If there’s one place in Europe that perfectly blends breathtaking scenery, epic mountain roads, and that rare feeling of freedom on two wheels — it’s the Picos de Europa National Park in northern Spain.
Unlike the crowded Alps or the well-trodden Pyrenees, the Picos remain a bit of a secret among experienced riders. It’s a place where the roads flow like ribbons through limestone peaks, where you can lean through corner after corner with barely another vehicle in sight, and where ancient stone villages welcome you with cider, wine, and a warm smile.
This region is compact but mighty — in just a few days you can ride coastal curves, climb high passes, and carve through deep gorges. It’s the kind of destination that makes you fall in love with riding all over again.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable motorcycle adventure in the Picos de Europa — from the best routes and ferry options to what to pack, where to stay, and how to make the most of every twist and turn.
Where Are the Picos de Europa?
Tucked away in northern Spain, the Picos de Europa National Park sits where the regions of Asturias, Cantabria, and León meet. It’s part of the Cantabrian Mountains — just inland from the rugged northern coast — which means in a single ride you can go from sunny beaches to towering limestone peaks in under an hour.
The Picos are incredibly accessible: they’re just over an hour from Santander, making them a perfect riding destination whether you’re arriving by ferry from the UK or flying in. Despite their wild, remote feel, this isn’t the middle of nowhere. Potes — the unofficial “biker capital” of the region — makes an ideal base, with loops radiating out in every direction.
Unlike sprawling regions like the Alps, the Picos are compact and easy to navigate, meaning you can explore stunning routes without endless motorway stretches. Every day on the bike here feels like a highlight reel.
Best Time of Year to Ride the Picos
The Picos de Europa National Park enjoys a milder climate than much of Spain, which makes it ideal for summer touring — but the real magic happens in the shoulder seasons.
- May & June: Fresh green landscapes, clear air, quiet roads. A fantastic time to ride if you want a more peaceful experience.
- July & August: Warm, dry, and lively. It’s peak season, so book hotels early and expect more traffic on the popular passes.
- September: Golden light, cooler temps, fewer crowds — arguably the best month to ride.
- October: Still doable, but weather can shift quickly. Bring proper waterproofs and warm layers.
Because this is a mountain region, conditions can change fast. A sunny morning can turn misty by afternoon, especially around the high passes. Layering is your friend. Even in summer, a lightweight waterproof or windbreaker can make the difference between a good day and a great one.
👉 Rider tip: Start your days early to enjoy clear skies and quiet roads.
Getting There: Ferries, Flights & Scenic Routes
One of the best things about riding the Picos is how easy they are to reach, especially from the UK and mainland Europe. You’ve got three solid options — each with its own vibe.
🛳 Ferry from the UK
This is hands-down the most popular choice for British riders. Brittany Ferries runs regular services from:
- Plymouth → Santander (24–26 hours)
- Portsmouth → Bilbao (28–30 hours)
You can ride straight off the ferry and be carving through mountain roads within an hour. Book early if you want a private cabin — it makes the crossing a lot more comfortable, especially if you’re heading out with your bike fully loaded.
✈️ Flights + Bike Rental or Shipping
If you’re short on time, fly into:
- Santander (SDR) – closest airport, just over an hour from Potes
- Bilbao (BIO) – bigger airport with more connections (2 hrs to Potes)
- Madrid (MAD) – ideal if you fancy a longer road trip through Spain
You can rent a bike locally or ship yours in advance.
🏍 Ride Down Through France
For a real European adventure, ride down through France, crossing the Pyrenees or following the Atlantic coast.
Popular route: Calais → Tours → Bordeaux → Spanish border → Santander → Picos.
👉 Rider tip: If you’re coming via France, take your time. There are incredible backroads that can turn the journey into a highlight of the trip rather than just transit.
Request Picos Tour Dates & Pricing
Top Motorcycle Routes in the Picos de Europa
The Picos de Europa National Park may be small, but its roads are an absolute playground for riders. Think of it as a compact maze of flowing corners, hairpin climbs, mountain passes and coastal curves, all stitched together with breathtaking scenery.
Whether you’re here for a long weekend or a week-long adventure, these are the routes that define the Picos experience 👇
🏞 Route 1: Desfiladero de la Hermida Gorge Loop (Potes – Panes – Potes)
This is the classic warm-up ride. From Potes, follow the N-621 through Desfiladero de la Hermida, a narrow limestone gorge that twists and turns for nearly 20 km. You’ll hug the river as the cliffs rise dramatically on either side — it’s pure riding bliss.
- 📍 Start/End: Potes
- 🛣 Distance: ~80 km
- ⏱ Duration: Half-day
- ☕ Tip: Stop for a coffee in Panes before looping back.
This route is great for getting your eye in — fast enough to be fun, but relaxed enough to soak up the scenery.
🏔 Route 2: Covadonga & Lakes Ride (Cangas de Onís – Covadonga – Lagos de Covadonga)
If you love a proper mountain climb, this is a must. From Cangas de Onís, head up the winding road to Lagos de Covadonga, a pair of glacial lakes perched high in the mountains. The ascent is packed with switchbacks and viewpoints, and the summit views are unforgettable.
- 📍 Start/End: Cangas de Onís
- 🛣 Distance: ~70 km
- ⏱ Duration: Half-day
- 🚨 Note: Access can be restricted in peak season — check ahead or go early in the morning.
🐻 Route 3: Puerto de San Glorio Pass (Potes – Riaño)
This route delivers the big alpine-style riding the Picos are famous for. The N-621 climbs steadily to Puerto de San Glorio, one of the highest paved passes in the region. There’s a famous bear statue at the top — a perfect photo stop with sweeping views. From there, drop down to Riaño, a stunning lakeside town surrounded by mountains.
- 📍 Start: Potes
- 🏁 End: Riaño (return or loop)
- 🛣 Distance: ~90 km one way
- ☕ Tip: The café at the pass has some of the best views in Spain.
🌊 Route 4: Coastal Loop (Potes – Llanes – Ribadesella – Inland Return)
For variety, combine mountain riding with the wild northern coast. Ride out of the mountains to Llanes, follow the coastal road to Ribadesella, then loop back inland. Expect ocean views, gentle sweepers, and a totally different vibe from the high passes.
- 📍 Start/End: Potes
- 🛣 Distance: ~180 km
- ⏱ Duration: Full day
- 🌅 Tip: Llanes has brilliant seaside cafés for lunch.
🧭 Bonus Loop: Cares Gorge & Cabrales Cheese Country
For something a bit different, ride towards Arenas de Cabrales and explore the Cares Gorge. It’s a more relaxed loop with incredible views and a chance to taste the region’s famous Cabrales cheese. Ideal for a slower day between bigger rides.
💬 Rider tip: The beauty of the Picos is that you can string these routes together easily. Each loop connects naturally, so you can ride all day without repeating the same stretch twice.
Where to Base Yourself
Choosing the right base makes all the difference when touring the Picos de Europa National Park. The region is compact, so you don’t need to pack up and move every night — one well-chosen town can give you access to every major riding loop.
🏞 Potes is the clear favourite among riders. It sits right at the heart of the action, surrounded by mountains and at the gateway to the Desfiladero de la Hermida gorge and Puerto de San Glorio pass. From here, you can ride a different loop every day without ever touching a motorway.
Other great options:
- 🏔 Cangas de Onís — ideal if you want to focus on Covadonga and northern routes.
- 🌊 Llanes — perfect for mixing mountain twisties with coastal cruising.
All three towns offer plenty of hotels, restaurants, and secure parking for bikes — exactly what you want after a long day in the saddle.
Rider-Friendly Accommodation
One of the great things about touring the Picos de Europa National Park is the variety of accommodation on offer — whether you’re after a touch of luxury or something simple and authentic.
🏰 Paradores
For a special stay, Spain’s famous Paradores de Turismo de España offer a slice of history and comfort. Often housed in converted monasteries, palaces, or manor houses, these hotels combine elegance with incredible locations. Expect secure parking, good food, and proper rider-friendly service.
🏡 Rural Guesthouses (Casas Rurales)
These family-run gems give you a real taste of local life. Rooms are comfortable, prices are reasonable, and breakfasts are usually hearty. Perfect if you like meeting locals and other riders on the road.
🏨 Mid-Range Hotels & B&Bs
Plenty of towns like Potes, Cangas de Onís, and Llanes offer classic hotels and B&Bs with secure parking and easy access to daily riding loops. These strike a good balance between comfort and cost.
🏕 Budget Stays & Hostels
If you’re on a tighter budget or travelling solo, there are hostels, simple pensions, and budget hotels scattered across the region. They’re clean, welcoming, and often full of other riders swapping stories over beers.
👉 Rider tip: Book early if you’re riding in July or August — accommodation fills fast with hikers and bikers alike.
What to Pack for Picos Touring
Packing smart can make or break your tour of the Picos de Europa National Park. Unlike a quick Sunday blast, a multi-day mountain trip means dealing with changing weather, long hours in the saddle, and sometimes remote stretches. Here’s a tried-and-tested packing approach that’ll keep you prepared without overloading your bike.
🧥 Riding Gear: Layer Up
The Picos have a mountain climate — temperatures can change dramatically between a sunny coastal road and a shaded mountain pass at 1,500 m.
Essential layers:
- Base layer – breathable, moisture-wicking (merino or technical fabric)
- Mid layer – light fleece or wind-blocker for cooler mornings
- Outer layer – a well-ventilated textile or leather jacket with armour
Even in summer, pack a waterproof or windproof shell. Afternoon storms can roll in unexpectedly, and you’ll be grateful for it when riding through the misty Puerto de San Glorio.
🧤 Don’t forget light gloves for warm weather and waterproof gauntlets for wet or chilly rides. A neck buff is handy for cutting wind chill on descents.
🥾 Boots & Comfort
A solid pair of touring boots that are both waterproof and breathable will see you through the entire trip. Many riders underestimate how often they’ll be on their feet exploring towns, so make sure your boots are comfortable to walk in.
👉 Pro tip: bring lightweight slip-ons or trainers for evenings.
🧰 Tools, Tech & Spares
The Picos aren’t wilderness, but you can be a long way from a garage. Pack smart:
- Tyre plug kit + CO₂ canisters or mini compressor
- Basic toolkit (allen keys, multi-tool, spare fuses)
- Chain lube or wipes
- USB chargers and adapters
- Power bank (especially useful when using phone nav)
📡 Mobile signal can drop in the deeper gorges. Having your route downloaded offline on Calimoto, Kurviger, or Google Maps is a lifesaver.
🎒 Luggage Setup
For most riders, a combination of panniers, a tail bag or dry duffel, and a tank bag works perfectly. The key is to keep weight low and balanced.
- Panniers: bulky gear, clothes, tools
- Tail bag: waterproof layer, spare gloves, evening wear
- Tank bag: quick-access items (passport, snacks, phone, wallet)
A rain cover or waterproof luggage is essential — mountain storms can soak everything in minutes.
🧼 Personal & Travel Essentials
- Lightweight clothes that can be layered and re-worn
- Toiletries in travel-size containers
- Quick-dry towel (many guesthouses don’t supply extras)
- First aid kit (include painkillers and plasters)
- Earplugs for sleeping (and riding at speed)
- Hydration pack or reusable bottle — especially for longer passes
🪪 Documents & Admin
Make sure you’ve got:
- Passport / ID card
- Driving licence + DVLA code if needed for rental
- Insurance (bike + travel)
- Breakdown cover
- Ferry or flight tickets
- Copies of key documents stored digitally (and a backup on a USB or cloud)
👉 Rider tip: keep all documents in a waterproof pouch or tank bag so you can access them quickly at ferry ports, petrol stations, or police checks.
🧠 Final Packing Thoughts
You don’t need to pack the kitchen sink — the Picos are well connected, and small shops are plentiful. Prioritise quality over quantity, especially when it comes to layers, waterproofs, and luggage organisation. A well-packed bike means less stress, more fun, and plenty of room for a bottle (or two) of Asturian cider to bring home 🍎🥂
Rider Tips & Local Insights
Riding in the Picos de Europa National Park is pure joy — but like anywhere, a few insider tips will make your trip smoother.
🚘 Road etiquette: Spanish drivers are courteous and give plenty of space to bikes. You’ll often see cars pulling slightly right to let you pass on twisty mountain sections.
🐄 Animals on the road: Cows, goats, and even horses often wander across the high passes, especially around Puerto de San Glorio. Always ride with visibility and expect the unexpected after blind corners.
🕒 Timing: Locals eat late. Many restaurants don’t open for lunch until around 2 p.m. — plan fuel and food stops accordingly.
⛽ Fuel: Stations are frequent around major towns but sparse in the high mountains. Top up before heading out for a full day’s loop.
📶 Signal: Some gorges have no mobile coverage. Download your GPX or offline maps before heading out.
☕ Cafés: Spain loves its café culture. Scenic viewpoints often double as great little spots for a mid-ride coffee.
👉 Rider tip: start your rides early. Mornings are quiet, cool, and perfect for hitting the passes before anyone else.
Culture, Food & Beyond
Part of what makes the Picos de Europa National Park so special isn’t just the riding — it’s the culture that wraps around it. The region blends rugged mountain life with warm, easygoing Spanish hospitality.
🍽 Food: Expect generous portions and local flavours. Must-tries include fabada asturiana (a rich bean stew), grilled meats, fresh seafood on the coast, and the famous Cabrales cheese — a pungent blue made in mountain caves.
🍏 Drink: This is cider country. Traditional Asturian cider is poured from a height in a theatrical style (escanciado) — it’s worth trying at least once after a long day in the saddle.
🏰 Sights: Even if your main goal is riding, make time to wander through Potes, visit the Covadonga Sanctuary, or walk a short section of the Cares Gorge trail.
The best part? Unlike the Alps or Dolomites, the Picos still feel undiscovered. You can sit in a medieval square, beer in hand, and hear more cowbells than traffic.
Final Thoughts — Ready to Ride the Picos?
The Picos de Europa National Park isn’t just another riding destination. It’s a place where every bend delivers a view worth remembering, where empty roads wind through jaw-dropping landscapes, and where good food and cold cider wait at the end of the day.
You can absolutely plan it all yourself — the ferries, the routes, the hotels, the gear. But if this sounds like the kind of adventure you’d rather just turn up and ride, while someone else takes care of all the faff — that’s where we come in.
At Wild Roads Motorcycle Tours, we run several tours through Spain each year. Our 2026 guided tours are now completely sold out, but we have two incredible Spanish adventures available for 2027.
Both tours include time in the spectacular Picos de Europa. Our flagship Picos & Pyrenees Tour offers the most extensive exploration of this stunning mountain region, while our brand-new The Great Spring Ride: Old Spain journey takes riders across a wider range of Spain’s most fascinating landscapes and historic towns, before spending several unforgettable days in the Picos towards the end of the tour.
Whichever adventure you choose, you’ll ride some of the finest roads in Europe, stay in carefully selected boutique and luxury hotels, and share the experience with a friendly group of like-minded riders who love exploring the open road as much as you do.
👉 If you’re ready to make this dream a reality, get in touch and join us on one of our upcoming tours. The Picos are waiting — and trust us, they’re every bit as epic as you imagine. 🏍️🇪🇸
See you on the Road!
