Group tour operator for Cantabria, Spain

Depart Plymouth (departures Sunday or Wednesday)

Travel to Spain on the comfortable overnight sailing to Santander.  Enjoy the onboard facilities including restaurants, cafes and bars before retiring to your ensuite cabin for the night.  The following day, disembark and continue to your hotel in Suances for the next 7 nights.

Free time in Suances

Suances is a tourist town which stretches around the confluence of the rivers Saja and Besaya.  Explore the wonderful sandy beaches around Dichoso Point, a natural harbour with cliffs.  Or there is the option to take a coastal cruise to see the impressive cliffs from another viewpoint.  There are also plenty of shops, bars and cafes in the town.

Cantabrian Coast and Villages

Drive to the small medieval town of Santillana del Mar. Sometimes described as a ‘film set’, such is the immaculate state of its preservation, the town boasts a maze of cobbled streets, flower-filled balconies and tanned stone and brick buildings. The region is famous for its prehistoric cave art. Nearby is the world-famous Cave of Altamira, which features prehistoric paintings of bison, horses, deer and other animals. In order to preserve the paintings, visitors are presented with a beautiful replica.

From here, drive to Comillas to visit to El Capricho de Gaudí,  a stunning architectural  treasure built by Gaudi for a wealthy client, when he was 31 years old.  It’s colourful facade is decorated with sunflowers and other features.

Continue to San Vicente De la Barquera,  an old fishermen’s refuge offering one of the most picturesque sights on the Cantabrian coast, with its beaches, the old village, an interesting collection of monuments and the exceptional backdrop of the snow-capped mountains of the Picos de Europa.

Back to the hotel for dinner.

Discover the Picos De Europa National Park

Accompanied by an experienced guide, the first stop will be the  Sotama Visitor Centre, the Picos de Europa National Park’s showpiece visitor centre located close to Potes.  Spread over three levels, there is a projection room with films being shown on a double screen of aerial views of the mountains and their wildlife, a map and book shop.   From here make the short drive into Potes itself for some free time and lunch.  Potes is a charming and historic town in the heart of the Picos de Europa full of bridges, stone houses, and ancient monuments, such as the 13th century Torre del Infantado. You can admire the stunning illuminated manuscripts of the Commentary of the Apocalypse by a local monk in the tower’s exhibition.

The Picos de Europa National Park is one of the few truly unspoiled areas of the country. The dramatic, jagged peaks rise well over 8,000 feet. Deep river gorges, sparkling lakes and forests add to the appeal of this unique landscape. The park is also home to many endangered species including the golden eagle, the European brown bear and the asturcon, a wild horse. Our tour takes us to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana where a relic of Christ’s cross is believed to be kept.  Maybe make the short walk walk to a nearby viewing point for some spectacular views.

Back to the hotel for dinner.

Bilbao Sightseeing

Meet up with a local guide in Bilbao for a panoramic city tour by coach.  Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque region and is also known as ‘The City of the Guggenheim’.  Many historic and cultural highlights will be seen on the tour before spending the rest of the day at leisure.

Perhaps enjoy a more in depth visit of the famous Guggenheim Museum or take the Artxanda Funicular railway from downtown Bilbao to the summit of the nearby Artxanda Mountain, which has a park, several restaurants, a hotel, a sports complex and panoramic views of the city, or enjoy a relaxing river cruise, visit La Ribera Market, a beautiful building where you can sample a selection of pintxos and Txakoli wine.  Stroll around the famous “Seven Streets” of the Old Town and discover iconic buildings such as the Cathedral or the elegant theatre inspired by the Paris Opera House, the Arriaga, and a mix of shops and cafes.

Return to the hotel for dinner.

Santander Sightseeing

Meet up with a local guide for an informative city tour on the coach, with a visit to it’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’,  the Royal Palace of la Magdalena – which was the summer residence of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia.

The bay of Santander is recognised as one of the prettiest in the world and is a combination of green mountain landscapes, white sandy beaches, elegant mansions and palatial architecture with avant-garde buildings and the unmistakeable echo of its seafaring past in the fishing district, the perfect place to try the most traditional local cuisine.  Maybe take a boat trip around the bay or visit the famous Maritime Museum or wander along the narrow lanes of the old town which run parallel with the waterfront.  Also worthy of a visit is the 13th century Santander Cathedral, home to the oldest monument in Santander, the Church of El Cristo. Here is also the remains of a Roman hot spring.

Return to the hotel for dinner.

Anchovy factory, Cruise and Laredo town

Surrounded by hills, marshland, and an estuary, Santoña ‘The Anchovy Capital’ is like an island on solid ground. It has a beautiful bay and two beaches. It is also a significant fishing town known worldwide for its canned anchovies.

With our experienced guide, we will learn about the manufacturing process and how the fishes are carefully hand prepared and packed on a visit and tour of a local anchovy factory followed by the option to enjoy a little tasting at the end.

After the tour enjoy a cruise around the bay for beautiful views of the cliffs and Cantabrian coast before disembarking back in  Santoña.  Here we will visit the old town and sample some Pintxos, which are small finger foods served at bars and taverns throughout the Basque Country and are pivotal to the local food culture.

From here continue via the popular resort of Laredo, one of the main tourist towns on the Cantabrian coast with one of the longest and most beautiful beaches in the region.  On to Castro Urdiales, a charming, small seafaring village with a wonderful French Gothic-style church and traditional houses before heading back to the hotel for dinner.

Return to the UK (departures Monday and Thursday)

Travel to Santander port and embark on the overnight cruise ferry to the UK, once again enjoying many of the onboard facilities before disembarking next day in Plymouth.