Where you’ll be
View the area on the map
What's included?
This deal includes
- Hotel Bezana Lago 3*, Santa Cruz de Bezana, located in Santander.
- Available with Breakfast.
- Available WITH or WITHOUT 1 full-day ticket to Cabárceno Park, including the cable car, per person and booking.
Your holiday, step by step
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.
Activities
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!
Your perfect stay
Hotel Bezana Lago: your easy base for exploring Cantabria
The train to Santander leaves almost from the door. Hotel Bezana Lago, in Santa Cruz de Bezana, puts you just minutes from the city by car or train, with the Cantabrian coast close at hand.
In around five minutes you reach Costa Quebrada, with beaches such as Liencres, Portio, Covachos and Arnia and breathtaking cliffs. If you feel like exploring further, the train station next to the hotel also takes you to Torrelavega or Cabezón de la Sal.
Back at the hotel, 39 rooms await with private bathroom, TV, safe and Wi-Fi, including triple and quadruple rooms for families and groups. The dining room, the bar and a team whose friendly service guests often praise round off your stay.
Few hotels make it this easy to combine Santander and the beach without relying on a car. Book your getaway and discover Cantabria at your own pace.
Why this destination is a must-visit
Discover Santa Cruz de Bezana, Cantabria's hidden coastal gem!
Discover one of the best-kept secrets of the Santander metropolitan area, a destination that combines the tranquillity of the Cantabrian coast with the convenience of being just a stone's throw from the city.
Why choose Santa Cruz de Bezana?
- Gateway to the Costa Quebrada: Explore breathtaking landscapes sculpted by the Cantabrian Sea, dramatic cliffs and spectacular rocky islets within a UNESCO Global Geopark.
- Charming Beaches: Unwind on beautiful beaches such as San Juan de la Canal, famous for its nautical atmosphere, traditional bonfires and historic tidal mills.
- Hiking and Outdoor Adventures: Discover scenic coastal trails, capture unforgettable sunsets or enjoy exciting water activities.
- The Perfect Location: Enjoy the best of Santander's gastronomy and culture while staying in a peaceful natural setting.
Your perfect Cantabrian getaway starts here! Book your stay and experience the magic of the Costa Quebrada.
Santander is one of northern Spain's most elegant seaside cities. Set on the Cantabrian coast, it wraps around a wide, sheltered bay framed by green hills, with golden beaches, grand Belle Époque buildings and a relaxed pace that makes it easy to explore on foot. It has the charm of a classic summer resort, with a lively centre and excellent food to match.
It's a great choice for couples looking for a laid-back break by the sea, and just as good for families: short distances, calm beaches and plenty of open space mean everyone gets something out of the day.
Make sure you visit:
Start on the Magdalena Peninsula, where the Palacio de la Magdalena, a former summer residence of the Spanish royal family, sits on a headland surrounded by gardens and sea views. It's lovely in the morning, before the crowds arrive.
From there, follow the seafront back towards the centre along the Paseo de Pereda, lined with handsome old buildings and cafés. At the end you'll reach the Centro Botín, a striking art centre that seems to float over the bay, with terraces that offer some of the best views in town. Finish in the old quarter around the cathedral, where the squares and tapas bars fill up in the early evening.
Beaches we think you'll like:
El Sardinero is the city's best-known beach: long, wide and backed by elegant buildings, it's ideal for full days by the sea. For calmer water, head to La Magdalena, a sheltered beach at the foot of the peninsula that's a favourite with families.
Los Peligros, small and central, is perfect for a quick swim between visits, while Mataleñas feels wilder, tucked into a cove beside the coastal paths near Cabo Mayor.
Family-friendly activities:
A morning on the Magdalena Peninsula keeps children happy, with open lawns to run around on and a mini zoo by the shore. After lunch, visit the Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico, where the sea comes to life through aquariums and boats, or hop on a boat trip across the bay to see the city from the water.
If you have a full day, Cabárceno Nature Park is a real highlight: animals from five continents roam in a spectacular landscape of old mines, just outside the city.
Local delicacies you have to try:
Food in Santander is all about the sea. Do as the locals do and order a plate of rabas, crispy fried squid, with a vermouth at a bar near the port, or try the anchovies from nearby Santoña. When the weather turns cooler, a cocido montañés, the hearty Cantabrian bean and meat stew, is pure comfort.
For dessert, look for sobaos and quesada pasiega, two buttery local treats that also make great souvenirs.
Make the most of your visit:
Santander is a perfect base for exploring Cantabria. These are our favourite trips within easy reach:
- Santillana del Mar (30 minutes): a beautifully preserved medieval village.
- Comillas (40 minutes): modernist architecture and seaside charm.
- Cabárceno Nature Park (25 minutes): ideal for families and nature lovers.
- Suances (35 minutes): a relaxed coastal town with lovely beaches.
