Plan your trip
Travel to the Picos de Europa
All you need to know to have a good experience in Picos de Europa
- How to get to Picos de Europa?
Being so large and settled in 3 provinces there are many ways to get there, although the main ones are: in Cantabria through the valley of Liébana, in León through the valleys of Valdeón and Sajambre and on the Asturian side it is accessed from the councils of Peñamellera Baja, Cabrales, Onís, Cangas de Onís and Amieva.
- Ways of lodging
The tourist sector has been highly developed for many years, which allows us to find a great variety of lodgings. We can find small and large rural houses, with the characteristic ornaments and charms of the area. The rural hotels and Paradores Nacionales, which take great care of their guests, camp sites with unique environments and, of course, the mountain refuges, where you can rest from your walks in the mountains.
- Eating in Picos de Europa
We are in the north of Spain, where gastronomy is an experience, both in variety and quality. The famous stews such as cocido lebaniego, fabada or pote asturiano, without forgetting to taste the great variety of cheeses and, of course, the desserts that are homemade.
- What to wear?
We are in the north, which means that there may be rainy or cold days, even in the summer months. Depending on the type of visit and the time of the year we go, we will need to bring different types of clothing. Mid-mountain gear (sports boots, fleece-lined pants, parka, raincoat, hat, sunglasses and backpack) is recommended in spring, summer and autumn. Winters can be severe and mountain equipment should be technical, for snowy conditions.
- Traveling on your own or better with a guide?
The network of trails in the National Park is very extensive, there are some with very good signage, but there are also mountain trails, old shepherds' paths, where the signage is based on milestones, small mounds of stones. You can travel on your own, but doing it with local guides will provide security and, of course, the interpretation of the landscape and the landscape that they make.
- How many days can I visit Picos de Europa?
As it has such a large surface area, it is advisable to visit it in several stages, focusing on a part of the National Park in each one. Besides the most famous places, such as the Cares route, the Covadonga Lakes or Fuente Dé, there are many other places that are not so well known, but equally interesting, such as the Casaño River, the Vegabaño beech forest or the towns of Bejes and Tresviso.
- When is the best time to travel to the Picos de Europa?
We are in the middle of the mountains, here the seasons are very different and, all of them, spectacular . In July and August there are many visitors, which means that there are fewer places to stay. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Picos de Europa. The seasons are very marked, with an exuberant spring, and an autumn with a range of ocher, red and yellow colors, which is wonderful. Coming in autumn and spring also brings other advantages, such as finding accommodation at more economical prices and being able to enjoy the most emblematic sites of the Park almost exclusively, since there are few visitors at these times of the year, with the exception of Easter, which is also high season in the area.