Trekking holiday in the Picos de Europa

Planet

The walking trip is based in the Picos de Europa National Park. This mountain range is home to a number of protected species including the Cantabrian brown bear and the Iberian wolf both of which would be rare for the group to see but the designated nature reserves ensure they remain undisturbed by development.

We explore the area on foot, from our central base of Sortes in the heart of the mountains reducing the use of vehicles. We also take the Fuente Dé cable car to access the high plateau rather than by road and walk down valley to our hotel. The tap water is both safe to drink and very clean and we encourage clients to take a reusable water bottle to fill up, rather than generating plastic bottle waste – the water taste even better taken straight from the springs which we pass during the walks!

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

People

For this trip we are based at Casa Cipriano, a small friendly family-run hotel where the group can enjoy JuanJo and Sonia's welcoming hospitality and hearty homemade food. A dish not to be missed is the traditional and very delicious La Fabada Asturiana, a hearty soup made with beans, chorizo and black pudding. Next door the family also runs a small shop, selling everything from small locally made souvenirs to cheeses and cured hams.

Nature related tourism is the main source of income for the area and JuanJo is also the guide for the week. Growing up in the Picos he is a wealth of knowledge, armed with interesting facts about the landscape, traditions and local industries to relay to the group.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.