Asturian Nature Route starting at Llanes

Discover the hidden corners of Llanes while losing yourself among its cobblestone streets, enjoying the centuries of history within its walls, basilica and stately palaces. Walk through the port and discover Los Cubos de la Memoria, a work by Ibarrola.

• Visit the old walls, the Torreón, the Basílica de Santa María, the Casa del Cercáu, the Palacio de Gastañaga, the Palacio de Posada Herrera, the Palacio de los Duques de Estrada and the modernist-style casino. Take a stroll through the port and visit Los Cubos de la Memoria.

Take the Paseo de San Pedro and enjoy beautiful panoramic views. The cliffs are in front of you and Llanes with the Sierra del Cuera are behind you.

Enjoy a menu for just €12 at the Casa Canene restaurant, where you can try some traditional Asturian dishes.

• Try the fabada and the escalopines al Cabrales, two traditional Asturian dishes.

Take the car and visit some of the most scenic beaches in the area. They include Torimbia, Playa de Toró, Playa de Poo y Playa de Gulpiyuri, a small, inland cove that water reaches through a cave. Stroll along the cliffs and walk from Gulpiyuri to Playa de la Huelga.

• Playa de Torimbia, Playa de Toró, Playa de Poo, Playa de Gulpiyuri, Playa de la Huelga. You can enjoy a drink at the Borizo beach bar.

Wake up early to conquer this ravine with Costa Verde Aventura. Drive to Beyos Gorge, in the municipality of Ponga, on the westernmost slope of the Picos de Europa. There we met with Guillermo, our attentive and responsible guide. We squeezed into our wetsuits and began a three-hour descent down the Canadam River, which included chutes, descents and slides in this natural setting.

• Wear some old sneakers that you don’t mind ruining, and don’t forget a towel and a change of clothes to keep you warm.

Drive back to the small town of Poo to try the traditional cachopos in Xagarda, a cider bar with a large terrace where we were told they serve the largest cachopos in the whole Llanes area. We also took the opportunity to enjoy a bottle of cider that we had earned after the intense morning.

• If you’re going to ask for a cachopos, it should be shared, because they are huge. The fried tomato with goat cheese is also very good.

We drove to Pendueles, where we took a walk to help our digestion. From there, drive to Buelna but, if you still have any strength left, you can also walk. Ask a local about Playa de Cobijeru, another inland beach where water enters through a cave. Visit the cave that opens out to the sea and walk along the bridge that connects the cliffs. From there, take the car to reach Bufones de Pría, where, provided the sea is willing, you can enjoy this natural spectacle.

• If you want to see the Bufones, choose a day when the sea is choppy.

To cap off the day, visit Vidiago, where a picturesque family-run cider bar is decorated with old tools that were once used in the fields. We found a beautiful spot decorated by Eduardo, an artist and professor, who gave us a ton of recommendations for our next visit.

• Try the tornos with egg, Cabrales cheese and picadillo. For meat lovers, another great restaurant in Vidiago is Casa Poli.

Start the day by testing your balance in the Asturian waves. To do so, drive to Playa de San Antolín in Naves, where there are two small schools. We chose the one closest to water, donned our wetsuits and started practicing.

Take advantage of your last day to relax and enjoy Playa de San Antolín. You can also take a stroll to Punta Paña, the end of the beach. It may not be the most idyllic or scenic beach you’ve ever seen, but it is one of the most open and rugged, as it is the mouth of the Bedón river. Plus, at high tide, you can dive from the platform or even from the Furacu, but it’s always best to take your cues from a local.

After a shower, head to Naces to try the best grilled meats in the area at Cabañón, an old cider press that has been converted into a cider bar where you can still see the giant barrels that were used to make cider.