Top Santander Outdoor Activities

A constellation of stars for this fantastic tour that should be a foundational experience for anyone who loves art, history, civilization and/or is interested in climate change: compare and contrast Jeff Koons’ flower Puppy with 12,000 year-old drawings of extinct bison, the abstract expressionists with 40,000 year-old red dots, black lines and reverse hand prints, and Gehry’s Guggenheim with a cave from before time, then walk out into the warm air and look out over the verdant landscape and wonder – there were reindeer here? I took this tour on a hope and a hunch because I couldn’t find any good reviews or write-ups, and I found the tour so profound, I wanted to describe what it is like for others, because it’s a great tour and someone should (my second review ever). This tour should be part of The Bilbao 1-2: the Guggenheim for the newest art in the most modern setting one day, the oldest art in an ancient cave the next. That said, while many will find this tour spectacular, there is also a modest quality to the actual cave art, the site visits are short relative to the time travelled, and there’s no rebuttal to a philistine’s dismissal that Alta Mira is a reproduction and the actual caves just show a bunch of stick figures – to each their own. But if it’s for you, then note everything is strictly limited to a designated number of small groups and precisely timed – BOOK EARLY. Museum of Alta Mira / Neocave: The Alta Mira neocave is a precise, exact reproduction of the Alta Mira cave (now effectively closed to the public for preservation) and it is amazing: a paleolithic Sistine Chapel of ocher and charcoal-drawn and etched bison and other animals. As Picasso is reported to have said when he saw it, “we have learned nothing in 12,000 years.” The precision, the perspective, the sheer artistic ability is just stunning. (I thought we had enough time there.) Interpretation Centre of Cave Art of Puente Viesgo: The museum has a tremendous exhibit of prehistoric artifacts very well presented and I could have spent an afternoon there, and will if I go back. I would have liked to have had more time but the cave tours are not run in the afternoon in order to keep the heat out, so we had to keep moving. Castillo Cave and Monedas Cave: calibrate your expectations. You will not see polychromatic bison similar to Alta Mira – and the ceiling couldn’t be illuminated in a similar fashion nowadays anyway. What you will see are basic ocher and charcoal drawings and etchings of fauna from 12,000 years ago that show the same degree of precision and perspective and artistic brilliance as Alta Mira (there are some similar polychrome drawings at Castillo but they are currently closed off) as well as 40,000 year-old markings and reverse hand prints. The drawings are illuminated by the guide’s flashlight (torch) only and frequently you will need to look closely. Guide: the cave guide is mandated to give the tours in Spanish, and Gabriela provided a quiet, simultaneous translation. Our cave guide was extremely informative, and Gabriela provided excellent commentary as well. Tour: Gabriela is an excellent, very knowledgeable guide and her tour is well organised and precise: it has to be because of the rigid time sequencing for cave preservation. Gabriela’s husband, Rafa, who picked us up at our hotel in Bilbao (additional fee), is as charming as he is knowledgeable about Cantabria, its people, history and culture – I learned a lot from him (a big mucho gracias). Difficulty: the stairs and steps are hewn into the rock and can be uneven and wet with the footing at times difficult; in addition, you’re not supposed to touch the walls and there was some ducking (not crouching), but I’m 68 and my wife is 66, we’re in good shape, and we thought it was fine and well worth it. You are given a half-torch stick to light the floor, but they can’t be used to see the art on the walls. Claustrophobia: my wife and another woman from the Spanish tour both had worried about claustrophobia (my wife was expecting possibly to bail) but they both said they had no problem whatsoever - just awe. The caves: I’m no spelunker so I’m not sure what to compare these caves to, but the caves themselves are gorgeous with white calcium carbonate stalactites and stalagmites. The geology itself made for a marvelous experience. Context: Gabriela and the museum can help put the drawings and etchings into various perspectives – I found Patrick Wyman’s recent book Lost Worlds to be a great primer on the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene and Paleolithic life and evolution (a good read and he’s also a podcaster). We did not go for lunch – it was just the two of us, so we went to Santander to dine and explore, then took the bus back to Bilbao (get your tickets ahead of time). I hope this helps: I’ve been a lot of places, seen a lot of things and took a lot of tours, and this one is truly exceptional.

beautiful and original. Worth visiting

We had a Spanish guide for this trip as our English speaking guide couldn't make this day, however, and even though we don't speak Spanish, we had the most wonderful time, beautiful locations, from the Monestry to the Picos de Europa, absolutely beautiful, Potes was great but very busy and touristy so leave that with you to decide, great excursion though, lots of driving Ng but really good 👍

Fun informative tour to picos de Europa and potes, Spain …………………………,……..,,,..,,,………..,…..,,,,,,,……..

Well worth the strenuous hike to see the beautiful lakes. There will be cows, everywhere. Very early departure because there are additional stops to pick up others.

First, El Castillo has around 300 steps. There are decent breaks in between each set of stairs as the guides explain each painting, etc, but you'll also have to walk all the way back up. Las Monedas is easier, but my mom was winded by the end, so I think I was correct to advise her not to go in the first one.Catalina was amazing in explaining everything from geology to discovery to scientific understanding. I wish we had more time at the interpretation center, I could spend a while there, but I know everyone isn't as much into reading signposts, and the official cave tours are done by museum employees & on strict timetables. As we left the next group was ready to start.Because of late cancelations, we had 4 instead of 7 for the tour, so in a way we got slightly more time I think.Get this off your bucket list as much as possible. Catalina explained that just three years ago they allowed 3 groups of 13 people each per hour, but global warming is leading to fast deterioration in the caves. Soon these could go the way of Altamira which I'm happy to have skipped due to lack of time, where the caves are totally shut down.I feel so privileged to have been able to see the oldest cave art in Europe, by just about the first homo sapiens to reach Europe. And I could be one of the last few in general public to see them.I see museum staff will use English but you'll miss most of the contexts unless you understand Spanish well. If not, get a guide who can do the whole tour in your language. You're making this journey. Might as well get to know all of it.

The cave tours were exceptional; an experience to be sought out if possible. Our driver was fine, the cave guide amazing.

This is a must for anyone who loves prehistoric art. Limited to 7 people only for Monedes and Castillo caves, you get close up introduction to arts dating back over 40,000 years ago. You end being wow'ed at Altimira. You really appreciate this UNESCO sites. Our guide Pepe was wonderful in showing the highlights at Altimira.

This is a trip which became a pilgrimage thanks to Raphael’s knowledge and respectful explanation of the events in Garabandal 1961 and following years. Needs to be experienced highly recommended. The village is a beautiful and very peaceful

The visit to the Magdalena with the guide Mrs. Clara was brilliant ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ in her explanations!!!!

We stayed in Soto de Cangas, we had it handy, it was just a matter of going up, there were 2 options, either bus or car, but seeing that road and seeing how those buses went down and up, I moved to only one option, going up by car, until you are there you spend a little while scared, my particular case, then upon arriving at the top that is difficult to explain, something wonderful, unique, you see nature in the full expression of the word nature, cows with their calves in the middle of the road, native horses, they force you to stop and continue the journey when they want, it was our first trip to the north and to this day they remain our best vacation and mind you we have little left to see of the coasts, Galicia, Basque Country, San Sebastian and little else, gastronomy, education, kindness, advice, that is what we took from there.

It has been a beautiful excursion to Cabárceno. The guide, Rafael, is very kind and attentive to the needs of everyone, including the elderly. Additionally, he is a great guide who makes the visit very enjoyable.

Gonzalo are tour guide was really friendly and helpfull he was absouloutley great he was kind funny and helpfull throughout all of it he told us about the the area and gave us loads of information cant recommend enough

everything was excellent...very friendly people

We went to visit the park in early June. Unfortunately, the day we went in the morning, it was raining. But it stopped. We took the cable car upon arrival. A superb view despite the weather. Then we drove around the circuit. Even with the park map, we did not see everything!! This park is truly magnificent and should be visited at least once in a lifetime. I recommend it to you. Larger than Sigean and all the French parks combined. Nothing to compare!!!

Very beautiful palace. Free parking (small) 10 minutes on foot from the entrance. Then plan for a 10-minute walk to reach the entrance of the palace, a rather nice little stroll. Otherwise, a little train can take you there, but it is paid. Timings to be respected. 1 hour of visiting with a guide in Spanish. Audio guide very poorly made. Too bad, the interior was very beautiful and the view outside was also lovely.