Formerly known as Portus Blendium in Roman times, final destination of the Roman road that joined the plains with the Northern coast, this quiet seaside town located at the natural outlet of the confluence of the Rivers Saja and Besaya was used as a natural pier and starting-out port for the minerals extracted from the old Reocín mines.

Bárcena Mayor The old balconies and cobbled streets of the ancient Bárcena Mayor township hold an eternal alliance with the Saja National Reserve.

The la Rabia beach, on the left-bank of the river of the same name, is often confused with the Oyambre beach, as both are part of the Oyambre natural park.

San Vicente de la Barquera is another place of interest to visit during your stay in Cantabria. This is a seafaring town where currently tourism is the main economic activity thanks to the area’s great natural beauty and heritage.

Santillana del Mar is also known as the “Town of three lies” because it is not saintly (Santi in Spanish), nor flat (llana), nor is it sea-side (del Mar).

Cabezón de la Sal is the starting point of one of Cantabria’s largest sports events. Thousands of participants meet here for one of Cantabria’s largest sporting events that takes them through the beautiful landscapes of the Saja Natural Reserve. This event attracts thousands of people from all over the country, and even from other countries. The competition always takes place in mid-May and it has become a religion for many of the area’s inhabitants, some of which train for months. In fact, ever since the competition the people of the Cabezón region and its surrounding area have become true fans of mountain sports and hiking.

The El Soplao Cave is located between the towns of Valdáliga, Herrerías and Rionansa. It was discovered in the early 20th century during the mining exploitation of La Florida. It is located in an area of high natural and panoramic value, with forests and varied wildlife, remains of mining archaeology and views out to the Cantabrian Sea, the towns of Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera and to the Picos de Europa. The cave is considered to be one of the world’s geological wonders, as it is a cathedral of stalactites and stalagmites that grow into unique formations.

The Altamira Museum is 2 km from the Santillana del Mar city centre. This is a natural cavity in the rock where Prehistoric drawings and artistic remains are preserved with great quality, and are considered the most important remains in the world. Some time ago the caves could be visited in their entirety, but due to deterioration access was restricted and new installations were built next to the original caves, the Altamira Museum and the Neo-cave, a meticulous and detailed replica of the original.

Twelve kilometres from the Valle de Cabezón hotel is one of the towns that should not be missed during your trip to Cantabria. Comillas, on the western coast, is home to many modernist historical monuments, such as the Capricho de Gaudí, the Marqués de Sobrellano Palace and other historical buildings such as the Pontificia University. This is a magical place where one can enjoy beaches that are safe for swimmers during the summer season.

Very close to us is the Sequoia Natural Monument, located in the area around the Corona mountain, a protected space with around a thousand specimens measuring over 30 metres tall, on a plantation spread out on 2.5 hectares.