Walking in the Picos de Europa

This tour is suitable for experienced or regular walkers with a good level of fitness and experience navigating mountainous terrain. Certain sections of the route are exposed and may not be suitable for individuals with vertigo, although alternative paths can be provided to avoid these areas. The trail demands surefootedness, particularly on loose rocks, slippery surfaces, and uneven ground.

Days 5 and 7 are slightly more challenging, featuring higher elevation gains and losses, as well as more exposed segments, earning them a moderately strenuous difficulty rating.

Before your tour, we recommend walking regularly and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The hike takes you across diverse terrain, including jeep tracks, wide trails, narrow footpaths, and animal tracks, with some challenging ascents and descents along the way. Expect gravel, loose rocks, grass, and dirt paths, which can become muddy and slippery when wet. There are a few exposed sections that may be unsuitable for those with vertigo.

Stream Crossings: On this trail, you may encounter areas where the path crosses streams or dry streambeds. In most cases, you won’t find bridges, as these streams are typically shallow enough to cross with sturdy boots or by stepping on stones. However, in spring and autumn, water levels may rise, requiring you to remove your boots and wade through ankle-deep or slightly higher water. Avoid wading if the water is above knee level, as it can be unsafe.

Stepping stones, while convenient, can be slippery, so proceed with caution. Trekking poles are highly recommended for added balance and stability. In many cases, walking directly on the streambed is safer than stepping on wet, mossy, or muddy stones. Always take care and assess the conditions before crossing.

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour, individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests, with the most demanding days rated moderate to strenuous.

We carefully select a mix of welcoming, family-run accommodations to make sure you enjoy every moment of your stay. Each place offers a warm, personal welcome to walkers, genuine local hospitality, and delicious regional cuisine.

During high season, you might be booked into a different accommodation than the one described, and the start or end of some walking routes may be slightly altered. Any alternative accommodation will be of the same standard or better.

Unfortunately, this tour is not available to solo travelers due to the remote nature of some of the walks. We can, however, offer single rooms if you are traveling with others. These are available for a supplement.

A delicious breakfast is included each morning. Some dinners are included while you're staying in Sotres (if that property isn't available, we'll book a B&B of a similar standard elsewhere and adjust accordingly). Your accommodations are happy to provide a packed lunch on request - just ask on arrival - or you can pick up lunch in a village or along the trail. Your route notes have details for each day.

This tour is available to start any day of the week between the end of April and the end of October. The weather in this part of Spain is generally most comfortable for mountain walking during this season - sudden mists are common but usually clear by midday. Because the mountains sit close to the coast, conditions can change quickly, with sudden rain showers or even snow possible at any time of year, so it's worth being prepared with waterproof gear and plenty of sunscreen.

The summer months of June to September tend to have the fairest weather and the wildflowers in bloom, though we recommend checking daily forecasts while you're out there and taking care when crossing streams, which can swell during spring and autumn. This is a popular tour, so we'd suggest booking as soon as your plans are finalized.

Your luggage is transferred between your accommodation bases during the tour (this is a multi-centre tour, so your bags move with you between the few overnight bases rather than every single night). We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

The routes on this tour are generally way-marked but can be unclear at times.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

An included transfer will pick you up in Arenas de Cabrales. To reach Unquera, in the Asturias region, there are several options. From Bilbao Airport, take a bus or taxi (approximately 25 euros) to the centre of Bilbao, then a bus from Bilbao bus station to Unquera (2.5 to 3 hours). From Santander Airport, take a bus or taxi to the centre of Santander (15 minutes), then a bus from Santander bus station to Unquera (1 hour 20 minutes). We can also arrange private transfers directly to Arenas de Cabrales from either Bilbao or Santander airports.

Getting from the end, on your final day an included transfer takes you from Arenas de Cabrales back to Unquera. From Unquera, you can take a bus back to Bilbao (2.5 to 3 hours) and then a bus or taxi (approximately 25 euros) from the centre of Bilbao to the airport, or a bus back to Santander (1 hour 20 minutes) and then a bus or taxi from the centre of Santander (15 minutes) to the airport. We can also arrange private transfers directly to Bilbao or Santander airports from Arenas de Cabrales.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation