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            [HighlightText] => Travel with celebrated expert Erik Perez to his favorite mountains—the ultimate insider access
            [Description] => Travel with celebrated expert Erik Perez to his favorite mountains—the ultimate insider access
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            [HighlightText] => Summit craggy peaks and hike emerald valleys in hidden limestone gems, the Picos de Europa
            [Description] => Summit craggy peaks and hike emerald valleys in hidden limestone gems, the Picos de Europa
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            [HighlightText] => Explore northern Spain's history through UNESCO-listed monuments, regional flavors, and Erik's legendary talks
            [Description] => Explore northern Spain's history through UNESCO-listed monuments, regional flavors, and Erik's legendary talks
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            [Description] => sunset
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            [Description] => hikers trail
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            [Description] => coast
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            [Description] => cathedral
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            [Description] => overlook
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            [Description] => hikers trail
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            [Description] => cheese
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Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Erik P.

Erik was born and raised in the Asturias region of northern Spain and has been leading MT Sobek globally since 1989. Erik holds the coveted IFMGA/UIAGM certification, which is the highest professional award attainable in mountaineering, and has written two guidebooks on hikes and climbs in the Picos de Europa. Erik studied Humanities at the University of Oviedo—the capital city of Asturias—and received an MA in History. He is passionate about sharing the landscapes and rich cultures of northern Spain with MT Sobek travelers.

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                    [Headline] => Meet in Bilbao & Hike into the Picos de Europa
                    [ActivityOverview] => 2 hours/2 miles of hiking with 400\' elevation gain
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After meeting up in Bilbao, travel west through Basque Country into the Cantabrian Mountains. After a delicious lunch in the stone-house village of Potes, explore the 6th century Monasterio de Santo Toribio de Liebana, a major Roman Catholic pilgrimage site where a relic of the Lignum Crucis (True Cross) is displayed in a side chapel. Continue to Pido and into Picos de Europa National Park. Set out along a rural dirt road and through the forest to a gorgeous view of a glacial cirque in the foothills of the Picos de Europa. Hike to your Parador, tucked at the base of the cirque—a stunning setting right below the Central Massif.
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                    [Travel_Type] => 3-hour total private van transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 43.302
                    [Longitude] => -2.913
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                    [Headline] => Ride the Cable Car & Summit Pico Tesorero
                    [ActivityOverview] => 7 hours/8 miles hiking with 2,300\' elevation gain and loss
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Board the Fuente De cable car this morning and enjoy panoramic views as you ascend into craggy peaks. At the top (6,070\'), begin to climb and zigzag your way to the odd-looking Refugio Cabaña Veronica, dramatically perched at 7,628 feet. After taking in the jaw-dropping 360-degree view of the snow-capped Picos, those who wish can scramble up a steep incline to reach the summit of Pico Tesorero (8,430\') where Cantabria, Asturias, and Leon meet. The views are magnificent looking out on the distinctive Naranjo de Bulnes limestone tower, the highest peaks of the Picos, and all the way down to the sea. Enjoy a picnic on the mountain before returning to your Parador. Level 3 option is a hike to Horcado Pass, also with gorgeous views.
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                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 4-minute cable car ride
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                    [Latitude] => 43.144
                    [Longitude] => -4.81
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                    [DayTo] => 3
                    [Headline] => Hike High Passes in the Central Massif
                    [ActivityOverview] => 9 hours/13 miles hiking with 4,800\' elevation gain and loss
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Return by cable car to the high trails for a big day ascending multiple passes. From the start, you are surrounded by serrated Picos peaks. Ascend a narrow path to the first pass, Colladina de las Nieves (7,385\'), keeping an eye out for rebecos, the chamois of the Picos. Traverse a scree path to the rocky peak of La Padiorna (7,592\'), where the views over the range seem endless. Roll up and down over Las Colladinas with more fabulous perspectives, then descend to Collado Jermoso (6,772\') and its perfectly perched hut for lunch amid breathtaking scenery. On the return, ascend to Horcada Verde (7,516\'), a saddle between two peaks, and rejoin the trail back to the cable car. Level 3 option is summiting La Padioma via a different route.
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                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 4-minute cable car ride
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                    [Latitude] => 43.144
                    [Longitude] => -4.811
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                    [Headline] => Cross Vega de Liordes into the Valdeon Valley
                    [ActivityOverview] => 8.5 hours/11 miles hiking with 4,000\' elevation gain and 4,500\' elevation loss
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Leave Fuente De on foot and begin a two-day classic traverse across the Picos de Europa. Climb steep but well-built switchbacks on the aptly named Los Tornos de Liordes, looking back over the lush valley and Parador far below. Arriving at the alpine meadows of glacier-carved Vega de Liordes (6,070\'), pause for a picnic lunch. Cross to the Canal de Asotin and begin a gradual descent through mountain terrain and deep Asotin beech forest. Follow a rocky trail along the mountainside for the last stretch to the traditional mountain village of Cordiñanes de Valdeon. Level 3 option is Horcada de Valcabado to Pandetrave with views of the plains of Spain and transfer to hotel.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 15-minute private van transfer for Level 3 hike only
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                    [Latitude] => 43.151
                    [Longitude] => -4.919
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                    [Headline] => Hike the Dramatic Cares Gorge
                    [ActivityOverview] => 5 hours/8 miles hiking with 900\' elevation gain and 1,120\' elevation loss
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Continue crossing the Picos between the Central and Western Massifs on the thrilling Ruta del Cares. This spectacular trail, carved into the limestone walls of the Cares Gorge, runs from Cain to Puente Poncebos with the river far below and mountain walls soaring thousands of feet above. Pass through tunnels and cross bridges over the gorge as you marvel at the scale of the canyon and its twisted karst folds and peaks. After the hike, enjoy lunch in Puente Poncebos and transfer to Cangas de Onis, gateway to Covadonga and the green landscapes of Asturias.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 10-minute (am) and 45-minute (pm) private van transfers
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                    [Latitude] => 43.366
                    [Longitude] => -5.14
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                    [Headline] => Explore Covadonga Lakes & Alpine Meadows
                    [ActivityOverview] => 6 hours/9 miles hiking with 1,800\' elevation gain and loss
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Today’s hike explores Lagos de Covadonga, the oldest area of Picos de Europa National Park and one of its most scenic corners. Walk between the shimmering glacial lakes of Enol and Ercina, then climb through karst-dotted meadows where cowbells ring and chamois move below jagged peaks. Enter old-growth beech forest and continue across open alpine slopes beneath Peña Santa de Enol toward Vegarredonda Hut. Pause at Llampa Cimera (4,800\') for a rewarding mountain panorama before retracing your steps to the lakes. On the return to the hotel, stop at Covadonga, site of the pivotal 718 battle that marked the beginning of the Reconquista.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 45-minute private van transfer each way
                    [Quotation] => 
                    [Quotation_Attribution] => 
                    [Quotation_Location] => 
                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 43.366
                    [Longitude] => -5.14
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                    [DayTo] => 7
                    [Headline] => Summit Pico Pienzu in the Sierra del Sueve
                    [ActivityOverview] => 6.5 hours/10 miles hiking with 1,800\' elevation gain and 2,800\' elevation loss
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                    [ActivityLevel] => 
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Leaving the Picos de Europa, head north to the Sueve Range and its highest peak, El Pienzo (3,822). Begin at El Fito (1,960\') and follow a scenic trail across open meadows, with ocean and mountain views widening as you walk. Watch for grazing cows and wild Asturcon horses as you ascend to Collado Belluenzu, then continue across the grassy pass to El Pienzo’s summit. Take a moment to enjoy the sweeping panorama from the craggy Picos de Europa to the blue horizon of the Cantabrian Sea before returning to Belluenzu for a picnic lunch. Descend through the ancient, often misty La Biescona beech forest, then transfer to Ribadesella on the coast.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 40-minute private van transfer
                    [Quotation] => 
                    [Quotation_Attribution] => 
                    [Quotation_Location] => 
                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 43.465
                    [Longitude] => -5.06
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            [7] => Array
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                    [DayFrom] => 8
                    [DayTo] => 8
                    [Headline] => Hike Sierra del Cuera & Taste Cabrales Cheese
                    [ActivityOverview] => 5 hours/6 miles hiking with 2,100\' elevation gain and loss
                    [EstimatedLength] => 
                    [ActivityLevel] => 
                    [ItinBlock] => 
Return inland to Cabrales, a region known worldwide for its blue cheese, for a hike in the Sierra de Cuera. Start on a quiet mountain road, gradually climbing through open pastures where cows, sheep, and goats graze, and reaching a lovely viewpoint where the Central and Western Massifs of the Picos roll out toward the south. From there, follow a series of switchbacks to reach Collado Concha del Gobiu (3,488\'), where a striking view of Torrecerredo and Naranjo de Bulnes awaits on the pass. Continue over rocky mountain terrain to the summit of Peña Lacia, where the views are even better. Descend to Arenas de Cabrales for a late lunch and a taste of the area’s celebrated blue cheese.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 1-hour private van transfer each way
                    [Quotation] => 
                    [Quotation_Attribution] => 
                    [Quotation_Location] => 
                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 43.465
                    [Longitude] => -5.06
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                    [DayTo] => 9
                    [Headline] => Discover Medieval Oviedo
                    [ActivityOverview] =>  hours/5 miles hiking with 1,000\' elevation loss
                    [EstimatedLength] => 
                    [ActivityLevel] => 
                    [ItinBlock] => 
Take a walk through northern Spain’s colorful history with Erik as your expert guide. Begin atop Oviedo’s Monte Naranco and hike downhill, taking in views of the city and Sierra del Aramo before reaching the UNESCO-listed pre-Romanesque churches of Santa Maria del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. These remarkable 9th-century monuments reflect the artistry, power, and enduring legacy of the early Asturian kingdom. After visiting, enjoy lunch, then continue into town to the 18th-century Hotel de la Reconquista, one of Spain’s most historic hotels. In the afternoon, explore Oviedo on foot, discovering its elegant streets, cathedral, plazas, and lively cider culture. Gather for a final Asturian dinner in a traditional restaurant.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 1-hour private van transfer
                    [Quotation] => 
                    [Quotation_Attribution] => 
                    [Quotation_Location] => 
                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 43.362
                    [Longitude] => -5.85
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                    [Headline] => Depart Oviedo
                    [ActivityOverview] => 
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                    [ActivityLevel] => 
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After breakfast, depart Oviedo for your onward journey. Leave northern Spain with memories of limestone summits, deep gorges, ancient monasteries, historic Paradores, Asturian cheese and cider, and the rare privilege of exploring Erik Perez’s beloved mountains with MT Sobek.
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                    [Dinner] => 0
                    [Travel_Type] => 45-minute private van transfer
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                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 43.56
                    [Longitude] => -6.034
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    [ActivityHighlight] => This is a mountain hiking trip with sustained ascents and descents, rocky limestone trails, exposure, and some optional scrambling. Full days on the trail add to the challenge.
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Accommodations

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A mix of historic Paradores, well-located lodges, and an iconic luxury hotel in Oviedo.

Hotel Cumbres de Valdeon

Rustic Lodging

Deep in the heart of Picos de Europa National Park, Hotel Cumbres de Valdeon is a small mountain hotel surrounded by peaks and pastures, welcoming you with flags flying and friendly service. Simple, spacious rooms on two floors offer mountain and valley views and the town is just a 3-minute walk away. Enjoy hearty meals at the restaurant and sip a coffee while marveling at the peaks framed in the window.

Parador de Fuente De

Comfortable Hotel

Soaring mountain scenery defines the Parador de Fuente De, located at the foot of the Picos de Europa and beside the cable car into the Central Massif, with easy access to trails. This modern Parador offers comfortable, warmly traditional rooms with modern amenities. The restaurant celebrates hearty Cantabrian cooking from the Liebana region, including local cheeses, meats, and classic mountain dishes. Step outside and peer up at the limestone peaks.

Parador de Cangas de Onis

Comfortable Hotel

The Parador de Cangas de Onis occupies the former 8th-century San Pedro de Villanueva Monastery on the banks of the Sella River. With more than 1,200 years of history, the building pairs Romanesque heritage with modern comfort. Bright, airy rooms, peaceful grounds, and Asturian cuisine—with a cheese bar and local cider—make it an ideal base for exploring the western side of the Picos de Europa. 

Silken Gran Hotel de Sella

Comfortable Hotel

The former summer palace of the Marquis of Arguelles, the Silken Gran Hotel de Sella sits right on the Bay of Biscay at the mouth of the Sella River. Comfortable rooms in the original building and modern annex reflect period charm with city and bay views. Enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool, take a stroll along the beach promenade, or cross the bridge into town to explore beachfront Ribadesella.

Hotel de la Reconquista

Luxury Hotel

Hotel de la Reconquista is an Oviedo landmark, housed in an 18th-century Baroque building built under the patronage of the Spanish Crown. With grand courtyards, arched galleries, and an unusual octagonal chapel, the property is now listed as a National Monument. Comfortable rooms blend classic character with modern comforts and city views while the hotel's prime central location allows easy exploration of the historic city on foot.