Welcome to your 10-day adventure in Asturias, a stunning region in northern Spain known for its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and delectable cuisine. From the majestic peaks of the Picos de Europa to the charming coastal towns, each day promises unique experiences and unforgettable memories. Explore picturesque villages, indulge in traditional dishes, and immerse yourself in the warm hospitality of the locals. Get ready to discover the hidden gems of Asturias and create lasting memories on this incredible journey!
Duration of the trip: 10 days
Passengers: 2 adults
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Email us to custom your trip: info@hiddeninspain.com
Day 1
Rental car
Gijon, Spain
Visit a Cider mill (llagar)
Day 2
Visit a mine
Day 3
Free time
Day 4
Day tour to Covadonga sanctuary, Lakes of Covadonga and Cangas de Onís - Private group
Day 5
Free Time
Day 6
Canoeing Down the River Sella
Day 7
Free Time
Day 8
Cabrales Cheese
Day 9
Free Time
Day 10
9 days - 2 adults
The old quarter of Gijon is a must - see. It is full of narrow street where you'll find tens of local restaurants called "sidrerias" (cider houses). Its beach promenade (more than 7km long) is a great way to spend the morning or afternoon while enjoying great views over the sea. The "elogio del horizonte", a large stone sculpture in the upper part of the old quarter, offers views to both sides of the city and you'll be able to see the 2 main beaches in town, San Lorenzo (where the beach path finishes in a wonderful church) and El Arbeyal, just beside the port where great cruises stop.
TIP: If you go in the middle of this sculpture you'll hear the waves crashing against the cliffs.
Do not miss some local food such as the "fabada" (stew made of big white beans with chorizo, black pudding and bacon), the "cachopo" (a giant breaded fillet steak filled with serrano ham and cheese) or the rice pudding as dessert.
And, of course, the local drink, the cider, poured in the traditional way, putting the bottle over the head and letting the cider fall to crash in the glass placed under your hip. This way of serving the cider changes its flavor completely.
If there is something we can boast about in this area is our cider, our pomaradas and our llagares. A tour visiting the cider press and the family winery where Emilio Trabanco began to produce his first liters of cider, back in 1925.
A walk that will take us to get lost in the corners that give life to our best cider, under the foundations of the family house, the stone and the old barrels, the smell of apples and ferments, which will accompany us on a journey into the past to discover the traditional production of natural cider.
A short walk through Lavandera, enjoying the landscape, the ethnography and contemplating the orchards, will take us to our winery Túnel de la Sidra, located inside an old railway tunnel built at the end of the 19th century, and that today keeps more than a million liters of cider, in addition to the family museum.
The route includes a stretch of steep slope that could be an inconvenience for people with mobility difficulties.
We will finish the experience with a small course on cider pouring and a tasting of our barrel cider.
You can visit both the exterior and the interior of the Sotón Well. The visitor will visit part of the facilities and learn about the different machines and tools used in the mining works. During the tour, the guides will explain the different mining methods used in the more than one hundred years of history of the shaft. During their walk, tourists will have the feeling that HUNOSA's miners have taken the mine to the street so that they can get to know it without having to go down to the shaft, with less difficulty.
Cudillero is a small, picturesque fishing port which sits on the side of a mountain. Outstanding are its hanging houses with eaves and brightly-coloured windows perched on a horseshoe of steep cliffs around the port. It has many routes with viewpoints, among which it is worth mentioning the walk to the lighthouse, La Garita, La Atalaya or El Pico. Its two most important buildings are the Gothic parish church, which dates from the 16th century and contains wonderful baroque carvings; and the chapel of Humilladero, which is the oldest structure in town. The fishermen's taverns, which are located in a narrow cobbled square next to the sea, are the main tourist attraction.
Hidden on the Asturian coast, Luarca is a quiet town of white houses which preserves all the charm and attraction of its seafaring tradition. Built around an S-shaped cove sitting between sheer cliffs, the historic quarter of Luarca, its promenade and the port are all worth visiting. A small river divides the town in two, although several narrow bridges are there to unite it. Its most characteristic buildings are the lighthouse, the chapel of Atalaya and the cemetery overlooking the sea, cut from the rock by pickaxe and the final resting place of the remains of the Nobel laureate Severo Ochoa, a native of this town. Luarca's traditional character is reflected in its chigres -old Asturian taverns-, where visitors can learn the art of drinking cider.
You will be picked up at your hotel and will be taken to Covadonga, where youʼll visit the Sanctuary and the little chapel inside the cave where the Virgin of Covandonga, patroness of all Asturians, is. Then youʼll be taken to the lakes and walk for a little while to enjoy the great sceneries in the Picos de Europa mountains. Later youʼll be taken to Cangas de Onís to enjoy a light lunch (we'll recommend you a restaurant where you can taste some local specialities) and a short tour through the village. Finally youʼll be taken back to your hotel.
Covadonga is the place where the Re-conquest began under king Pelayo, whose remains are buried in the cave alongside La Santina. This is the gateway to the Picos de Europa National Park. The basilica, alongside the cave where pilgrims venerate the statue of La Santina, is a place of worship and pilgrimage for the people of Asturias. The basilica is in neo-Romanesque style, with two high towers flanking the main entrance.
In the heart of the oldest National Park in Spain, you will find an extraordinary place which is steeped in legend: the Covadonga Lakes. Let yourself be seduced by the beautiful, twisty road that leads to the lakes and which will slowly reveal a beautiful countryside made up of calm waters, unimaginable green carpets and mountain peaks which all seem to be almost within reach. Separated by the fell of the Picota, Enol and Ercina are two of the lakes in this, one of the most famous and mythical corners in Asturias.
Capital of the area of the same name, sits in the valley formed by the rivers Sella and Güeña. The most representative feature of the town is its Roman Bridge, declared to be a Historic-Artistic Site in 1931. It has five arches, three of them pointed, and from the centre hangs a reproduction of the Victoria Cross. The hermitage of Santa Cruz also stands out due to the age of the structure, built on a dolmen in 437. It was rebuilt by King Favila in 737 to guard the Victoria Cross.
The former Ovetum has been closely linked to the Asturian monarchy since its foundation (8th century), and even became the capital of the Kingdom. This fact has left an unquestionable medieval flavour in the historic quarter, which in modern times has been given a carefully-considered urban layout which is easy to move around.
A pedestrian historic quarter makes strolling in Oviedo a pleasure, from the University to the Cathedral, and from the palace of the Marquis of San Félix to the Camposagrado. A walk littered with statues which appear on the pavements on sites of historic importance.
To take a rest, there are a great many squares and small squares filled with chigres (cider bars).
The tower of Oviedo's Cathedral marks the starting point of any tour of the provincial capital. Built in the flamboyant Gothic style, its tower, rose window and entrance portico guard the greatest symbols of Asturias. The chapel of San Miguel, or Cámara Santa, houses the Holy Chest, the Cross of los Ángeles and the Cross of la Victoria, relics also visited by the pilgrims heading for the holy city of Santiago de Compostela. These symbols appear on the coats of arms of both Oviedo and the Principality of Asturias.
Also don't miss 2 pre romanesque chuches in the outskirts of Oviedo which not only are great but also offer great views over the city.
Be prepared to get wet, neoprene suits are available in colder or wet weather. Starting at Arriondas you can choose between a descent of; 6, 10, or 14 km depending on how far you want to go. You will be provided with all the necessary equipment including a hermetically sealed drum for your camera, telephone etc and then at the end of the trip you will be taxied back to Arriondas. This is a relaxing and very popular way of enjoying the Asturian countryside.
Use this day to visit coastal villages around you such as Ribadesella, Lastres and its beautiful lighthouse or Tazones, to mention some. Highly recommended the hidden beach of Gulpiyuri. Another option is to visit the Covadonga sanctuary and the little chapel inside the cave hosting the patroness of all Asturians, the Virgin of Covadonga.
Visit Tielve or Sotres, two very small villages near the mountains where the prestigious Cabrales Cheese is produced. Youʼll be taken to a cave where this blue cheese is cured and will be given a tasting of different local cheeses.
Also known as Quesu Cabrales or Cabraliego, this is one of the most important blue cheeses in the world. It is made with cow's milk or with goat and sheep's milk, which is more highly valued.
Its name comes from the Asturian town where it has been made since time immemorial. With a strong flavour and penetrating smell, it is a fatty cheese, with a natural rind, produced normally with a mix of raw cow's, goat's and sheep's milk. It is aged in natural mountain caves at a temperature of between 8º and 12º for between two and four months. These conditions favour the penicillium mould, which creates the characteristic bluish-green streaks. In addition to being eaten alone, it is highly valued as a base for sauces and for accompanying many haute cuisine dishes. It has been protected by a Denomination of Origin since 1981.
The old quarter of Gijon is a must - see. It is full of narrow street where you'll find tens of local restaurants called "sidrerias" (cider houses). Its beach promenade (more than 7km long) is a great way to spend the morning or afternoon while enjoying great views over the sea. The "elogio del horizonte", a large stone sculpture in the upper part of the old quarter, offers views to both sides of the city and you'll be able to see the 2 main beaches in town, San Lorenzo (where the beach path finishes in a wonderful church) and El Arbeyal, just beside the port where great cruises stop.
TIP: If you go in the middle of this sculpture you'll hear the waves crashing against the cliffs.
Do not miss some local food such as the "fabada" (stew made of big white beans with chorizo, black pudding and bacon), the "cachopo" (a giant breaded fillet steak filled with serrano ham and cheese) or the rice pudding as dessert.
And, of course, the local drink, the cider, poured in the traditional way, putting the bottle over the head and letting the cider fall to crash in the glass placed under your hip. This way of serving the cider changes its flavor completely.
As founder of Hidden in Spain, I am focused on high quality service. My passion for traveling has taken me to different destinations in America, Africa, Europe and Asia where I have been able to enrich my life with other cultures and people. During these trips I found an uncovered need. Most of the companies offered fixed and preplanned experiences to see the most touristic places everywhere but I was far from discovering the REAL country.
Thatʼs why I started this company, to offer real tailor made tours through Spain and let people discover the country as if they were traveling with a native guy showing them everything, not only the most touristic places but also all those off-the-beaten paths they wouldnʼt see if no one tell them about and the way people live in this wonderful country.
I also love skiing, watching sports, talking to friends (I mean real chats, not through social media), reading books and spending time with my wife and kids.
My other passion is marketing. Thatʼs why I have a bachelor in advertising and public relations and a Master in Marketing Management. I also got my Master in International Sales, both of them at ESIC in Spain.
And I couldnʼt forget, I am a passionate of beer!!! I love it!! I have tried more than 200 different beers from more than 20 different countries so far!! And counting up…
Hidden in Spain offers bespoke holidays through Spain.
We are a small, boutique tour operator, fully licensed and fully bonded, very focused on service that have travelled the 5 continents. We are native spanish and we just offer packages and tailor-made holidays based on our personal experience. We have traveled the whole Spain, walked and cycled the Camino de Santiago and we want to show you this area as if we were traveling with you.
Our goal and commitment is to provide you the best quality service while you travel in Spain with us. We organize tailor made holidays based on your likes and dislikes so you can make your own package and have some of the best holidays of your life. Besides, you will have a trip manager you will be able to contact at anytime to solve you any problem you may have.
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