In the north of Spain is Santander, capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria. Santander has coast and mountains, so its landscapes are beautiful.
Therefore, if you are thinking about getting to know Santander, be sure to get to know the surroundings. Here are the essential excursions:
Cabarceno Park
Just 15 minutes by car from Santander is this beautiful Forest park that has at least 120 species of animals from around the world, from the five continents.
It is worth clarifying that it is not a zoo or a natural park, but rather a huge space where animals live in semi-freedom. The truth is that the gardens are at the northwestern end and are crisscrossed by trails, rock masses, gorges and plants all over.
This part of the park is great to get lost in, there are benches everywhere, bridges and viewpoints to enjoy the views. One of the most popular is the Ruby Viewpoint, from where you can see Santander in all its glory, the city and the bay.
Other viewpoints are Elephant Viewpoint, above the tunnels of the old mines in the area. Another viewpoint that is Las Perdices Viewpoint, on the hiking route next to the Grevy zebra parking lot, with good views of the town of Cabárceno.
You can enter and exit the park in many places, but always be careful as there are no signs. Disabled for a long time, now it shines again so you should take advantage of it. The plants here are beautiful, in fact they make up a valuable ecosystem, both with plants from Spain and from other parts of the world, so you will see beeches, pines, willows, bamboos... A little bit of everything.
I don't want to forget the animals, so you should know the Cabárceno Nature Park to meet animals from all over the world: primates, brown bears, elephants, rhinos, gorillas, giraffes... all from experts who tell you about animals and their conservation.
Lebaniego road
Since 2015 it is World Heritage and is linked to the northern route of the Camino de Santiago. To walk this trail you don't have to do the entire route, 72 kilometers. You can easily visit the Santo Toribio Monastery or any of the pretty villages that pass along the route.
The entire road goes from San Vicente de la Baquera to Cades, covering 28.5 kilometers. It then connects Cades with Cabañes in a route of almost 31 kilometers, and finally reaches Santo Toribio from there in just 13 and a half more kilometers.
Picos de Europa
This national park crosses Cantabria, León and Asturias and has a total of 700 square kilometers. Anyone who comes here will discover forests, rivers and small towns built around the La Hermida gorge.
It is best to take the Fuente Dé cable car which allows you to climb to the top of the mountain, there at 1823 meters above sea level.
Pasiegos Valleys
These beautiful valleys are about 40 minutes from Santander, in the heart of Cantabria. They are the product of five centuries of relationship between man and nature: quiet villas and towns, palaces, mansions, trails, routes, country inns, prehistoric caves...
The best way to get there without a car is by bus going to Ontaneda, for less than 4 euros a ticket. You have to be willing to spend the day or several days in contact with nature.
Each town has its historical houses, its churches or palaces. In terms of caves, you can learn, for example, the prehistoric caves of Monte Castillo: the Castle, the Chimneys, the Pasiega y the Coins. They are an example of rock art with signs and drawings of animals that are thousands of years old. A beauty.
There are also hiking trails, museums, interpretation centers, gastronomic visits and more.
The Altamira Caves
These caves need no introduction, world famous and renowned, they are often called the Sistine Chapel of the caves with rock art. They are 2.6 kilometers from Santillana del Mar and have the most important prehistoric paintings found to date.
Visits to the original caves are restricted for conservation reasons, but you can see a replica located near the Altamira Museum.
The Blow
Another of the wonders of Cantabria is in the county of Saja-Nansa and is another cave: the El Soplao Cave, with great geological and archaeological value coming from its mining history (zinc, lead).
The Blow It is 83 kilometers from Santander and only 60 from Torrelavega. El Soplao is between the municipalities of Herrerías, Rionansa and Valdáliga, on the Sierra de Arnero, at 540 meters. Mining activity ended in 1978 after just over a century of work. In fact, the name blow it refers to the air that is perceived when entering a gallery from another with less oxygen. The cave, thus, was discovered by miners in 1908 and is a treasure for the speology with its stalagmites, stalactites, columns and 20 kilometers of galleries…
It has great views, the coast, mountains, peaks... The advice is that you don't just visit the cave but get to know the natural and geomining environment, following the layout of livestock trails and tracks. And includes nearby villages and towns.
Quotation marks
Leaving the natural landscapes, what do you think about visiting an aristocratic villa? That's how it is Comillas, a beautiful coastal town wrapped in hills.
It bears the signature of the first Marquis of Comillas, who shaped it with the help of his wealth harvested in Cuba. The tour includes Gaudí's Capricho, the Pontifical University, the Sobrellano Palace or the Plaza Vieja. And his little beach, of course.
Noja
Continuing with the line of towns is Noja, with some amazing beaches, those of Trengandín. There are three and a half kilometers of beaches with golden sand, clean and crystalline waters, the occasional rock there, natural pools and pools, sandy areas, or the island of San Pedruco which you access when the tide is low.
Ason Valley
This valley It is on the eastern part of Cantabria and it is not very popular, but it has a lot of beauty. Here the most beautiful thing is the birth of the Asón River, with an impressive 70 meter high waterfall.
Here in the valley is the town of Arredondo, capital of the world and Ampuero with the nearby Sanctuary of the Bien Aparecida, patron saint of Cantabria, with its patron saint's day every September 5.
So far, some of the essential excursions that you can do from Santander. Of course there are more, but this list has a little bit of everything. You choose.