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This tour offers a beautiful ride through the highlights of Northern Spain. The rich green countryside contrasts with the blue sea and the magnificent unspoilt beaches. Picturesque villages with flower bedecked houses, fishing harbours and the backdrop of the Picos de Europa.
The tour starts in a medieval village of Santillana del Mar with cobbled streets where you can visit the modern museum of the Altamira Caves - a World Heritage site. You will cycle through green meadows, hills and valleys of Cantabria with its marvellous coastline and nearby beaches. You will pass through charming villages and will have a chance to experience the architecture of famous Gaudi in Comillas.
The mountain range of Picos de Europa will be your backdrop as you head towards the charming villages of the valley of Cabuerniga taking the road less travelled through the Cantabrian Mountains. This is a route few tourists ever see! You cycle through some beautiful valleys and villages always going off the beaten track, including a cycle through the stunning limestone valley of the River Miera which brings you to Somo and the Bay of Santander.
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Itineraries
Day 1
Transfer to Santillana del Mar
Pick up from arrival point and transfer to the charming medieval village of Santillana del Mar. Introduction to bikes and route briefing. Spend the rest of the day walking round the cobbled streets of this beautiful village, visit the modern museum of the Altamira Caves or enjoy a ride around the country lanes and down to the coastline.
Day 2
Santillana del Mar~San Vicente de la Barquera (36km)
Leaving Santillana, you cycle through the green meadows, hills and valleys of Cantabria with its marvellous unspoilt coastline and beaches. Seaside villages await with small harbours and pretty village squares with tapas bars and restaurants. You can visit El Capricho designed by Gaudí. You head through the Parque Natural de Oyambre en route to the stunning San Vicente with the Picos de Europa in the distance.
Day 3
San Vicente de la Barquera
Spend time getting to know this pretty fishing village with its many seafood restaurants and magnificent setting. Take a ride on one of the free day routes, visit the lovely mountain village of Carmona, take a train
to the fishing village of Llanes in the neighbouring province of Asturias and enjoy the ride back to San Vicente. Alternatively, enjoy a ride through the unspoilt hill country behind the village, or you may just prefer to spend a lazy afternoon on the beach.
Day 4
San Vicente de la Barquera ~ Llanes (47 km)
Westwards around the beautiful headland of Pechón with its magnificent coastline. Cross the River Deva in Unquera to enter the Asturias. Colombres is home to the sumptuous villas of the indianos, emigrants to the Americas who made their fortune then returned. Continue between the coast and the dramatic mountains of the Sierra de Cuera, foothills of the magnificent Picos de Europa. A beautiful descent through eucalyptus forests leads to the coastand unspoilt beaches, to arrive at the charming fishing village of Llanes.
Day 5
Llanes loop
Visit a string of fine beaches including the incredible landlocked beach of Gulpiyuri, or ride through the most beautiful hills and valleys behind Llanes. Alternatively, give the bikes a rest and take a canoeing trip on the Deva or Sella Rivers, or a hike through the dramatic and renowned Cares Gorge in the heart of the Picos de Europa. Take a train to Ribadasella and visit the Caves of Tito Bustillo with their prehistoric paintings before cycling back. Enjoy the busy atmosphere of the fishing village of Llanes, so popular with Spanish tourists.
Day 6
Llanes ~ Somo (43 km)
Vehicle transfer to the Cantabrian Mountains, to begin our descent of the Miera Valley to our final stop in Somo from the starting point at 822 metres / 3757 feet above sea level. From here, a marvellous ride through the stunning limestone valley of the River Miera takes us down to the farmland around Somo and the Bay of Santander. Visit the mountain village of San Roque de Riomiera and the spa village of Liérganes with its charming old quarter.
Day 7
Somo
Somo has a marvellous beach with miles of golden sand. A short boat ride across the Bay to visit the lively and elegant city of Santander, capital of the province of Cantabria. Enjoy the belle époque atmosphere of El Sardinero or shop in the town centre. Cycle through green country lanes to visit the beautiful beaches of Loredo, Langre or Galizano and the village of Ajo, famous for its paellas. Eat freshly grilled sardines in the seaside restaurants of Pedreña, birthplace and home of the famous golfer, Severiano Ballesteros.
Rides of various distances
Day 8
Departure from Somo
End of trip. Transfer from Somo to Santander or Bilbao.
- 7 nights Hotel accommodation in 3- & 4-star hotels & country-inns with en-suite bathroom
- Breakfast
- Information Pack (Route Guide and maps, elevation profile, GPS files)
- Transfer to and from hotels on arrival and departure dates.
Not included:
- Bike rent
- Personal insurance
- Evening meals
- GPS device
On a self-guided tour we will organize your bike hire, the accommodation, and the luggage transfer. On this tour, we will also organize your airport transfers for you. Your tour package will be waiting for you in your first night’s accommodation. You will set off by yourself and the luggage will be transferred to the next stop by our local taxi transfers.
You can start the cycling tour on any Saturday from April to October.
On a self-guided tour it is possible to add extra days or shorten the trip if you wish to or we can customize the route for you.
As this is a self-led trip you do not have the back-up of a guide and support van. Our aim is to allow you to feel like an independent traveler, free to cycle each day at your own pace while at the same time having the security of knowing that your luggage will be waiting for you in your next accommodation.
If you experience small problems with the bike (e.g., a puncture) you will have a spare tube, pump and tire lever. You also have access to a 24-hour helpline.
Bike hire is not included in the tour package.
You can rent hybrid-type tourist bicycles from Trek with conventional handlebars and with triple chain ring and easy-to-change gear ratios for comfortable and easy cycling. Road bikes may also be available on request. We can also provide tandems, children’s bikes, tow bikes and child seats for those with children.
www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx/7_2_fx/#
Hybrid bikes will carry a handlebar bag, useful for carrying money, documents, camera and lots of other useful items which may be needed close at hand. This bag is easily removable from its click fastening and carried around with the shoulder strap. They are also equipped with a rear luggage rack and one or two panniers, or a rear rack bag to carry just what you need for each day's cycling. Road bikes carry a seat post bag if required.
In addition, all cycles are equipped with pump, spare inner tube, water bottle, bike lock and basic toolkit. Extras such as lights or toe clips are available on request.
Its possible to book trekking bikes, road bikes and e-bikes.
A continental-style breakfast buffet is provided each morning. Lunches and dinners are not included.
Specialized cycle clothing may be handy but not strictly necessary. What you do need (among other things) is the following:
• shorts/ long trousers/ track suit/ legging
• shirts/ sweater/ rain clothing
• gloves (only when you book a tour in April. It can be chilly in the morning that time of year!)
• good shoes
• sunglasses/ cap/ swimming costume
• extra towel
• soap/ insect repellent
• swimwear
We really enjoyed this holiday, cycling in Spain was a joy, I have never seen such respect for cyclists from motorists, it was great!
The terrain varied from coastal with lovely seas to mountains as high as you like. The mountains were fine as the bikes had the ideal gears for climbing. Mountains were not compulsory! The luggage transfer was great, the local people and tour operators were so gentle. I would recommend this tour.
R. Walsh (Cantabrian Coast)
I really enjoyed the trip to Cantabria. Its very well planned and all the hotels were very nice.
Ronn L. (Cantabrian Coast group)
We really enjoyed the trip with Simon. All the hotels were very good... Choice of restaurants was great - very enjoyable meals. I highly recommend this tour and would go again.
John (Cantabrian Coast group)
The holiday was enjoyable, lovely scenery and an interesting part of Spain to visit. The team in Spain were helpful and the bikes were good; the maps were clear and easy to follow. The hotels were good and comfortable.
Patricia Fitz (Cantabrian Coast self led May)
2025 SELF GUIDED TOUR
Season 1
29th March - 30th March
20th September – 31st October
€930 per person sharing
€ 1185 single room occupancy
Season 2
31st May - 27th June
30th - 19th September
€1010 per person sharing
€1330 single room occupancy
Season 3
28th June - 1st August
€1180 per person sharing
€1560 single room occupancy
Season 4
2nd August – 29th August
€1240 per person sharing
€1755 single room occupancy
Touring bike hire €136
E-bike, tandem €220
Road bike €190
Self Guided Tour Information
Self guided tour dates: Any Saturday from 30th March to 1st November 2025.
Start dates: arrival and departure day is Saturday. Groups of 4 or more can choose any start date at no extra cost
How to get to the start point:
Best arrival points:
- Airports - Bilbao or Santander
- Ferry ports - Bilbao or Santander
- Bus / train stations - Bilbao or Santander
By Air
Travellers generally arrive through Santander or Bilbao Airport where they are met by our pick up service.
It is often possible to take connecting flights through Spanish airports such as Madrid or Barcelona or through other European cities. Nearest airport is Santander connecting with Madrid and Barcelona, although flights are not so frequent. RyanAir now have routes into Santander Airport, closer to starting point in Santillana del Mar.
Trains & Buses
If you are travelling within Spain, there is an excellent network of road transport; The Spanish Intercity train service: Renfe. The local train service along the coast of the Basque Country, Cantabria & Asturias is called FEVE. The major coach companies, depending on where you are travelling, are Alsa and Continental Auto.
For more details please have a look at the tour dossier.
As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).
Santillana del Mar
Day 1: Hotel Casa del Organista
San Vicente de la Barquera
Day 2 & 3: Hotel Faro de San Vicente
Llanas
Day 4 & 5: Hotel Don Paco
Somo
Day 6 & 7: Hotel Torres de Somo