Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Cantabria.

Accommodation in Santillana del Mar, at the hotel Casa Guela.

Day 2

Santillana del Mar.This morning enjoy visiting Santillana del Mar, declared a national monument, and considered to be one of the prettiest towns in Spain. A great number of its 15th to 17th century houses and buildings still remain; the town is a veritable living museum. The Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana is especially delightful. The prehistoric paintings of the famous Altamira Caves (now closed to the public) can be appreciated from the exact replicas of the caves which have been recreated in the museum nearby. This afternoon visit the seaside town of San Vicente de la Barquera, with its Romanesque cathedral and castle.

Accommodation in Santillana del Mar at the hotel Casa Guela.

Day 3

A day spent visiting western Cantabria. Potes is a ancient little town full of old balconied houses. The 15th century Torre del Infantado is a notable defensive tower. West of Potes is Santo Toribio de Liebana, which was founded in the 7th century and is one of the most revered spots in the Picos de Europa. In Fuente De, up the valley from Potes, there is a cable car by the Parador de Fuente De that will take you up into the mountains.

Accommodation in Casa Guela

Day 4

Full day in Santander
Santander, once a summer resort of the Spanish royal family, is today a busy port and a splendid city. The 12th century Cathedral was rebuilt in 1941, after a devastating fire. Worth visiting are the small zoo close to the Palace of Magdalena, and the Museum of Archaeology and Prehistory, as well as simply soaking up the atmosphere of this attractive regional capital.

Accommodation in Santander at the hotel Vincci Puerto Chico.

Day 5

Enjoy the day visiting the Cabarceno Wildlife & Nature ReserveA good example of environmental recovery, as the reserve is on the site of old iron mines. There are hundreds of species of animals to be found here.

Accommodation in Santander Vincci Puerto Chico.

Day 6

Visit the eastern coastal towns of Laredo & Castro Urdiales. Laredo, with its long sandy beach, is one of Cantabria's most popular beachside towns. It has an attractive old town built around the 13th century Church of La Asuncion. Castro Urdiales, another charming fishing town features the magnificent gothic church of Santa Maria perched atop a spectacular promontory. Later enjoy a walk along the stunning and unspoilt Trengandin beach in Noja.

Accommodation in Noja at the hotel Posada la Mies.

Day 7

Visit the Trasmiera coast through Noja, Isla and Santoña. This stretch of the Cantabrian coast is a continual alternation of cliff areas, important marshlands and magnificent beaches.

The beauty of its three towers (specially the one of Cabrahigo at the top of a smaill hill) and its history related to the Counts of Isla (whose palace from the 17th century can be admired in the village) make Isla one of the most attractive towns in Cantabria.

In Noja four pretty beaches capture the large number of tourist that visit the villaje: Ris,Joyel, Noja and Trengandin.

The Santoña is separate from Noja by the headland of El Brusco.

Noja and Santoña Natural Wetlands Reserve, at the mouth of the river Asón, is haven for nature. Many bird watchers gather here to observe the migratory birds that flock there en masse.

Accommodation in Posada la Mies.

Day 8

Departure

Extra Information

Inclusions -

7 nights accommodation at the hotels showed above

Exclusions -

Anything else not mentioned above