Learn more about what to expect on this small group family adventure holiday in the Picos including group size, when to go and how comfortable you can expect to be.

Itinerary

Photos

Dates & prices

Holiday info

Maps & more

Video

Further information

When should we go?
The Picos mountains are situated on the central north coast of Spain, “Green Spain”. The warmest & driest months are July-Sept (15° – 28°C).

You should still be prepared for occasionally cool conditions in the high park, and the chance of rain at any time.

How do we get there?
There are several options in addition to flying you have ferries to Santander & Bilbao, trains and driving are also options.

For train routes see the fantastic Man in Seat 61 website: www.seat61.com

The best flights are to Asturias (1hr from the Picos): Easyjet has direct flights from London Stansted or you can go via Madrid.

Alternatively Ryanair has direct flights to Santander (1.5hrs to the Picos) again from London Stansted.

Several airlines fly direct to Bilbao (2½hrs to the Picos). If you fly to Bilbao and want us to pick you up then extra transfer fees are likely to apply.

How active?
The walks, cycle rides and canoeing are reasonably strenuous but fine for active children and adults. We plan the excursions to allow for plenty of rests and snacks along the way.

There is also plenty of time to just enjoy the beach or relax in the quiet grounds of the comfortable hotel.

Walking in the Picos means rugged, steep limestone mountains. The paths we use are usually well worn and comfortable. In the high Picos there is often shingle.

Canyoning is expertly supervised and no experience is needed. Don wetsuit, harness and helmet (provided) and drop down into the stream and make your way back down to the bottom by negotiating the river bed.

Canoeing is in two person open canoes. All equipment, wet suits, life jackets, etc are provided. Before entering the water, we have a safety/instruction lesson from our local partners. We generally paddle the Deva River – short sections of rapid, some obstacles mid-river but generally wide.

Cycling for this holiday we take a steady ride along the coast from where you can see the high mountains. The ride is largely on wide trails with some paved sections and some single-track. You should be reasonably confident on a bike to enjoy the ride.

How comfortable?
Stay in two small, family run hotels during this holiday.

The first is a rural inn high on the side of the hills above the Liebana Valley.
All rooms are en suite and comfortable with very traditional and rustic styling.

There is a spacious garden and a stream running along below. The views are incredible.

There is a bar and restaurant on site so you can enjoy relaxed evenings on the terrace after the children have gone to bed.

The second hotel is in a village to the north west side of the mountains so within striking distance of the central and western massifs as well as the coast.

The hotel itself is very comfortable and friendly with again, en suite rooms.

How independent?
This holiday is a guided small group with a guide and vehicle for each eight people. The maximum group size is 16, with two guides and two vehicles.

You will have plenty of options for spending time independently as well as together for the major activities.

Who is it for?
This holiday has been designed for families with children between about 9 and 14 years old.

How responsible?
Pura Aventura is passionate about the places it visits.
To help preserve the integrity of these destinations we:

• Work directly with local businesses and organisations to directly benefit local economies. We use small, locally owned hotels and restaurants.

• Work with local guides so that our holidays are more interesting for clients and more beneficial locally.

Pura Aventura actively supports the Spanish mountain conservation charity www.quebrantahuesos.org

Pura Family Adventure Holiday

Pura’s family adventure holidays are essentially the same as our normal activity holidays, we just ‘chop’ the activities up into shorter sections.

What makes our Spain different?

We do not compromise on the quality of the accommodation, guiding, food, activities or transport.

You can expect a family adventure holiday that is active, comfortable and responsible in a beautiful mountain environment.

The activities on this holiday are ideal for families with children aged around 9 – 14.

As well as the magnificent natural beauty of the Picos de Europa region itself, it makes a perfect environment for a family holiday with a difference.

There’s a huge variety packed into a small area…

• Quiet sandy beaches set in rugged bays perfect for relaxing and exploring;

• High mountains for walking, exploring and sightseeing. Depending on how energetic you feel, you can walk or take the cable car up.

• Valleys, gorges and rivers for walking, cycling, and water-based activities from gentle canoeing to canyoning.

• Charming towns and villages rich in history, culture and cuisine.

All in all, we think that the Picos make a wonderful setting for an active and comfortable family holiday with plenty of variety to offer something for everybody.

Useful Links

As you already know, Pura Aventura is dedicated to safe and responsible travel. The links below provide useful content and more information about Spain. Please call us of any special requirements on 01273 676 712.

Country Information

FCO

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides useful travel advices on Spain.

BBC News

BBC News provides useful information about Spain. Read more about it.

Official Government website

Find out more about Spain, by visiting its official governement website.

Prepare your holiday

Health

Before you go on your holiday to Spain, please ensure you have the correct vaccinations. Check out the NHS website for advices and visit your GP or a travel clinic.

Currency Exchange

For the latest information on the €uro currency, visit the ICE website.

Weather

To know the forecast in Spain, visit wunderground.

Pura’s Amazon shop

Find out our own Spain selection in Amazon.co.uk for a wide range of travel essentials, such as books, gadgets, clothing, etc. in preparation for your upcoming holiday.

Train ticket

If you are leaving from the UK, and want to be easy in your mind before you leave, book your train ticket or airport hotel now.

Flight deals

Find the best flight deals for your holiday to Spain with Kayak, Expedia, Vayama and Opodo.

Maps

If you are going to one of our Spain self drive holidays you will perhaps need to know more about the car traffic. Infocar provides good maps.

Trains

Whether your doing one of self drive holiday in Spain, have more information about train timetables and bookings.