Ruta del Cares, the "Divine Gorge" to the heart of the Picos de Europa

The route of the Caresalso known as the Divine Gorge, is a route in the Picos de Europa and one of the most popular in Spain. On this route you can enjoy wonderful scenery as you walk through an imposing gorge. The route is 12 km long and can be completed in three or four hours.

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Route profile

• HomeCain in Leon - Poncebos in Asturias.
• Distance12 km, although if you do it there and back it is 24 km (which is usually the most common).
• DifficultyLow to medium.
• Weather3 hours 15 minutes from Cain to Poncebos or 6 hours and a half, if it is a round trip.

Start of the route

You can start the route either from Cain or from Poncebos. The only difference in terms of difficulty is that the Poncebos route starts two kilometres uphill (45 minutes), while the Cain route starts with a descent and the route is less demanding, although if we are going to do the round trip, we would be leaving the hardest part for the flight. Deciding where to start will depend on where you are and what your plans are.

You are not obliged to do the whole route, so you can go as far as you want and come back. If this is the case, it is advisable to start the route in Cain. And if you are only going to do the outward route, you should bear in mind that the villages do not have a road linking them, so you will have to drive for approximately two hours.

How to get there

If you are going to start the Cares route from CainFirst you must get to Posada de Valdeón, the best known village in the surrounding area. To get to this village if you are in Asturias, take the N-625 from Cangas de Onís, cross the Beyos gorge towards Riaño and when you reach the crossroads towards the village, take it and continue on to Caín. If you are leaving from León, you should reach Riaño and follow the same road until you reach Posada de Valdeón.

And if you come from Poncebos The first thing to do is to get to Arenas de Cabrales, taking the AS-114, whether you are coming from Cantabria or from Cangas de Onís. Once in the village, there is a road to Poncebos, which is approximately 5 kilometres away.

Transport on the Cares Route

If you have only decided to do the outward journey, from Poncebos to Cain or, on the contrary, you need to know how to get between the two villages:

• By taxi: Several companies offer this service between the two towns, and it takes two and a half hours.
• Using public transport: Generally during the high season there is a bus service between Cangas de Onís and Caín, and Cangas de Onís to Poncebos. In this case you should ask for information about the availability of the service.
• In 4×4: This is the most popular option for those who choose to do the route one way. The transfer takes a little longer, three to four hours, but you get the experience of travelling in an all-terrain vehicle on mountain roads. You can do this transfer in two ways: do the route in the morning and return by 4×4 or leave from your accommodation in this type of vehicle in the morning and return on foot.

What you'll see on the Cares Route

Throughout the route you will be able to enjoy spectacular scenery, cross caves, bridges, walkways, tunnels, waterfalls and passages. In addition, you can also find some historical sites, such as the necropolis of Barejo. Other points to which you have access are the Rebecos bridge, the Martínez footbridge, the Tombo viewpoint, the Bolín bridge and the dam bridge, and you may come across some mountain goats along the way.

Preparing the Cares Route

Tips for the route

In order for the experience of take this route If your trip is pleasant and you can enjoy the whole journey without any inconvenience, bear in mind these tips:

• The route can be strenuous due to its length, especially in summer, so you should carry enough water to keep you hydrated, nuts or energy bars, good hiking shoes and sun protection.
• The Cares Route is quite popular, so if you want to do the route alone or without a lot of people, you must get an early startpreferably before nine o'clock in the morning.
• You can find accommodation and restaurants both in Cain and Poncebos, or in the surrounding villages.
• The route can be done with childrenThe path is not protected on the sides, although the path is wide. Just bear in mind that the path has no protection on the sides, although the path is wide, almost 1.5 m.
• If you suffer from vertigo, it is not recommended that you do this route, due to the height of the ravines at some points.

What to bring for the route

In terms of what to bring, you should consider:

• Use good ones hiking shoespreferably with high boots, because it is a path with many stones.
• Even if the weather is fine, take warm clothes and a waterproof jacket, as the weather is very changeable.
• Take water with you, remember that it is several kilometres and in the summer the sun can be very strong.
• Also remember to bring food, preferably energy food.
• There are many areas of the route where there is no reception, but it never hurts to carry a fully charged mobile phone.

Frequently asked questions

These are some of the most frequently asked questions about the route:

Route of the Cares. Photo: Embee (Pixabay)