Getaways and things to do in Western Coast of Cantabria

The Western Coast of Cantabria stretches roughly 80 kilometres from Santander to the Asturian border. This is the wildest, most Atlantic stretch of the Cantabrian shoreline: flysch and limestone cliffs broken by tidal estuaries (San Vicente, La Rabia, San Martín), long surf beaches open to ocean swell (Oyambre, Merón, Los Locos), and green Saja-Nansa valleys running down to the sea.

Within a few dozen kilometres lies an extraordinary heritage concentration. Santillana del Mar preserves one of Spain's most complete medieval ensembles with its 12th-century Romanesque collegiate church. Just 2 km away, the Cave of Altamira holds 36,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage rock paintings. Comillas surprises with Gaudí's El Capricho, Martorell's Sobrellano Palace and Domènech i Montaner's Pontifical University. San Vicente de la Barquera closes the coast with its medieval castle and views of the Picos de Europa.

Oyambre Natural Park protects 5,758 hectares of beaches, dunes, cliffs and the La Rabia estuary. From Suances to San Vicente, the coast offers surfing, kayaking, horseback rides on the beach, hiking along the GR-E9 and some of the most scenic stages of the Northern Way of St James.