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.   (Groups meals i.e. dinner & breakfast packages, can be arranged and booked in advance – please ask for details).

Arrival Spain and travel to Suances

After disembarkation, board the coach and continue the short drive to the hotel in Suances for the next 7 nights.  After check-in there will be time to explore your surroundings before enjoying dinner together this evening in the hotel.

At leisure in Suances

After such a long journey, it will be nice to relax and enjoy the hotel and the local area.  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.

Dinner will be at the hotel this evening.

Cantabrian Coast and Villages

With an experienced local guide, 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.  A visit to the museum has been included.

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.

Return to the hotel via 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.

Enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening back at the hotel.

Panoramic 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 and an evening at leisure.

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 to explore.

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.

At leisure or Cabarceno Wildlife Park (optional)

Spend a further day in Suances or take an optional tour to the famous Cabarceno Wildlife Park which is home to more than 100 animal species from all five continents, which can be seen practically in the wild as they are housed in large areas in completely natural settings.  Discover the park by coach or there is the alternative cable-car ride where you can see all the wildlife from above. (Entrance and cable car extra cost – please ask for details)

Anchovy factory, Cruise and Coastal Villages

The fishing town of Santoña is surrounded by hills, marshland, and an estuary and is known as the ‘Anchovy Capital’ renowned worldwide for its canned anchovies.  During a visit of a local factory, with an experienced guide, learn about the manufacturing process and how the fishes are carefully hand prepared and packed 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 to 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 and then on to Castro Urdiales, a charming, small seafaring village with a wonderful French Gothic-style church and traditional houses.  Return to the hotel for dinner and final evening.

Overnight ferry to the UK  (departures Monday and Thursday)

Depart after breakfast and if time allows before heading to the port, make a stop in Santander for some last minute shopping and/or sightseeing.  Discover the old quarter and Gothic Cathedral or visit the Royal Palace of La Magdalena or maybe take a cruise along the river.

Continue to the port and take the overnight cruise ferry to Plymouth enjoying the facilities on board.  (Groups meals i.e. dinner & breakfast packages, can be arranged and booked in advance – please ask for details).

Arrival UK

On arrival into Plymouth, disembark and board the coach for the final leg of the homeward journey.