Overview
Offering a great terrain for outdoor activities for all ages, Asturias’ Green Coast is a perfect setting for both family adventures and those who are looking for multi-activity holidays, combining cycling, canoeing, surfing or riding the waves on a bodyboard. During the tour, you will cycle from village to village on quiet country lanes, with many possibilities for stopping at the beaches en-route and having a dip in the sea. On some days, you will also have the chance to canoe on a river, snorkel in a cove, or walk along the cliffs to natural blowholes. Some cycling routes follow the Camino de Santiago’s northern variant, Camino del Norte, and Romanesque chapels and ancient ruins line the pilgrims’ path.
On your Asturias active family holiday you will visit picturesque fishing villages, with places to stop for refreshments or a meal. You will spend the first three nights at a friendly agrotourism – accommodation on a working farm, where the raspberries are hand-picked, and cows graze peacefully in the field. The following two nights are at a small and charming hotel with a nice and wide beach located only 700m away. The last two overnights are spent at a renovated 19th-century manor house in the pretty village of Nueva, which has one of the nicest beaches in all of Asturias.
- A variety of activities throughout the week: cycling, canoeing, walking and swimming
- Carefully selected accommodations with a welcoming atmosphere
- Interesting cultural visits from cave-paintings to ancient chapels
- Authentic hamlets and pretty fishing villages along Spain’s Green Coast
- Rolling hills, rocky cliffs, green pastures, peaceful coves and quiet woodlands
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Vilde
Arrive in Asturias on your own by car or bus (see the Getting there section for more details), and settle at your charming rural accommodation in Vilde, a small family-run hotel on a working farm with a garden.
- Accommodation for the day: Agroturismo Muriances or similar
Day 2: A choice of circular cycling routes from Vilde | 14-46km
After a hearty breakfast, you depart on a cycling route through the green hills on the border between Asturias and Cantabria. You can choose between two routes: a longer one (41km spread out over a few short but steep sections), or a short ride of 14 m to the beach at Pechón or to Cueva Pindal, with its prehistoric cave paintings. You can also add a short walking route through Mediterranean woodlands to reach the Santa Tina chapel’s ruins on the Camino de Santiago pilgrims’ trail.
- Accommodation: Agroturismo Muriances or similar
- Cycling for the day (short option): 14km, ↑150m
- Cycling for the day (long option): 41 – 46km, ↑440 – ↑505m
Day 3: Canoeing on the Deva River | 14km
Today you cycle just 4km, getting to the canoe rental shop in Unquera. Transfer up-river to Panes, the starting point for your canoeing excursion. Armed with wetsuits, paddles and a packed lunch, you spend 2-3h paddling down the pretty Deva River. Small beaches on the riverbanks provide a place to stop for a swim along the route. In the afternoon, optional walk from Vilde to Colombres, to visit the Casa de Indianos, a beautiful colonial-style building which houses an interesting emigration museum.
- Accommodation: Agroturismo Muriances or similar
- Cycling for the day: 14km, ↑265m
Day 4: Cycling from Vilde to Poo de Llanes | 29km
You cycle via quiet country lanes, into Valle Oscuro (“Dark Valley”), an ominous name for a beautiful place with traditional family farms and tiny villages at the foot of the Sierra del Cuera coastal range. Stop for a short rest at an authentic local bar. You can choose to cycle up to 25km (with a total ascent of 325m, spread out over 3 small hills). By the afternoon you’re back at the coast for a short ride along blowholes in the cliffs or a protected otter habitat on the tiny bay of Andrín. From Puertas de Vidiago you only have to cycle the last 7km to reach the next accommodation, located in Poo de Llanes, only 700m away from a beautiful beach.
- Accommodation: Hotel El Camín or similar
- Cycling for the day: 29km, ↑325m
Day 5: Circular cycling route from Poo de Llanes | 20km
Your hotel in Poo de Llanes is just 2km from the lovely fishing village of Llanes, with its Medieval centre, Gothic church, two beaches, lots of shops and restaurants, and colourfully-painted wave break on the harbour. If you’re lucky, there will be some local celebration going on nearby. The county of Llanes has a busy calendar of celebrations, with traditional processions and local folklore. You can also cycle to the village of Porrúa, with its ethnographic museum, or the beach at Póo de Llanes.
- Accommodation: Hotel El Camín or similar
- Cycling for the day: 20km, ↑325m
Day 6: Cycling from Poo to Nueva de Llanes | 21-24km
Today you do another splendid, and incredibly varied cycling route with two different options. First, you cycle to Posada de Llanes. From there you can either follow the coast (easier route) or turn inland and do a circuit up into the Sierra, enjoying stunning views. Both routes follow mainly country roads through picturesque scenery and offer a glimpse of rural life in Asturias. You can also stop along the way for a dip in the sea.
- Accommodation: Hotel Don Tomás or similar
- Cycling for the day (countryside route): 24km, ↑425m
- Cycling for the day (coastal route): 21km, ↑200m
Day 7: A day at the beach or cycle along the Camino del Norte | 30km
Just 2.5km from Nueva, you have the pretty beach called Cuevas del Mar, perfect for swimming and playing in the sand. You can also choose a circular cycling route to the west towards Ribadesella, following the pilgrim´s trail “Camino del Norte”. In Ribadesella, you can swim, surf, canoe or explore fossilised dinosaur tracks on the beach. The Cave Museum of Tito Bustillo offers a replica of cave paintings, some 25 000 years old.
- Accommodation: Hotel Don Tomás or similar
- Cycling for the day: 30km, ↑50m
Day 8: Departure
Your tour comes to an end in the morning after breakfast. If you have hired a bike from us, it will be collected at your accommodation. If you’re returning to Vilde, you can make the trip by bus or train.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in cosy family-run hotels in small villages, all having private en-suite rooms and offering a warm welcome to visitors, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality.
Click to view default hotels
- Agroturismo Muriances in Vilde
The farm is located on the bank of the Deva river, with views towards the Picos de Europa. It has a wide garden, a large living room with a chimney and free parking.
- Hotel El Camín in Poo de Llanes
Hotel El Camín in Poo de Llanes is located a two-minute walk from the sea and at the foot of the Sierra del Cuera, on the road that leads to Llanes. All rooms are different and have a complete bathroom with a hairdryer, heating, TV and Wi-Fi.
- Hotel Don Tomás in Nueva de Llanes
A former “Casa de Indianos” (manor house) that has been transformed into a small and welcoming hotel that still has the charm of old times, making your stay a unique experience.
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. As for the evening meals, you can dine either at the accommodation for the day or at some of the local restaurants, you can count that your host will give you the best options.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is graded easy, with average daily cycling distance of 20-25 km, mostly on flat country roads with limited traffic (read more about difficulty grades). You can also rent an E-bike, which makes the trip accessible practically to everybody. The trip is suitable for both beginner cyclists and family vacations. The routes are well waymarked, and the itinerary is straightforward to follow. We will also provide you with detailed road notes and maps (in digital form), and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available from the second part of April till the end of October. The best months to visit are April – June and September – October as in summer months it may become too hot (and crowded). The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Oviedo OVD, (also known as Asturias Airport), Santander SDR and Bilbao BIO. You can also arrive into Santander or Bilbao by ferry from the UK or to Bilbao from Ireland with Brittany Ferries.
By train or bus
Arrival in Vide
- There are easy shuttle connections from the three airports of Asturias (OVI), Santander (SDR) an Bilbao (BIO) to the city centre bus stations. From Oviedo, Santander or Bilbao, you can catch a direct bus to Unquera, from where you continue by taxi to Vilde (2,5km). It is wise to book your bus tickets and taxi transfer in advance, especially if you’re travelling in summer or at weekends. Bus tickets can be purchased in advance on the ALSA website (www.alsa.es) or directly from us.
Departure from Nueva de Llanes
- If your flight departs from Asturias airport-OVD you can take the train to Oviedo or Gijón (check timetables at FEVE site).
- If your flight departs from Santander (SDR) or Bilbao (BIO), you have easy bus connections from Unquera to these airports. Check www.alsa.es. We can help you make the reservations, upon request. You can also arrive into Santander or Bilbao by ferry from the UK or to Bilbao from Ireland with Brittany Ferries.
- If you plan to bring your own car, you can leave it in Vilde. At the end of the programme, you can go back from Nueva to Unquera by train (three bikes maximum). Check timetables at FEVE website. We can also arrange for you a private transfer (upon request).
Inclusions
Included
- Accommodation in double, triple or 4-person rooms/apartments
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transport on Days 3 and 5
- Canoeing excursion including packed lunch and transfer Unquera-Panes on Day 3
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure, and no printed documents are mailed or provided on site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Flights and airport transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Bike rental
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- Single room supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This tour is not arranged for solo travellers
- Hybrid bike, e-bike, junior bike rental; child seat and trailer bike – on request
- Discounts for triple and quadruple rooms
- Extra nights
- Private airport transfers
Bike rental
We offer trekking and hard-tail bikes with front suspension (100 mm travel) and 24-27 gears, as well as E-bikes, suitable for the routes. Please note that a solo traveller rental supplement is applicable, in case you are not part of a group.
- Each rental package includes a repair kit, pump and lock
- Depending on the type of bicycle you can add (for free, but on request): map holder, 1 front pannier or 1 rear pannier
- Helmet available (on request), free for children
- It is possible to rent bicycle accessories for children, such as bike-trailer or child seat
Sample bikes models: Cube Touring, MMR KUMA 29, Kalkhoff Endeavour MOVE B9 Trapez
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