Cantabria: Nature, Charming Villages & More

Want your deal with or without an activity?

This offer comes with two booking options. Here’s what you can choose from:

• Option 1: Hotel + board basis. Perfect if you prefer to enjoy your getaway at your own pace.

• Option 2: Hotel + board basis + activity. Ideal if you want to make the most of your stay and add an extra touch of adventure to your trip.

You decide how to enjoy your holiday. All that’s left is to book and let the experience begin!

The wildest adventure in Cantabria starts at Cabárceno Park!

Cabárceno is far more than a traditional animal park. Here, animals live in semi-freedom across more than 750 hectares of spectacular natural landscapes. It’s one of those places you simply have to experience in person.

What’s included? If you choose this deal with tickets included, get ready for an unforgettable day:

• Full-day access: 1 ticket per person, valid for the day after your arrival.
• Unlimited use of the cable car included: soar above the park and enjoy incredible panoramic views of bears, elephants and many more animals from above.
• Your tickets will be sent by email (to the address used during booking) the day before your visit. Simply show them at the entrance and start your adventure!

Check the opening hours here and make the most of every moment.

Please note that, in order to guarantee your place, once the booking is confirmed, tickets cannot be modified or refunded.

Our experience at Cabárceno Park

We have been there and, honestly, it is a unique place. It is exciting, magical, unpredictable, unique. To see it all without stress, you have to go with strategy. From experience, we share with you our best tips:

Your own car, your best ally: getting around the park is super easy. You drive from one ski area to another, and you will see that the signs are super clear, you will not get lost. The system is great: you drive, park next to the enclosure you are interested in, get out to see the animals and go back to the car to continue to the next point. It's that easy!

Prioritize the adventure and leave the good food for later. The park is immense and time flies. Don't waste hours sitting in a restaurant; our advice is to carry snacks in the car or buy something quick like a sandwich. We recommend eating very early, very late, or snacking during the day. The midday hours (when everyone is seated), are perfect to get closer to the animals and take pictures without stress.

The bird experience:the raptor show is very respectful and educational; watching them fly and understanding how they hunt is a blast. It's one of the top things to do in the park!

Prepare your route!What animals do you want to see? Studio the map before you go, so you'll be sure to see what interests you most. Cabárceno looks small on the map, but the day is shorter than it looks.

The magic moment:getting close to the giraffes and having them a few centimetres away is a memory you will take with you forever. In addition to the most well-known and colorful animals, there are also many other animals, such as deer. You will find a forest area where you will find fawns in absolute freedom, literally crossing in front of your car, it is a wild experience you do not expect. Get your camera ready!

Cinematic perspective: the landscape of Cabárceno is brutal, an old mining site that looks like something out of another planet (giant karst rocks). Please note that you have unlimited access to the cable car: park your car, and climb to the heights! You will be able to pass over the bear enclosure, the elephants? And you will also have access to breathtaking viewpoints. It is a unique experience.

We share some of the photos we took on our last visit, we hope you like them!

Hotel Mirador de Gornazo: your base for discovering Cantabria

Ready to explore Cantabria at your own pace? Hotel Mirador de Gornazo offers a simple, convenient stay in a perfect location for those travelling by car and looking to get around the region with ease.

Located beside the A-67, the hotel offers free car park and easy access to destinations such as Santander and Suances. Santander Airport is also around 17 km away.

The hotel features a restaurant serving local cuisine, a bar, a terrace and a garden, as well as free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour reception. Rooms include a private bathroom and a TV, with family options available.

Guest reviews particularly highlight the friendly staff, comfortable beds, the spaciousness and cleanliness of some rooms, and the convenient location.

Book your holiday and enjoy the freedom to explore Cantabria!

Cabárceno Nature Park, your wild escape in northern Spain

Have you ever imagined a safari without leaving Spain? Cabárceno Nature Park is that extraordinary place where everything feels different. Forget traditional zoos, here animals roam vast landscapes while you explore at your own pace, right from your car.

Why is this experience unforgettable?

Nature in total freedom
Watch elephants wandering across green hills, bears playing among the rocks or even a rhinoceros crossing your path. Everything unfolds naturally, without rush, surrounded by the fresh air of Cantabria.

Adventure from above
Don’t miss the highlight of the visit: the cable car. Glide above the park and take in breathtaking panoramic views that feel straight out of a film.

Comfort and ease
With accessible routes and spacious picnic areas, it’s the perfect plan to disconnect from routine and reconnect with nature in a relaxed way.

The perfect ending to your day

Make your experience even more special with these two irresistible ideas:

• Sweet escape: visit the charming village of Liérganes and enjoy a hot chocolate with traditional sobaos pasiegos.
• Seaside walk: head to Somo Beach and end the day with a peaceful stroll by the Bay of Biscay.

Cabárceno is all about connection, wonder and creating unforgettable wild memories.

Gornazo, a small village in the municipality of Miengo, is a perfect choice for those looking to unwind from the pace of the busiest tourist areas, while enjoying an excellent base for exploring the central coast of Cantabria. Surrounded by green, rural scenery, it retains the calm atmosphere so typical of inland Cantabria.

One of its main attractions is precisely its surroundings. From here you can visit the beaches of the Miengo municipality, where you’ll find golden sands such as Cuchía, Los Caballos, Usgo and Usil, ideal for swapping sightseeing for a few hours by the Cantabrian Sea.

And if you fancy some seaside atmosphere, Suances is another top outing in the area. Stroll by the sea, discover La Concha beach or head to Los Locos, especially popular with surfers.

Furthermore, Gornazo is a great starting point for combining nature, charming villages, Cantabrian cuisine and beach days, without needing to stay in the heart of a tourist resort.

Cantabria is one of northern Spain’s most refreshing escapes, where green mountains meet wild beaches and charming villages feel wonderfully untouched. Set between the Cantabrian Sea and the Picos de Europa, this region is perfect for families and couples who want nature, culture, great food, and a slower pace of travel.

Make sure you visit:

• Santander, Cantabria’s elegant capital, with its bay, seafront promenades, and the beautiful Magdalena Peninsula.
• Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s prettiest medieval villages, with cobbled streets and traditional stone houses.
• Comillas, famous for its Modernist architecture, including Gaudí’s colourful El Capricho.
• Potes, a mountain village surrounded by spectacular landscapes in the Liébana Valley.
• San Vicente de la Barquera, a postcard-perfect fishing town with sea views and the Picos de Europa in the background.

Beaches we think you’ll like:

• El Sardinero Beach in Santander: wide, elegant, and ideal for a classic seaside day.
• Oyambre Beach: surrounded by natural scenery, perfect for long walks and peaceful views.
• Liencres Beach: great for dramatic coastal landscapes, dunes, and sunsets.
• Somo Beach: a favourite for surfing and family beach days.
• La Arnía Beach: a more rugged and scenic spot, ideal for photos and nature lovers.

Family-friendly activities:

• Spend the day at Cabárceno Nature Park, where animals live in large open spaces in a spectacular former mining landscape.
• Take the Fuente Dé Cable Car for unforgettable views of the Picos de Europa.
• Visit the Altamira Museum, a great way to discover prehistoric cave art in an accessible family-friendly setting.
• Walk along Santander’s seafront and enjoy the Magdalena Peninsula.
• Explore easy coastal paths and viewpoints around the Costa Quebrada.

Make sure you try these local delicacies:

• Rabas: crispy fried squid, a Cantabrian classic often enjoyed as an aperitif.
• Cocido lebaniego: a hearty mountain stew from the Liébana area.
• Anchovies from Santoña: one of the region’s most famous gourmet products.
• Sobao pasiego: a soft, buttery sponge cake from the Pasiego Valleys.
• Quesada pasiega: a traditional sweet dessert with a rich, creamy texture.

Make the most of your visit and go to...

• Picos de Europa National Park: ideal for mountain views, hiking, and scenic drives.
• Santillana del Mar and Altamira: a perfect cultural day trip combining history and heritage.
• Comillas: a beautiful coastal town with beaches, palaces, and unique architecture.
• Liébana Valley and Potes: perfect for rural landscapes, local food, and mountain charm.
• El Soplao Cave: an impressive underground visit full of fascinating rock formations.