The Picos de Europa is one of Spain’s best kept secrets - a compact mountain range that straddles the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria and León. The peaks are made of limestone, jutting sharply upwards from wide valleys created by glacial erosion. The rock is carved by fast flowing rivers, pockmarked with extensive cave systems. What’s more, the Picos de Europa are located a mere 12 miles (20km) from the coast, where there’s plenty of opportunities for watersports like sea kayaking and surfing.
The Much Better Adventures team recently went on a trip to the Picos de Europa - an abridged version of our Canyons to Coast Adventure in Northern Spain. For a long weekend, it was our playground. We canyoned, hiked, SUPd and kayaked. And drank the local cider. Lots and lots of cider.
We had a great time catching up with each other and exploring this under-the-radar corner of Spain. But some of us feel as if we turned up unprepared, and that there’s some things we might do differently the second time round. So here’s everything we wish we knew before visiting the Picos de Europa.
Bring Your Sense of Play to Canyoning
Canyoning is a great leveller. Whoever you are, whatever you’ve achieved in life, everyone puts on their identical wetsuits and helmet, and proceeds to slide down the rocks with similar clumsy enthusiasm. It’s not an activity which leads to people trying to outdo each other by going faster or higher. It’s more like slipping and climbing and jumping along a natural assault course - pure, childish happiness.
“I had so much fun because for me it's just about being with the right people,” says software engineer Matt. “People you can have a good chat with and have a laugh with and can easily connect with. When canyoning, I tried my best to bring a sense of play and to let my guard down with everyone - especially important on trips where you don’t know people that well.”
Don't be Afraid to Fall off Your SUP
On the trip, we ventured outside the Picos, paddling down the River Deva until we reached the coast. It’s much harder out at sea than it is on a river, but our Customer Experience Specialist Naomi has some top tips for nailing it.
“Listen to the instructors when setting your paddle length,” she says. “If it's too short, you'll be bending over like the Hunchback and you won't get comfy or in a rhythm. If it's too long, you'll struggle to manoeuvre it side to side.”
“Look up! Try and enjoy the view instead of looking down at the water or just in front of the board. This will also help your paddling and direction of the board. Also regularly check that you have the paddle the right way round - it definitely matters and it's easy to switch it the other way when swapping hands.
“Don’t be afraid of falling in. And if you are, jump in off the board and get wet so you know how it feels if you do topple off. Stay barefoot for better grip on the board but try not to tense up. Give your toes a wiggle every now and then to prevent cramp.”
And finally: “don't take (expensive) sunglasses, or have a glasses strap if you do.”
Our Adventure Ops Manager Jenny adds that SUP was much more of a core workout than she anticipated, and laments that she didn’t pick up the paddling techniques sooner into the activity.
“I wish I knew how easy it is to steer a paddle board - and that to stabilise yourself in choppy waves the trick is to put your paddle in the water,” she says.
Pack for All Weathers, Even in Summer
We tend to think of Spain as a hot place; shorts or bikini-wearing weather. But the weather in northern Spain is very different from the south coast (which is where sun-seeking tourists flock to). Asturias and Cantabria have a maritime climate, which is characterised by warm summers and mild winters, with cloudy days and fairly frequent rainfall.
“If you go to the Picos, you need to come prepared for trekking in all weather conditions, even during the summer months,” says Content Manager Kirsty. “Once the sun goes down; you’ll want a warm jacket. Pack waterproofs in case of rain and sun cream in case of heat - you’ll be glad you did.”
Note: Kirsty has also done our Hut-to Hut Trekking in the Picos de Europa trip, and wrote this fantastic article about the adventure.
Take Good Boots
The Picos de Europa are limestone mountains, and as a result many of the trails are very rocky. When we walked the Ruta Cares (or Cares Gorge Trail), which is a 15 mile (24km) out and back path over rocky terrain, many of us finished the hike with surprisingly sore feet.
“For hiking in the Picos, make sure you take boots or shoes with thick soles,” says Deputy Editor Dani. “You can also replace your boot insoles with more cushioned ones with arch support. Soft merino socks will also help, if you want to really pamper yourself. And take a couple of blister plasters on the hike with you. I had to borrow some halfway through the Cares Gorge Hike.”
Dani Redd
Bring Snacks & Spare Clothes on Your Kayak Trip
You’ll get taught the basic techniques and hear the safety advice from your guides when you kayak, but what they won’t tell you is this:
“Go for a wee before you get in your wetsuit,” says SEO Manager Lauren. “It sounds obvious but even if you’re at a 3/10 for needing a wee - go. Nothing worse than having to run back and squeeze yourself back out of, and back into, a wetsuit!”
Lauren, being the snack queen, recommends bringing plenty of them (a personal favourite being banana Soreen) - and using the bungees on the kayak to secure your snack bag in place.
“I also recommend packing something comfy to change into afterwards,” she says. “Again, once you’ve squeezed into and out of a wetsuit, the last thing you want to be getting into is jeans! Joggers are usually my choice.”
Get Stuck into The Local Cider… Er, Culture…
All of our guides grew up in the region, and were keen to show us their favourite places and teach us about the local culture. Which meant that we ended up at a traditional sidrería, where cider is brewed and then drunk, often paired with traditional Asturian cuisine.
The guides showed us how to pour the cider from a great height into a glass. According to Gastro Obscura, “ the long-distance cascade into the glass creates a splash that supplies much-needed effervescence and foam, which help release the cider’s aromas.”
Then they taught us how to drink it like a shot in one go - surely with the goal of inebriation, rather than taste?
“I wish I had known to wear shoes that I didn't mind getting covered in cider!” says our Founder Alex.
Inspired? Check out our Canyons to Coast Adventure in Northern Spain, or our Hut-to-Hut Trekking Adventure in Spain's Picos de Europa