twistytrip

Public trip · Northern Spain

Picos de Europa · 3 days

Three days in the Picos de Europa, straight off the Santander ferry — the La Hermida gorge, a night at the foot of the Fuente Dé cable car, the San Glorio pass, the Los Beyos gorge, and the climb to the Lagos de Covadonga. Cheese in Cabrales, cider in Cangas, and the honest costs of all of it.

452
km
3
days

€409

per rider, all in

The route

Day 1Day 2Day 3

Start · Santander

Day 01· Fri

Santander Fuente Dé

via Potes

138 km · 2 h 09 riding · 2026-07-10

The opening stretch: 138 km from Santander to Fuente Dé, by way of Potes. Settle into the rhythm — the best of the route is still ahead.

1 081 m0 m↗ 4 496 m climbed
Potes

Rider tip — Fill up before the mountains, not in them — valley fuel is cheaper and queues are shorter.

Viewpoints on the way

Open day 1 in Google Maps ↗

Sleep here

Hotel Áliva

Fuente Dé

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗

Hotel La Bárcena

Fuente Dé

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗
More hotels in Fuente Dé on Booking.com ↗
Day 02· Sat

Fuente Dé Cangas de Onís

via Riaño

142 km · 2 h 18 riding · 2026-07-11

Fuente Dé to Cangas de Onís — 142 km via Riaño. This is what you came for: proper riding roads and a town worth walking at the end of them.

1 567 m64 m↗ 4 405 m climbed
Riaño

Rider tip — Fill up before the mountains, not in them — valley fuel is cheaper and queues are shorter.

Viewpoints on the way

Open day 2 in Google Maps ↗

Sleep here

Hotel Los Robles

Cangas de Onís

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗

Hotel Casa de Campo

Cangas de Onís

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗
More hotels in Cangas de Onís on Booking.com ↗
Day 03· Sun

Cangas de Onís Santander

via Lagos de Covadonga · Arenas de Cabrales · San Vicente de la Barquera

172 km · 3 h 23 riding · 2026-07-12

The ride home: 172 km from Cangas de Onís back to Santander via Lagos de Covadonga · Arenas de Cabrales · San Vicente de la Barquera. Roll in with the whole route behind you and a phone full of photos.

1 150 m-1 m↗ 5 222 m climbed
Lagos de CovadongaArenas de CabralesSan Vicente de la Barquera

Rider tip — Leave at first light — the interior gets brutally hot on summer afternoons. Short stops, lots of water.

Viewpoints on the way

Open day 3 in Google Maps ↗

Back home · Santander

From riders who've done it

The things you only learn by riding it — so you don't have to learn them the hard way.

  • Fuel up before you leave — 452 km with rural stretches is kinder on a full tank.
  • July riding: leave early — the best light and the emptiest roads happen before ten.
  • Check tyre pressures cold on the morning you leave — a loaded bike runs different pressures.
  • Photos happen at the stops, not from the saddle. The road needs your eyes.
See the complete route on Google Maps ↗Every overnight stop, one tap on your phone

What it really costs

Real numbers, not brochure numbers — fuel at actual prices per country, hotels with secure parking, and a buffer because trips never go exactly to plan.

Hotels · 2 nightsCurated secure-parking picks where we have them; ~€90/night estimate elsewhere
€18044%
Fuel · 452 km5.6 L/100 km at ~€1.62/L
€4110%
Food · 3 days≈€43/day — meals, coffees
€12932%
TollsMotorway-free route — no toll roads
€00%
Cafés & viewpoint stops
€246%
Buffer & extras
€359%
Per rider
€409

Estimates — fuel and hotel prices move with the seasons.

Photography: Wikimedia Commons contributors.

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