11-day Camino del Norte Walking Holiday (Part 3)

As you begin your trip in Santander, you will be greeted by the gentle sea breeze. Enjoy the view of the Bay of Biscay as you stroll along the beautiful promenade and discover the wonderful architecture of the city, including the Santander Cathedral.

Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Santander, you will start a fairly long route that passes through urbanized areas, taking advantage of pedestrian lanes. Even so, the landscape is quiet and you will feel transported to another era when you reach the charming medieval village of Santillana del Mar, one of the most beautiful in Cantabria, where the Romanesque collegiate church of Santa Juliana and the famous Altamira caves stand out.

Note: If the journey is too long, you can take a train from Boo de Piélagos to Mogro and save about 8 km of walking.

Challenge: 36 km / 22,5 mill I Ascent 400m / Descent 320m.

Today's route is quite pleasant and interesting, as it combines inland landscapes with two short detours by the sea, which will take you to Comillas. This town became at the end of the 19th century a summer destination for the aristocracy and the high bourgeoisie. The route passes between beautiful green hills, offering breathtaking views of the Cantabrian coast. In Comillas, you will fall in love with the modernist buildings, such as “El Capricho”, one of the first works of Antoni Gaudí.

Challenge: 22km / 13,5mill I Ascent 460m, Descent 520m.

Continuing your pilgrimage, you head towards Colombres. It is a rural route that at the end of the stage takes you out of Cantabria and into Asturias. You will cross several bridges over marshes and estuaries, and travel steep slopes between valleys in a row. Although the slopes are not very steep, it will seem that the mountains are very close. After visiting San Vicente de la Barquera, an interesting fishing village, we suggest you finish the day in Colombres. This town, with a great historical load, is located on the easternmost coast of Asturias. Here the houses built by the indianos, emigrants who returned from America with an affluent lifestyle, stand out.

Challenge: 28km / 17,5 mill I Ascent 460m / Descent 520m.

It is a quiet route full of beautiful scenery. Leaving Colombres, the road takes you to the beautiful coastal town of Llanes. The sound of the ocean accompanies you along the way, as you pass through idyllic fishing villages that introduce you to Asturian culture. The only notable difference in altitude is at the end of the day, after Andrín. After the descent, you will reach Llanes, a village with a charming old town, full of terraces in summer, as well as the fishing port and its famous artistic breakwater.

Challenge: 23km / 14,2 mill I Ascent 320m, Descent 400m.

The first half of this route, which is relatively long but with fairly gentle slopes, passes through the beaches of Palombina, Torimbia and San Antolin. All of them are very nice and quite crowded during the summer. The route then heads inland again, passing through rural areas with less tourism. After crossing several railway crossings, you will end the day in Ribadesella, a famous coastal town known, among other things, for its prehistoric caves.

Note: If you prefer, you can split this day in two, going alone to the town of Nueva and spending the night there to continue the next day to Ribadesella. This means an extra night of stay, so you must let us know at the time of booking the trip.

Challenge: 32km / 19,8 mill I Ascent 330m / Descenso 340m.

Today's route will take you through very interesting landscapes, with mountains and breathtaking views of the coast. At every step you will discover natural corners of great value and you will pass by several beaches: Santa Marina (in Ribadesella), La Vega, Arenal de Morís (a little far away), La Espasa and La Isla. At the end of the route, the small town of Colunga, in the region of asturian cider par excellence, will welcome you with its charm and warm hospitality.

Challenge: 20km / 12,4 mill I Ascent 340m / Descent 330m.

Today's route is short and will take you through orchards and farmland, away from the coast and into the agricultural heartland of Asturias. You will pass through more mountainous terrain than on previous days and through small rural villages. Your destination is Villaviciosa, the Apple Capital, famous for its cider production.

Challenge: 18km / 11mill I Ascent 310m / Descent 320m.

Today you will go into the interior of Asturias, away from the coast. Leaving Villaviciosa behind, you will cross the Asturian hills and arrive in Pola de Siero, a lively market town. You will go from a quiet rural landscape to an energetic urban environment. This change will give you a unique and enriching experience.

Challenge: 26km / 16,1mill I Ascent 530m / Descent 320m.

Today's route is short and ends in Oviedo. The final stretch will take you through beautiful villages and fairytale forests until you reach the capital of Asturias, where you can delve into the history and culture of the region. Visit the spectacular Oviedo Cathedral and enjoy the local gastronomy in one of the many restaurants or cider houses in the city.

Challenge: 17km / 10,5mill I Ascent 190 / Descent 170m.

After your breakfast, this program comes to an end. 

If you feel like more adventure and feel like continuing walking, you can combine this trip with the next stage of the Camino.