Tuesday 30th June: A relaxing mid-morning departure as we travel south to Portsmouth
to board the Brittany Ferries cruise ferry to Santander. Relax and enjoy a night on board
ship. Enjoy award winning service and top-class facilities, including a choice of restaurants,
stylish lounges and comfortable cabins.
Wednesday 1st July: We arrive in Santander early evening and make the short drive to
Isla. Enjoy a welcome drink and appetisers before dinner.
Thursday 2nd: Morning free in Isla to explore your local surroundings, take a walk along
the beautiful beach or perhaps a stroll along the promenade to the town centre. In the
afternoon we take the short 15 minute journey to the neighbouring resort of Noja.
Friday 3rd: This morning we head west to the pretty medieval village of Santillana del Mar
where we spend time at leisure exploring its cobbled streets. We enjoy a lunch stop at the
visitor centre at the Altamira Caves, which boast a spectacular reconstruction of its famous
pre-historic cave paintings. In the afternoon, we continue to Comillas which is home to
some of the most important art nouveau buildings in Cantabria.
Saturday 4th: Today we head east to the fishing village of Castro Urdiales, also known as
Flavióbriga after the Roman settlement which stood here. We return via the coastal
villages of Laredo and Santona where we take a short boat trip around the bay and
marshes.
Sunday 5th: Our final full day excursion taking us through the Hermida Gorge alongside
rushing rivers to the Picos de Europa National Park's Visitor Centre near the town of Potes
in the heart of the stunning mountain range known as “little Switzerland in Spain”. From
here we continue to Fuentes De where there will be time for lunch or to travel on the
spectacular cable car ride that allows you to experience the magnificent views from the
heights of this mountain range. (Cable car not included)
Monday 6th: We leave Isla after breakfast and return to Santander with time to explore
before boarding the afternoon sailing back to the UK.
Tuesday 7th: Arriving back into Portsmouth mid-afternoon we continue our homeward
journey.
NB: EU Health Insurance Card recommended