balcony, where you can enjoy stunning sea views over the Mundaka estuary.
• You can prepare your own breakfast or request a daily breakfast delivery from reception.

The location is ideal, as it’s right next to Laidatxu Beach, just 2 minutes from the harbor and viewpoint. Brilliant for a quick dip in the ocean!

Kayaking in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve

Today, you will explore the beautiful Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve by kayak! It’s a fun, active, and unique way of discovering this stunning park. This protected natural area is famous for its diverse birdlife, which is always exciting to spot. 

You will have plenty of opportunities to:

• Stop for a swim.
• Enjoy the stunning natural scenery along the riverbanks.

Note: If the weather or sea conditions are too rough, the tour may be rescheduled or replaced with an alternative excursion.

Discover Mundaka

Mundaka is a cozy fishing village where you can walk through the alleys and enjoy the view of the harbor and can enjoy the sea. From the Mirador de la Atalaya, you have a beautiful view of this nature reserve.

San Sebastián is a beautiful city set along a stunning bay with beaches. You can explore the city from above by visiting one of its surrounding hills. Some viewpoints can be reached by foot, while others are accessible by cable car. The panoramic views over the city and coastline are breathtaking!

You can also take a walk along the city’s most important Belle Epoque buildings, and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner. San Sebastián is often called Spain’s culinary capital, and for good reason! The city has the highest number of Michelin stars per capita in the world, where vegetarian and vegan-friendly dining options are also available.

Relax by the Coast

The famous La Concha beach runs from the town hall to the Palacio de Miramar. It also has a promenade, perfect for a walk. Alternatively, enjoy other nice beaches in San Sebastian, such as the Playa de Ondarreta, located opposite the island of Santa Clara, and the Playa de Zurriola, on the other side of the mouth of the Rio Urumea river.

After an active holiday, today you can spend a wonderful day relaxing on one of the beautiful beaches in your vicinity.

Today, it is time to say farewell to Northern Spain.

¡Gracias y hasta luego!