Peaks, Valleys and Lakes of Somiedo

From October 3rd to 5th, we will explore one of the best-preserved mountains in northern Spain, a Biosphere Reserve where we can still observe the elusive European Brown Bear.

Day 1 – October 3rd
We leave Porto with light hearts and the entire road ahead of us towards one of the wildest and most authentic places in Asturias. Midway through the journey, we stop for a relaxing meal, the kind that prepares you for what comes next: mountains, silence, and the feeling of entering a different rhythm. We continue to Pola de Somiedo, where we begin to explore this paradise with a short walk to stretch our legs and experience the colors and energy of the park for the first time. We take the opportunity to visit the Interpretive Center of the Somiedo Natural Park, to immerse ourselves in the history, fauna and flora, and magic of this protected territory. With our spirits already aligned with the mountains, we continue to our accommodation in Valle de Lago where we end the day with our welcome dinner.

Trail: “Discovering Pola de Somiedo”; Distance: 4km; Elevation gain: 50m; Difficulty: 1

Day 2 – October 4th
The morning starts early with that special vibe of someone who has a great day in the mountains ahead. We head towards the heart of the Natural Park, crossing ancient mountain paths, silent valleys, and trails where the mountain dictates the rhythm. The trail leads us to gain altitude step by step, until we reach the giants of the day: Pico Cuetalbo and Peña Orniz, both above 2000 meters. Two colossi that pull us by the legs, by the breath, and by the will, and which, in return, offer us the sensation of reaching the top of a world that still remains wild and unaltered. Up there, the wind changes, the silence weighs heavily, and the view opens up like a prize. It is Somiedo in its purest, vastest, most rugged, and most beautiful state. The descent returns us to the valley, and that's when the day ends perfectly: the views over Valle de Lago and its glacial lake, a scene that seems painted, where the light spreads across the slopes and everything becomes calmer, more expansive, more ours. It's a demanding, technical, memorable route, one of those that will be forever etched in the memories of those who experience it.

Trail: “Picos de Somiedo”; Distance: 22km; Elevation gain: 1000m; Difficulty: 4

Day 3 – 5 October

After the epic conquest of the previous day, we woke up with tired bodies… but with full souls. This is the day when Somiedo embraces us slowly, as if saying: “Stay a little longer.” We followed a lighter route, but full of beauty, with the path winding through tranquil valleys, high-altitude pastures, and slopes where the silence seems to have weight. At every turn, the landscape opens up more until, suddenly, one of the park's greatest treasures appears: the Saliencia Lakes. Mirrors of crystal-clear water surrounded by imposing mountains, colors that change with the light, that scenery that makes anyone stop, take a deep breath, and feel that they are in a truly special place. It's the perfect ending to our adventure, the feeling that Somiedo gave us a little bit of everything and the idea that this day is not a farewell, but rather a promise to return.

Trail: “Lagos de Saliencia”; Distance: 10km; Elevation gain: 450m; Difficulty: 3