The Ruta del Cares is minimize into the Europe within the coronary heart of the Picos and is without doubt one of the most breathtaking walks in Spain. This legendary path winds by way of a dramatic limestone gorge with pure cliffs virtually 2,000 meters excessive. Right here is all the things that you must know.
The Ruta del Cares is deep within the rugged Picos de Europa Nationwide Park in North Spain and is simple to do probably the greatest walks now we have carried out in Spain.
The trail follows the Cares River whereas holding on to a dramatic hole that connects the Asturian village of Poncebos with Caín in León.
Within the partitions of the cliffs, a whole lot of foot above the river, the trail is a miracle of engineering. Generally it’s only some meters huge, swinging alongside near-shattering partitions with unbelievable views throughout you.
Though there are steep drops on one aspect, the trail could be very flat and nonetheless huge sufficient to really feel fairly protected.
In case you are on this a part of Spain, we strongly advocate this stroll.
On this information you’ll find all the things that you must know in regards to the strolling of the Ruta Del -Zorg: detailed path descriptions, a map, security ideas and sensible recommendation.
Ruta del offers an outline
The Ruta del Cares is a mountain stroll that runs between the villages of Poncebos and Caín within the Picos de Europa in North Spain.
We walked the Ruta Del -Zorg in Could when it was gentle once more, however a bit cloudy; The proper circumstances for this pretty lengthy stroll.
It’s a one -way stroll of 11.5 kilometers, which lasts roughly 3 to three.5 hours. Nevertheless, there isn’t any helpful public transport to return to the place to begin, so you need to stroll again as you got here.
This makes the complete stroll round 23 kilometers, which price us about 7 hours to finish.
The place to begin?
As a one -way stroll you can begin in Caín or Poncebos. No matter the place to begin you select, you need to stroll again as you got here.
We began the stroll from Poncebos and we advocate that you just do the identical for numerous causes.
Firstly, beginning at Poncebos means that you may go to Caín round lunchtime, and the restaurant choices and the panorama are significantly better than in Poncebos.
Secondly, should you keep a number of nights, Poncebos is a greater foundation for seeing extra of the realm, about which you’ll learn in our Picos de Europa Information.
Ruta del Offers Map
Beneath you’ll find a map of the stroll. The route is marked purple.
Use our playing cards. Click on on the higher proper nook to open within the Google Maps app. Click on on the star to save lots of in your Google account.
attain the trailhead
The Ruta del Care Trailhead is a ten -minute stroll from the village Poncebos.
There’s solely restricted parking areas alongside the street on the trailhead, so we strongly advocate staying in Poncebos the night time and taking a parking area once you arrive the night time earlier than.
If you happen to keep in Poncebos
Paul and I stayed with Arcea Mirador de CabralesA wonderful worth 2-star lodge in Poncebos. It has good rooms and breakfast is included. Additionally they serve dinner each night, which is helpful contemplating the exterior location.
The lodge is A ten -minute stroll From the beginning of the Cares Path. It’s rightly common with walkers, so you need to attempt to e-book as early as potential.
If you happen to keep in Las Arenas de Cabrales
The opposite possibility is to remain In Las Arenas de CabralesThe place you’ll find a better normal of lodging. Nevertheless, you need to drive to the trailhead in Poncebos (10 minutes), and discovering a parking area could be tough.
That shouldn’t be an issue within the off-season, however we advocate leaving early. In excessive season, nevertheless (Easter holidays and early June to mid -October), The street from Las Arenas to Poncebos is proscribed to assist relieve site visitors.
To reach in the beginning of the stroll of Las Arenas de Cabrales within the excessive season, you need to do the shuttlebus That runs each hour 8 am to eight pm. On the time of our go to, the prices have been € 3. You’ll be able to choose up the bus from Las Arenas or the parking zone at Ovar.
If you happen to determine to remain in Las Arenas, there are just a few good choices right here.
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Hotel Villa De Cabrales – This comfy, trendy lodge is situated in a renovated nation home that retains numerous its allure. It’s situated within the middle of Las Arenas and provides straightforward parking throughout the road. Good bars and eating places are close by.
Hotel Picos de Europa – The rooms in Lodge Picos de Europa are trendy and spacious, and the surface terrace and the swimming pool are the right place to chill out after a day within the mountains.
It’s a helpful base with straightforward parking exterior and all services of Las Arenas in entrance of the door.
Ruta del takes care of
- Distance – 11.5 km per single method (23 km return)
- Time – 6 hours half-hour to eight hours together with breaks
- Top – about 650 m in revenue and loss
- Issue – common – nothing tough, however a protracted day of strolling
Poncebos to Los Collaos (1 hour)
It is without doubt one of the lodges in Poncebos 10 minutes stroll alongside the street To the trailhead. You undergo a brief tunnel and begin passing the parking zone alongside the street.
Ignore the left signal on ‘Ruta de la Canal del Texu’ and shortly thereafter you attain a wood data level. Put sharply to the bestand go just a little uphill after the route ‘Senda del Cares / Caín’.
This route is known as PR – PNPE – 3 And it signifies 3 hours to return to Caín. The trail rapidly left hairpins and from right here it’s virtually unattainable to get misplaced. The trail is properly tried and really clear.
The primary hour is essentially the most tough. The rocky pad steadily climbs and climbs, zigzags by way of some outdated ruins earlier than he lastly reaches unfastened collaos.
That is the best level alongside the trail and the view is all of the sudden open. You’ll be able to see the trail wriggling earlier than you whereas it goes deeper into the gorge.
Free Collaos to Punte Bolín (1 hour 45 minutes)
At Los Collaos the monitor is nationwide and shortly begins to descend. This marks the beginning of essentially the most dramatic a part of the stroll. The trail narrows and clamps on the sting of the steep valley partitions, with a steep drop on one aspect.
The trail is sort of huge (1.5 to 2 meters) and comparatively flat, so until you’ve a robust downside with heights, it ought to really feel pretty protected.
The trail goes by way of completely different tunnels. Throughout our go to there had been some rain, so drops from the overhead rock made us a bit moist. It may be a good suggestion to deliver a water-resistant jacket.
The trail passes the hut of an outdated shepherd (Culiembro) and is accompanied by a water channel that runs alongside the trail.
It is a stunning a part of the stroll. The trail follows the wavy contours of the partitions, with the river virtually instantly beneath. The trail steadily falls to succeed in the Bolín bridge.
Punte Bolín to Caín (45 minutes)
In Puente Bolín the trail crosses the bridge to the opposite aspect of the river, however after about 5 minutes it crosses the Los Rebecos again on Puente.
Undergo a brief tunnel and descend to a small energy plant. Proceed and the trail enters a protracted tunnel with home windows that open to the river beneath.
Once more, we received a bit moist throughout this half, and it is fairly darkish, so we used the torches on our telephones in the mean time.
You allow the darkness on the Caín Dam. The trail crosses the river and again on the left financial institution. Once more, this does not take lengthy. After about 5 minutes, the trail crosses the Pasarela de la Presa de Cain (Caín Dam Footbridge) and comes within the village of Caín.
The stroll from Poncebos to Caín took us 3 hours and half-hour.
Lunch in Caín (1 hour)
In Caín the hole all of the sudden goes out. You’re not sandwiched within the hole. As an alternative, you’re surrounded by an amphitheater of spiky peaks.
Caín has a lot of nice choices for lunch.
Picnic – You probably have taken your lunch, there are picnic tables on the aspect of the river, similar to you enter Caín.
Bar km 112– This pleasant bar serves take -away eating places Bocadillos (Sandwiches). It has arrange exterior tables by way of the river and you may also get just a few provides from the small retailer. It has respectable WiFi and takes money or playing cards.
La Taberna de Caín – We had lunch right here. The menu was in depth and the meals was native and scrumptious, particularly the Chorizo and Cider – an area basic. I am undecided why, however there have been no different vacationers right here after we have been there.
There are a variety of different eating places within the village and a grocery store on the finish of town.
Caín to Poncebos (3 hours quarter-hour)
After lunch we simply took the identical route again to Poncebos. After now we have taken all of the photographs on the way in which out, we made the return just a little sooner. It price us simply over 3 hours.
What to put on and take
Listed here are some recommendations on what to put on and to take the stroll.
- Put on mountaineering footwear or waterproof mountaineering footwear – there are sometimes puddles within the tunnels.
- Convey a water-resistant – the tunnels typically have many drops down.
- Take cash or card for lunch in Caín.
- Take a torch (or a telephone with a torch) with you for the lengthy tunnel close to Caín.
- Put on a Sunhat and/or Solar Cream.
- Take numerous water and a few power snacks.
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