Picos Holiday Rentals offer a selection of self-catering places to stay in and around the Picos de Europa, Cantabria.

Click on the images below to go to that property's page, at the bottom of which you'll also find a clickable map to see exactly where each village lies. Please use the links provided on each property's page to contact us for checking availability or for more information.

Picos Holiday Rentals offer a selection of self-catering places to stay in and around the Picos de Europa, León.

Click on the images below to go to that property's page, at the bottom of which you'll also find a clickable map to see exactly where each village lies. Please use the links provided on each property's page to contact us for checking availability or asking for more information.

The Cantabrian mountains, in Spanish the Cordillera Cantábrica, stretch more or less parallel to the northern coast of Spain running some 500km from the western Pyrenees, through the Basque country, Cantabria, Castille and León, Asturias and into Galicia. They effectively separate Green Spain from the high plains of the Central Meseta and are the reason why the former receives so much rainfall from the prevailing west/north-westerly weather fronts.

They are composed of mostly limestone, conglomerate, shale, quartz, sandstone and granite, giving rise to many interesting rock formations such as this ridge of limestone outcrops that brings to mind the back of a Stegosaurus.

From a distance lumps of conglomerate appear green because of the lichens growing on the surface.

In places the history of the sedimentary processes and the contortions in the rock are vividly obvious.

Excluding the Picos de Europa, the highest point in the Cantabrian mountain chain is Peña Prieta, which at 2,539m rises from the central area of these mountains in the province of Cantabria near the border with Castile-León.

See also the San Glorio pages for more on the Cordillera Cantábrica and it's flora and fauna.

Cabrales is the Asturian municipality to the north of the Picos de Europa, famous within Spain for its blue cheese of the same name. Naturally bordered on its north side by the Sierra de Cuera and on its south side by the central and western massifs of the Picos de Europa, its main access road is the AS-114 which, coming from the coast, takes you through the valley from its eastern border at Panes and Peñamallera Baja to its western boundary at Onís.
The crystal, blue-green waters of the Cares river accompany the road much of the way. (Locals will tell you it's the most southerly of Europe's salmon and trout fishing rivers, possibly!).

The main towns of the area are Carreña and Arenas ( full names of both suffixed with "de Cabrales"). The former, being the capital, houses the town hall and most municipal services, while the second has a more touristy feel being the gateway to the area's most famous walk, the Cares Gorge. In Arenas you'll find artisan wares, postcards, a post office and trekking clothing. Both towns have bars and restaurants serving fabada (the Asturian version of the French cassoulet), cider and Cabrales cheese, although neither could be described as big. Cabrales' resident population is only around 2,500 people.

Cabrales can also boast views of one of Spain's most famous mountains, Naranjo de Bulnes. Just outside the village of Poo (de Cabrales), on the main road, there's an ample parking area for the viewpoint. The hamlet of Camarmeña, above Poncebos at the northern end of the Cares Gorge, offers an even closer view. There's now a road up to the hamlet of Camarmeña leaviing the village of Bulnes itself as the only village left in the Picos without road access although the village is now serviced by a steep cog railway built into the mountainside.

The highest village of Cabrales, and the Picos de Europa National Park is Sotres, surrounded by peaks and mountain pasture and accessed by a twisting road with spectacular views.

See also Picos Holiday Rentals for accommodation in Cabrales.

News on birdlife around the Picos de Europa. From sub-adult Lammergeier incursions from the Pyrenees and the possible reintroduction programme to Avocets and Little egrets on the Costa Verde. Also included here are personal observations of resident and summer-visiting birds.

Articles on reptiles living around the Picos de Europa.  Among the pages here you'll find the largest lizard found in mainland Spain and which snakes to give a wide berth.

All the latest news and articles on the remaining Cantabrian brown bear population of northern Spain. News is translated from the Spanish. Also included are articles on bear ecology, problems of habitat conservation and more.

Articles on our (sadly not too frequent) wildlife trips around the rest of Spain.

• Ski Touring 
• Holiday Details
• Prices and What's Included
• Your Guide
• Booking Enquiries

An Introduction to Ski Touring

So what's the difference between ski touring and ski mountaineering? Basically, ski touring is walking on snow using downhill skis. Ski mountaineering includes the use of ice axe and crampons to take your ski touring a step further, allowing you to strap your skis to your pack (or leave them at the base) and make summits otherwise unattainable. Other terms used are backcountry skiing (U.S. and Canada) and ski randonnée (French Alpine).

Specialist equipment includes ski touring bindings, synthetic skins and avalanche receivers. A ski touring binding has three positions - either down for skiing downhill just like piste skiing or it can be loosened allowing you to slide comfortably across the snow. An added bonus is that it can also be clipped up, giving you a "heel" for moving uphill, saving your calf muscles. (If you've ever worn stilletoes walking uphill you'll know the relieved feeling that can give!)
To stop you sliding downhill and getting nowhere fast there are skins that stick to the bottom of the skis. These were once made of seal skin but since environmental enlightenment are now made of synthetic material that mimics the nap of natural fur and are stuck on with glue. They can be simply ripped off when you're ready for skiing downhill.

Holiday Details

Daily and weekly itineraries will depend hugely on the current snow conditions, weather forecasts, skier's abilities, etc. Our indepth local knowledge means we always know where the skiing will be best! First days are always gentle to ease you into the swing of things and also for Mike to suss out your ability (people have been known to fib a little!) Thereon in the days are generally of around 6 hours skiing, perhaps more through the spring as the daylight hours grow longer. N.B. We don't do Alpine starts - mid-winter through to March/April, it doesn't get light 'til about 08.00-08.30, although dusk falls later than in the U.K. 

We ski mainly in the Central and Eastern massifs of the Picos de Europa and among the highest peaks of the Cantabrian mountains. The cable car at Fuente De (the only lift in the Picos) can whisk us up to 1,834m in no time, while snow tyres on our van can take us to wherever the snowline happens to be elsewhere. An optional night or two out in huts offers the chance to be in the mountains at first light and to experience a full day of peace and solitude in a wild mountain environment.

For those with winter mountaineering experience a good number of 2,000m+ peaks can be bagged. A steady climb on skins and, when necessary, ice axes and crampons, can take us to the tops of, for example, Pico Tesorero, 2,570m, and
Torre Blanca, 2,613m, in the Central Massif of the Picos and Peña Labra, 2,000m, and Coriscao, 2,237m, in the nearby Cantabrian mountains. Descents on skis can be enjoyed by anyone with a fairly strong Stem Christie turn. Even beginners, however, can make the summits of some mountains, particularly those in the more rounded Cantabrian chain. (The area has been described as "like Scotland - but with sun!")

Wherever we go, one thing's for certain, we'll be far more likely to see wildlife such as the local chamois and choughs than people, but most of all, our holidays are relaxing and fun. Just ask Neil. Have a look at our trip reports too.

Prices and What's Included

From 710€ - 790€ pp. 

For 1 person - 790€

For 2 - 3 people - 750€ pp.

For 4+ people - 710€ pp.

What's Included:

• Free airport transfers from Santander (see travelling to the Picos de Europa)
• Seven nights en-suite accommodation in a comfortable guesthouse with B&B, packed lunches and evening meals with drinks
• Six full days of guided ski touring or splitboarding
• Daily transport

We look forward to introducing you to the Picos de Europa!

Do you fancy a winter break in snow-covered mountains but don't ski? We have the answer - a guided snowshoeing, winter walking holiday in northern Spain's Picos de Europa!

Away from the busy resorts of the Alps and the Pyrenees, but within easy reach of the U.K. and only an hour and a half from Santander on Spain's northern coast, these maritime limestone peaks make our mountain holidays the ideal getaway break. From our converted farmhouse guesthouse base, with its log-burning fires, ensuite bedrooms and home cooking, near the old market town of Potes in Cantabria, we are within easy reach of two mountain passes as well as the only cable car in the area at Fuente De.

An Introduction to Snowshoeing

Prices, Availability and Enquiries

Below Peña Olvidada, above the cable car

 Returning to the cable car

 An Introduction to Snowshoeing

We could just say that snowshoeing is simply walking on snow without falling in, but that would be boring. Instead, with the help of our models Rachel and Alan, we thought we'd delve into the "art" of snowshoeing. You can click on any of the thumbnails on this page for larger images and a closer view of exactly what snowshoeing in the Picos de Europa entails. But first a few words about the necessary equipment.

When most people think of snowshoeing they imagine an unwieldy, tennis racket-like appendage strapped to the foot, possibly with the odd husky or two bounding alongside (or, more likely, miles in front). Modern snowshoes are actually much smaller than they imagine, narrow with bindings similar to those used for ski touring. You stick the toe of your boot into the front of the snowshoe where there is also a strap to tighten. The binding can be adjusted lengthways to fit the size of your boot. Your heel slots into the back where there's another strap to tie around your ankle so you don't lose the shoe if anything untoward happens! The back of the binding is free to move up and down as you walk, and to save stretching your calf tendons when walking uphill there's an added bonus of an optional "heel" which you can clip up. A bit like sticking on a pair of stilletoes. This simply clicks back down when the slope levels out. On the front underneath there's even a crampon for icy conditions. This slideshow shows snowshoes in more detail..........

Back to our models, let's have a closer look at what the well-equipped snowshoer is wearing this season. The observant among you will already have spotted the poles, essential for maintaining balance, helping to keep up a rhythmic pace as well as for testing the snow depth. Sensibly, Rachel and Alan have included gaiters in their personal clothing. (We can only assume that those rather large "day sacks" are carrying their fleeces, snowproof jackets and warm gloves). Our intrepid pair are obviously planning on making a summit or two, the ice axes strapped to their packs rather giving that game away. They may also be carrying their own flasks or water bottles of course, but shouldn't be carrying much food as we know their photographer/guide porters most of that. Here we can see that Rachel and Alan have escaped the "hordes" at the top of the cable car and are enjoying the tranquility of the Picos in winter. They've easily mastered the snowshoe walking style of keeping their feet a little more apart than usual and can relax to soak in the views of this miniature, though magnificent, European mountain range.

Our strategically placed base near the old town of Potes allows for easy access to the main Cantabrian mountain chain, the Cordillera Cantábrica, when we want a change from the Picos themselves. Here the landscape is gentler with a more Scottish feel.

As with ski touring, snowshoeing has very little impact on the environment. We are much more likely to encounter indigenous wildlife than human while enjoying the isolated tranquility of being at one with nature. On the left, Rachel takes in the view under the south face of Peña Prieta, at 2,538m the highest peak in the Cordillera Cantábrica.

 In these two images you can appreciate the geological differences between the peaks of the Picos de Europa (above) and the more rolling Cantabrian mountains (below).

See more of our snowshoeing images on the Picos Galleries.

Prices, Availability and Enquiries

From 675€ - 750€ pp. 

(Booking for 1 person = 750€.

Booking for 2- 3 people = 712.50€. pp.

Booking for 4+ people = 675€ pp.)

Prices include:

• Transfers from Santander (see Travelling to the Picos de Europa)
• 7 nights full-board, en-suite accommodation inc. breakfasts and 3-course, home-cooked evening meals with beers and wine
• 6 full days of guided snowshoe walks inc. picnics
• Snowshoes and poles
• All transport during the week

The only extras are snacks and drinks out in bars and cable car tickets (@ 13€ one way).

You'll just need to bring walking boots, layers of clothing including a fleece and a waterproof outer layer, (gaiters are a good idea), sunglasses and suncream, a day pack and a flask and/or refillable water bottle.

For dates and availability go here.

Please send us an email to enquire

Or call, Whatsapp or text +34 660551307

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

Picos Rock and Snow now offer fully-supported self-guided packages and/or bag transfers for independent travellers that would like to do linear or circular routes in and around the Picos de Europa and the Cantabrian coast. Logistics are no longer a headache!

Choose from;

Self-guided routes with options including;

• Transfer from the coast
• All accommodation booked ahead
• Trip notes and maps provided
• Packed lunches
• Daily bag transfers
• Telephone support

We currently have three different routes available. You pick your own dates and we will arrange the trip for you;

• Classic Traverse of the Central Massif
• Liébana Skyline Tour
• Camino de Santiago Detour (coming soon)

Take advantage of our bag transfer service. Using our services, you can walk comfortably with just a day pack while your bags are securely couriered ahead to the end of your route or your overnight stop.

Daily rates - From just 10€ per bag, up to 50 km's. Send us a message for a quote.

The Picos de Europa are fairly well served by mountain refuges, most being wardened just in the summer months.