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Hike in Picos de Europa National Park
Best time to visit
The best time to come is between June and September, when the trails are free of snow and the weather is stable. For the Cares route, choose the morning to avoid the crowd and the heat in the canyon.
Budget tips
Entrance to the massif itself is free, you only pay for parking at the entrance to the Cares trail (about 5 euros per day). A cheap accommodation option is mountain refuges with prices from 15 euros per person.
Recommended for
Avid hikers and trekkers, Nature photographers, Climbers looking for challenges, Travelers who prefer raw, wild landscapes
Plan your visit
Half a day to 3 days
About
Quick facts: Walkers cross paths with rare Cantabrian brown bears and see ancient limestone peaks rising 2,600 meters above sea level. Rivers carve dramatic gorges where golden eagles soar and wild orchids bloom.
Highlights: Hiking trails pass through the Covadonga Lakes, where glacial waters shimmer below mountain cliffs etched by centuries of weather. One trail leads to the Naranjo de Bulnes peak, a striking monolith attracting climbers worldwide who scale its 2,518-meter vertical face.
Insider tips
- Wear trekking boots with good grip, because sections of the trails run over rocky slopes and gravel paths.
- Set off on the Cares trail at 7 in the morning to enjoy views without crowds and in pleasant shade.
- Bring tick spray, in summer they appear in large numbers on the grassy sections of the trails.
- Try the local cabrales cheese served with honey at the refuges, it is a specialty of the region that you cannot buy anywhere else.
Practical info
Open every dayOpen late until 24:00 on every day
Where to Stay in Granada
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More attractions in Granada
Basilica of the Sagrada Família, Barcelona
Park Güell, Barcelona
The Alhambra (Palace of the Alhambra and the Generalife), Granada
Royal Alcázar of Seville, Seville
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