Day 5 * Ruta del Cares

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Morning: Poncebos (hiking parking lot) * Evening: Sotres

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Early in the morning, we pack our backpacks and put on our hiking gear. We park the camper in Poncebos and then we start our adventure for today: The 'Ruta del Cares' – 12 kilometers from Poncebos to Cain through the gorge of Rio Cares. At first, it is very rocky uphill. The vastness is overwhelming. The river is far below, you can hear it rushing. The rugged peaks of the mountains, the 'Picos', and the landscape are so beautiful that we don't know where to look first.

The mountain goats show us what climbing means ... they make fun of us 'amateurs'.

Just before the village of Cain, the gorge narrows, the hiking trail runs closer and closer to Rio Cares. We have to cross dark and wet rock tunnels – a real adventure.

Arriving in Cain, we have a picnic by the river. Bright sunshine! In a cool bar, we treat ourselves to tonic and beer and brownies with ice cream and hot chocolate. ; ) Before we start the 12-kilometer return journey, we cool our feet in the icy cold Rio Cares.

The way back is even more spectacular than the way there: Like a theater backdrop, the Picos and the river are illuminated by the midday sun.

Tired and happy, we arrive in Poncebos in the evening.

Our destination for the night is the mountain village of Sotres. The drive there is just as spectacular as everything else here in the Picos de Europa! Right after dinner with blue cheese and cider, we fall into our beds.