Asturias (Gijon, Oviedo)

Day 2

Move to Andrín and enjoy the beautiful beach with the same name. It is a semi-wild creek of white sand and blue-green water colour. Then move to Gulpiyuri, a small semicircular beach formed by a closed sinkhole rounded by cliffs. It is really worthy to see as you walk through a path in the mountain to find this beach in the middle of nowhere. Next stop is Ribadesella, a fishermen´s village full of history. It is crossed by a “Ría” (Estuary) and divides the village in two halves. The old town is full of churches as the “Santa María Magdalena” church, located in a square in the middle of Ribadesella. The houses were built between the XVI and the XIX century, full of balconies and porches. This part of the town is plenty of restaurants and “sidrerías” where you can have lunch of just enjoy a “sidra” (cider) poured in a traditional way. See the video. Go for a walk through the beach and get to Mount Corberu where you will find the “Ermita de la Guía” (Guía hermitage) and maybe the best viewpoint in Ribadesella. You can either walk down back or taking another path to get to the city center. Outside this village you can see the “bufones” (Jumps of water) if the ocean is wild. They are natural chimneys made of limestone that imitate “geysers”. They can reach 20 meters high. You can also visit the “Cuevas del Tito Bustillo” (Tito Bustillo´s Cave), a paleolithic cave art, included by the UNESCO in the list of World Herritage. Paintings embrace from 22.000 to 11.000 B.C. You will be hosted in Ribadesella.

Day 3

Cangas de Onís is the capital of the area (Onís). We are moving into the central part of Asturias and the scenery is completely different. Here you can visit the Roman Bridge and the “Asturian Cross” hanging, the “Santa Cruz Hermitage” (inside this church you can see the dolmen dated in the year 4.000 B.C.), the parish Church beside the market square (very popular every Sunday morning), and the statue of “Don Pelayo”, first king of Asturias famous for preventing the Muslim invasion and starting the Reconquest of Spain. From here move to Covadonga, the first visited place in Asturias as it holds the Virgin of Covadonga, patron of Asturias, in a chapel inside a cave. In the way to Covadonga you can visit the famous lakes up in the mountains. Next, drive to Poncebos, inside the National Park of “Picos de Europa”. From there you will see the “Naranjo de Bulnes”, a limestone peak of Paleozoic origin. In the base of this mountain there is a small village called “Bulnes” with 22 inhabitants. You can reach this village hiking a 1 hour walk in a stoned path or taking the cable car. Lastly we move to Benia de Onís where you will be hosted in a 4* hotel and spa where you ca relax after a long day. Note: If you a cheese lover don´t miss the “Cabrales” cheese (blue and strong made in the area).

Day 4

Back to the coast get to know Arriondas. This is the start line of the internationally famous “Descenso del Sella”, a traditional race going down the river “Sella” in a Kayak. You can do it all the year round (if you want to do it please ask us). Visit the “San Miguel Church” where you can see the best sample of romanic asturian art (XI and XIII century). The Indian architecture is well represented by the “chalet de los Valle” or “Villa Juanita”. Then drive to Lastres, a very traditional fishermen´s village worthy to see. The parish church of “Santa María de Sábada”, the “Buen suceso” and “San José” chapels, the “Clock tower”, the “San roque” hermitage and the pier are all recommended visits. Go to Luces to enjoy the views from the lighthouse. Villaviciosa is the capital of the “Cyder” poured in a traditional way (see the video). Visit the old town full of churches and monasteries. We can highlight the Pre-Roman and Roman style the “Conventín”, Santa María church, “San Juan de Amandi”, “San Andrés de Bedriñana” and others. Drive to Tazones beside the “ría” (estuary) and see this really small fishermen´s village known by the excellent food serve in many of the restaurants. Go to Gijón and overnight.

Day 5

In Gijón you can take a walk in “El Muro”, a path beside the beach that go across the town. At the end of this path visiting the old town (Cimadevilla) is a must. There you will find hundreds of “sidrerías” (local restaurants) where you can eat or drink anything. Don´t forget to ask for a “sidra” (cider) which is poured in a traditional way (see this in the video). Up the hill of “Cimadevilla” you have to see the sculpture designed by Chillida called “Elogio al horizonte” (Eulogy to the horizon). It is placed near the cliff and only if you go in the middle you will hear the waves crashing. The building called “La Laboral”(the university) is also highly recommended. If you are travelling with kids you can visit the aquarium or the botanical gardens. Move to Candás and walk around the village. It is a popular fishermen´s village where the main capture many, many years ago (when it was still allowed) was the whale. The pier offers a wide variety of restaurants where you can have fresh fish and sea food everyday (not on Mondays). Now drive to Cabo Peñas. You are visiting the highest cliffs in Asturias (more than 100 meters) from where you can see the immensity of the ocean. You cannot miss this. Last stop is Avilés. It was an industrial town time ago but is becoming a modern town thanks to the investment in infrastructure. It is a town full of live, specially in its beautiful urban center. The best we can do to know it is to walk around to see it all, finding buildings from the middle age to the modern times. It has got more than 1.000 years of history. You can also walk beside the “ría” (estuary) in a 4km. recovered path. A must – see is the Niemeyer Cultural Center, designed by the more than famous architect Óscar Niemeyer. Overnight.

Day 6

Cudillero is a singular fishermen´s village built in three hillsides forming a circle. It has got all houses painted in different colours so sailors could see their houses from the boat when they where arriving. Walk through its narrow streets, see the hanging houses and go down to the port to enjoy fresh fish served everyday (not on Mondays). Outside and 11 km. far is located Cabo Vidio, a lighthouse in a cliff of 100 meters height from where the views are great. Going west, near Luarca, we should visit “Barayo Natural Reserve” where you can find otters in freedom and enjoy of its spectacular beach. Luarca is the birth place of the Nobel Prize of Medicine winner, Severo Ochoa. It was built in the margins of the river “negro” and divides the village in two halves, the medieval one where the medieval origin neighbourhoods are and the modern part (XIX century). In the port you can have a drink at any of its bars and see the fishermen bringing the captures of the day. Go up to the “Atalaya” to get awesome views of the village and sea. The river negro estuary flows into three different beaches rounded by forest of deep green colour. You can find several forts in the surroundings. As regards its artistic patrimony, we will highlight the palaces of the marquesses of Gamoneda and Ferrera, the tower and big house of Villademoros, apart from the latin American villages: Argentina, Excelsior, Tarsila, Hilda, Rosita… Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, is not the biggest town in the province but it is a very beautiful town though. The historical center still maintains the old taste of the 19th century. Take a walk and see the many palaces and churches in town. We highlight the “San Juan el Real” church in the middle of two narrow streets where the old dictator “Francisco Franco” married his wife. Visit its Cathedral and the square where it is located, go into the streets of the old town and have a drink at any of the many bars and restaurants. Walk through “San Francisco” park and if you want to make some shopping go to “Uría” street and around where you will find some of the best shops in Oviedo. Close and around the city there are 14 preroman buildings among you should not miss the popular palace of “Santa María del Naranco” in Mount Naranco just outside Oviedo.

Day 7

End of trip and return home

More information

If you want further information about this pack and how to quit, add or modify anything to adapt it to your likes and preferences, please e-mail us at info@hiddeninspain.com or visit our contact section. We will be happy to tailor-made your holidays.

Manual car rental from arrival day to departure (7 days). An automatic car can be arranged at an extra cost. Note this tour can also be done combining public and private transportation (with driver). Should you be interested, please ask!

Complete and comprehensive guide book with maps, routes, information about the area, tips, restaurant recommendations and everything you need to make the most of this trip.

You’ll have a 24/7 service with a local trip manager (always the same one) that will be able to help you with any issue (even translation or any problem resolution) within minutes.

We’ll send you a good bye pack to thank you for traveling with us

Many different tours can be included at an extra cost, from walking guided tours to birds watching, lake cruises or cooking classes, to mention some. We will suggest you the best based on your likes and requests).

Any other not specified above