Learn more about what to expect on this self guided walking holiday in the Picos mountains including when to go, how to get there and how comfortable you can expect to be.

Itinerary

Photos

Dates & prices

Holiday info

Maps & more

Quotes

Further information

When should I go?
The Picos mountains are situated on the central north coast of Spain – ‘Green Spain’. The warmest & driest months are July-September. You should still be prepared for occasionally cool conditions in the upper park, and the chance of rain at any time. Snow has been known to fall in every month of the year.

May tends to be showery but is also one of the most beautiful months to visit, with snow in the high park and meadows full of spring flowers.

October is changeable but benefits from the beautiful autumnal forests and is often hot and sunny.

In May, June and October you should be prepared for occasional cold, wet mountain conditions.

Altitudes range from sea level to 2,300m. Summer temperatures range between 15° – 28°C.

How active?
Entirely up to you.

Walking is the main activity but you can also canoe, canyon, ride bikes or horses, relax on the beach or make cultural visits.

How comfortable?
On the standard itinerary you stay in two different hotels. These are typically small inns with 12 rooms or less, locally owned. We try to mix character and comfort. On the whole, little English is spoken.

How independent?
With your own car, you’re completely independent and flexible but with support available if you need it.

Spend a day with our guide to start your holiday.

We provide you with all the maps, walking notes and local information you will need.

Where do I fly to?
Asturias: Easyjet has direct flights from London Stansted. It also has indirect flights via Madrid from most places in the UK. 1 hour drive to Picos.

Santander: Ryanair has direct flights from London Stansted. 1 hour drive to Picos.

Bilbao: Easyjet has direct flights from London Stansted, Iberia has direct flights from London Gatwick. 3 hour drive to Picos.

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

• Keep groups small to minimise environmental impact.

• 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 Handmade Holiday

We have designed and deliver this holiday using our own people in Spain and carefully selected local suppliers to create this Self Drive holiday.

We are proud to say that this holiday was chosen by BBC1’s Holiday programme as number one in their Ten Best ‘hidden gems’ around the world.

What makes our Picos de Europa different?

The beauty of a self-drive walking holiday with Pura Aventura is that it is an independent holiday but without any of the guesswork – no more stumbling across the best restaurant on the last day.

Your holiday starts with a day of private guiding in order to get you settled in and used to the area.

From then on you are free to choose what you do each day. We send you armed with Pura’s own in-depth local information, walking notes and detailed maps so you are never short of options.

For walkers, it is a perfect environment because of the sheer variety of scenery and walking routes.

The Picos de Europa National Park is a little known mountain range along the central north coast of Spain.

It is generally considered to be one of the most beautiful areas of Europe.

There are walks to suit almost any ability level – indeed many of the walks are out and back along the same path so you can simply shorten or lengthen to suit.

All in all, we think that the Picos make a wonderful setting for an active and comfortable holiday.

Below is a suggested itinerary covering eight days to give you a good flavour of the region but it can be lengthened or shortened to suit you.

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.