Description

Cantabria Green Valleys Tour

Start dates are available from March 30 until October 31

Personalized tours are available for groups of 4 or more riders.

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The Cantabria Green Valleys Tour showcases the breathtaking natural beauty of Cantabria, with a special focus on its magnificent inland scenery. This is an ideal adventure for cyclists who relish the challenge of climbing from one picturesque valley to the next. Along the way, you’ll encounter charming villages, sweeping views, and unforgettable rides through some of Europe’s lushest landscapes. With two-night stopovers in select locations, there’s no need to pack up every day, giving you time to unwind and explore. On your “free” days, you can choose from a variety of circular routes of differing lengths, each revealing a new side of Cantabria’s green heart.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Cantabria enjoys a mild, temperate climate—warmer than you might expect for northern Spain. Summers are pleasantly warm, and winters remain gentle, creating perfect conditions for cycling all year round. The region takes great pride in maintaining its road network, so you can expect smooth, quiet routes ideal for leisurely rides or more ambitious climbs. As you pedal through this diverse landscape, you’ll discover tranquil river valleys, unspoiled beaches, dramatic coastal cliffs, hidden coves, towering peaks, and serene forests. Cycling through Cantabria offers the perfect blend of physical challenge, cultural discovery, and natural splendor.

Cycle all the best of the Cantabria Green Valleys Tour in North Spain

The road surfaces are generally in very good condition in Cantabria
The famous prehistoric caves of Altamira
Find quiet roads with little traffic that are perfect for cycling
The little-known Cantabrian mountains and villages
The Bay of Santander and its endless beaches
Warm summers and mild winters make Cantabria perfect to cycle from April until October

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Day 1

Arrival to San Vicente de la Barquera

Pick up from arrival point and transfer to the charming village of San Vicente de la Barquera. Introduction to bikes and route briefing. Spend the rest of the day getting to know this pretty fishing village with its many seafood restaurants and magnificent setting., enjoy a ride around the country lanes or to the magnificent beaches of San Vicente.

Day 2

San Vicente de la Barquera - 69km

Cycle through the Parque Natural de Oyambre and along the beautiful beaches of Oyambre and Merón. Our first stop is the seaside village of Comillas. Here a visit to the fine beach, the small harbour and the pretty village square with its pavement tapas bars and restaurants is a must, not to mention the architectural sights of El Capricho by the famous Catalán architect Gaudí and the Palace of the Marqués de Comillas. Then we visit the charming medieval village of Santillana del Mar and its cobbled streets and the modern museum of the Altamira Caves. Spend some time in Cabezón de la Sal with it rich local and representative arquitecture.

Day 3

San Vicente to Potes - 56km

Leaving San Vicente the route heads westwards along the coast. After a short distance, cycle around the beautiful headland of Pechón with its magnificent views of the coastline. Crossing the River Deva in Unquera we enter the province of Asturias with its markedly different flavor. The village of Colombres is home to the sumptuous villas of the indianos, emigrants to the Americas who made their fortune and returned to a life of luxury. We then head along the Deva Valley, riding through the incredible rocky gorge of La Hermida. Mountains tower around us as we cycle towards Potes and the valley of La Liébana, completely encircled by mountains.

Day 4

Potes

Cycle along any of the three valleys that meet in Potes. Take a trip on the cable car at Fuente Dé to enjoy breathtaking views of the Cantabrian Mountains, where the brown bear and wolves still roam. Enjoy a walk through the lush green valleys or the higher mountains. Spend time in the bustling market village of Potes with its peculiar mix of local farmers, tourists, and mountaineers. Visit the many other picturesque villages dotted around the area. Cycle up to the Monastery of Santo Toribio, home to the largest surviving fragment of the True Cross, or to the charming country monastery of Piasca.

Day 5

Potes to Cabuérniga - 61km

From Potes, we retrace our route to the village of La Hermida. We then begin our climb out of the Deva Valley and through the Cantabrian Mountains. This is a route that few tourists ever see. A more challenging ride takes us through this wonderful scenery until we reach the pretty rural landscapes and charming villages of the valley of Cabuérniga.

Day 6

Cabuérniga to Liérganes - 66km

This day's route takes us across some of the lesser-known valleys of Cantabria, with charming medieval villages such as Cartes, Visit the art museum of the Palacio de Elsedo, you may even see elephants as you cycle past the Parque de Cabárceno! Finally, you reach the beautiful spa village of Liérganes where you will spend the last 2 nights.

Day 7

Departure day Liérganes to Bilbao or Santander

You stay the two last nights in the charming village of Liérganes. Take a stunning ride around the surrounding limestone hills, often used by the Vuelta de España cycle race as it visits Cantabria. Or alternatively take an easier ride down to the coast and the beautiful beaches close to the Bay of Santander. Or even take a day off the bike and catch the train into Santander for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping.

Day 8

Departure day Liérganes to Bilbao or Santander

Transfer from Liérganes to departure points.

Air – The closest airport is Santander Airport. This airport has the following destinations. However, it is smaller than Bilbao Airport so has fewer connections. It is used as a hub by RyanAir, with connections to both Spanish and European cities. Further to the east is Bilbao Airport. Here we probably have more flight options, although transfer time to the start point of the cycle tours tends to be around 90 minutes. You may find this map useful for planning itineraries by air.

Train – Both Bilbao and Santander are connected to inland Spain by the Inter-City RENFE network. Trains are relatively inexpensive. On arrival, it may be more convenient to leave the train in Torrelavega, just one stop before Santander. There is a train service along the coast from Santander; east to Bilbao and the Basque Country, or west to Oviedo and Asturias. However, this is a narrow-gauge railway run by RENFE FEVE and is rather slow and infrequent.

Bus – Santander has good connections by bus to most Spanish cities run by ALSA. Buses are economical and comfortable.

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All prices are based on double rooms - for bookings & inquiries: send an email to info@cycleclassictours.com
Base package per person in double room €910

Extra Information

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Please be advised that we make every effort to ensure that all the information given on this site is accurate. All statements and information have been researched and supplied by third parties.
The information given is accurate and reliable, to the best of our knowledge. Should errors be found, we will rectify them as quickly as possible. However, we accept no responsibility for errors or inaccuracies.

Included

Accommodation with en-suite bathroom
Breakfast
Transport to and from arrival/departure points
Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)
Luggage transport between hotels
Route notes, GPS files, cellphone navigation application
Partial rider transport wheh the itinerary includes this within a certain day's activities

Not Included

Lunch & dinner
Trekking Bike Hire €120
Road Bike Hire €165
E Bike Hire €195
GPS Hire
Holiday extension - i.e. extra nights at the beginning and end of the tour
Single supplement (On Request)

Season rates:

Low-Season → Mar 30 - May 30 €910
Mid-Season → Jun 01 - June 27 €980
High-Season → Jun 28 - Aug 01 €1040
High-Season → Aug 02 - Aug 29 €1195
Mid-Season → Aug 30 - Sep 19 €980
Low-Season → Sep 20 - Oct 31 €910

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Cantabria Green Valleys Tour

Visit the Lush Green Valleys, Hills, and Mountains of Northern Spain

Moderate

Mar 30 - Oct 31

Hotels

€205

€175

€126

€42

(On Request)

Included

(On Request)

Description

Cantabria Green Valleys Tour

Cycle all the best of the Cantabria Green Valleys Tour in North Spain

Itinerary