Picos Walk holiday

Walk Spain: Picos Walk

Explore northern Spain’s Picos de Europa mountains as part of a guided small group. Explore Spain’s most spectacular and least known mountains in the company of experts. Varied day walks throughout the Picos mountains end with delicious a la carte meals out in restaurants and charming rural hotels.

Picos Walk at a glance

Picos de Europa mountains – beautiful coastline – rugged mountains – green valleys – peaceful villages – steep gorges – dense forests – sandy beaches – untouched environment – comfortable small hotels – delicious food – groups of just eight – fully guided – relaxed walking pace

In Spain's Picos de Europa mountains, spectacular views are generally quite accessible | image ©

Walk in the most spectacular, varied and untouched mountain and coastal scenery in Europe.

Ideal for anyone who appreciates a good stretch of the legs followed by a good meal and a comfortable bed.

Walks take you to high mountains, rugged coastlines, small villages, deep gorges, quiet forests and meadows.

Explore in the company of your expert guide as part of a group of just eight.

Eat in a carefully selected range of restaurants, sleep in hotels specially chosen for their setting, comfort and service.

This Pura Handmade holiday is graded First Class comfort and Moderate for activity.

show | hide the itinerary Picos Walk itinerary

The full holiday itinerary for Pura’s Picos Walk holiday.

Day 1

Spain, Picos

Arrive in the mountains

Your guide will meet you from your flight to drive you to the peaceful coast near the Picos de Europa mountains. Settle in to your very comfortable hotel.

Rooms with a view at Hotel el Habana in Spain's Picos de Europa mountains

Day 2

Spain, Picos

Walk the Cares Gorge

The most famous walk in the Picos is the Cares Gorge. The path runs along the wall of the gorge, cut into the rock, narrowing to just two metres in places.

Walking the beautiful Cares Gorge in Spain's Picos de Europa

Day 3

Spain, Picos

Walk along the coast

Walk along the rolling hills of the coast to find sandy coves and beaches. What makes this stretch of coastline so unusual and special is that you can see the high mountain peaks, some up to 2,600m, whilst standing with your feet on the sand.

Looking out over the beautiful coastline of the Picos de Europa

Day 4

Spain, Picos

Walk to the Covadonga Lakes

Start walking in the lush greenery of the Covadonga lakes, end your route in the rocky moonscape of the high mountains. Two sheer, deep gorges split the Picos mountains into three distinct massifs.

Walking by the Lagos de Covadonga in the Picos

Day 5

Spain, Picos

Walk on Roman roads

Walk up into the central Picos massif from where you have views of the high peaks to the South and the sea to the North. Walk along sections of amazingly well preserved Roman road cutting across the mountains.

Walking on a Roman road across the most beautiful part of the high Picos mountains

Day 6

Spain, Picos

Walk between villages

Set off walking on ancient trails across the meadows that join the nearby villages. Walk a steep uphill route to a small shrine, site of a popular annual pilgrimage, set on a natural balcony with views over the valley and mountains beyond.

Enjoy picnics with a view in the Picos de Europa mountains

Day 7

Spain, Picos

Walk to a high peak

Take the cable-car at Fuente Dé for a spectacular three minute ride up 1,000m to the upper reaches of the mountains and a walk up to one of the highest peaks.

Looking out from the peak of Horcados Rojos, a moderate walk in the mountains

Day 8

Spain

Travel home

Head back to the airport for your journey home.

Click here to see a full detailed itinerary in PDF format

Picos Walk picture gallery

Walking on a Roman road across the most beautiful part of the high Picos mountains | image ©

click on any thumbnail to enlarge it, and the arrows to scroll left and right.

show | hide more quotes Client quotes

"Pura are an excellent company with the needs of the client as the number one priority. The staff are excellent from start to finish and the standards of the information packs are the best I have ever experienced. Nothing is ever too much trouble. This was a wonderful holiday that went smoothly from start to finish. Alex was an excellent guide, he took us to some of the most beautiful areas I have ever visited it certainly opened my eyes to a part of Spain everyone should experience. The picnic lunches have to be seen to be believed, he always chose locally produced food and I didnt think one rucksack could provide so much food! In the evenings he took us to restaurants you wouldnt necessarily find if you were by yourself and he was on hand to advise on good dishes (and wines). The accomodation was 1st class and ran by wonderful people who knew how to provide comfort and maintain that family run feel. We have now been on two pura holidays and are looking forward to our third and continue to recommend the company to our friends. "

Jean P | Picos Walk | 2008

"The food, particularly the picnics, was first class and we much enjoyed sampling the local food. Our posada near Potes was especially good with wonderful views. Lovely to have a bath to soak in after a hard day's walk."

Judy R | Picos Walk | 2007

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Map of Spain's Picos de Europa showing Pura's Picos Walk holiday

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show | hide more How we're different

This holiday is part of the Pura Aventura Handmade range and is unique to us.

We have designed and deliver this holiday using our own people and carefully selected local suppliers to create a Pura Handmade holiday.

You are looked after by a Pura team on the ground in the Picos. In fact, one of our founders lives there.

The selection of hotels, walks, restaurants, beaches, markets, etc. are unique to us. The hotels we use are often hidden away in tiny villages and are usually exclusive to Pura Aventura.

Our guides are experienced enough to be able to adjust the running order of this holiday to best suit the group and weather conditions.

In creating this holiday we have been very careful to give you a full insight into the landscapes and culture of this little visited region.

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

The group size is very small at just eight people plus your guide.

Travelling as part of such a small group enables us to take you a wider range of more interesting and unusual places.

This might be going to visit the brothers who are bringing life back to their village by making traditional food and cider, getting to a more remote trailhead because of the smaller van or just being less intrusive in the variety of restaurants you visit.

The pace is relaxed and the atmosphere informal.

This holiday is ideal if you appreciate a good stretch of the legs through beautiful scenery followed by a good meal and a comfortable bed.

show | hide dates & prices Dates and prices

This is a small group holiday departing on set dates between June and October.

Year	Departure(s)	Type	Price	Availability
2009	06 Jun	Small Group	£925	Open
2009	05 Sep	Small Group	£925	Open
2009	03 Oct	Small Group	£925	Open

What's included

Twin/double en-suite hotel rooms; full-time Pura Aventura guide; transfers from/to Asturias or Santander airports;
private transport throughout; all meals as per itinerary.

Flights

Flights are quoted separately for this holiday

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).

Notes

Not included: flights; drinks with meals; personal expenses; tips.

Get full itinerary

Click here to see a full detailed itinerary in PDF format

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When to go