Ponga Natural Park 2-day hike in autumn

Explore the scenic Ponga Natural Park, in the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains, in a 2-day trekking trip along with AEGM-certified mountain guide Ruben.

Cordillère Cantabrique

2 Days

Oct

Intermediate

Description

The Ponga Natural Park is a reserve of about 20,000 hectares, located in the Asturian council of Ponga, in the central-eastern region of the Cantabrian Mountain Range (2,648m). It lays between the Redes Natural Park and the Picos de Europa National Park, offering amazing views to them.

Ponga Natural Park is an isolated mountain area mainly covered by dense beech forests, as well as by woods of yew, oak, birch, maple, alder, and chestnut. It comprises the famous Peloño Nature Reserve, one of the most beautiful beech wooded masses in the Principality of Asturias. It stretches over 15km2, containing about 200,000 trees. The area hosts the largest amount of typical alpine Asturian species, such as the brown bear, deer, roe deer, chamois, wild boar, otter, muskrat, golden eagle, griffon and Egyptian vulture, goshawks, Cantabrian capercaillie, and black woodpecker.

During the tour, we will travel a total distance of 24 kilometers, with a 1,790-meter ascent. We will meet at the City Hall Square of the parish of San Juan de Beleño, Ponga’s capital, and begin the tour from the Les Bedules gazer. During two days, we will hike across Ponga Natural Park’s valleys, rivers and steep hills, enjoying stunning views. If we are lucky, we might even see some fascinating local wildlife along the way!

Accommodation will be in the medieval farmhouse of Ventaniella (1,158m), located close to the Asturian village of Sobrefoz, almost on the border between Asturias and the province of Leon. These ancient shelters used to serve as refuges for people traveling long days across the Cantabrian Mountains and for cattle. Please note that Ventaniella does not provide any bedding service, so you will need to bring your own sleeping bag.

I will take groups of a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 on this tour. Below you will find a detailed itinerary. However, please note that this can be slightly adjusted depending on the weather conditions, as well as on Ventaniella’s availability.

Join this fascinating getaway in the heart of the Cantabrian Mountains! Book your trip now.

In case you are interested in a longer hike, I also offer a 5-day trekking tour in Ponga Natural Park, which includes ascents to a few iconic peaks in the area. If you would like to learn about other similar outings in the area, check out the 5-day program in Picos de Europa National Park and the Redes Natural Park fall trek in 3 days.

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Personal insurance

Price details

Please note that the price includes: VAT, full-board accommodation during 1 night at the Ventaniella hut (breakfast, dinner and picnic included), accident insurance, and group safety gear. However, the price doesn’t include transportation.

Itinerary

Day 1: Peloño Natural Reserve - Ventaniella refuge

We will depart from Les Bedules gazer to the Peloño Nature Reserve. We will then head to the Ventaniella refuge (1,158m), where we will spend the night.

Distance: 13km

Ramp: +870m -870m

Day 2: Arcenorio glacial valley

From Ventaniella, we will hike along the Les Arriondes pass, between the Peña Ten (2,142m) and Peña Pileñes (2,012m) peaks, and descend through the Arcenorio glacial valley. We will visit a hermitage (1,500m), which serves as a traditional pilgrimage site that every year hosts the highest fair in Asturias, attended by locals and visitors, where livestock, as well as agricultural and handcraft local products, were historically sold. We will then return to Ventaniella via the same route.

Distance: 11km

Ramp: +920m -920m

Details

More info

You need to bring your own sleeping bag.

Meeting point

San Juan de Beleño’s City Hall Square (Asturias, Spain)

About the guide

Ruben

5.0

(2)

Mountain Leader

Hello!! My name is Rubén Cuesta Valparís and I am a Mountain Guide with official certification and AEGM-UIMLA accreditation (Member Number 913). I have extensive experience in mountain ranges around the world, from the Picos de Europa, my base and school, through the Pyrenees, the Alps, Patagonia, the Himalayas.

I love mountains and nature in general and from my experience and supported by my training, I like to enjoy them and make my clients enjoy them as much as I do, giving them the security they need to perform the activity they want, interpreting the landscape , flora, fauna, ethnography, and promoting respect for nature and the environment where activities take place. I speak Spanish and English.

From my company, Picos Outdoor, we organize activities of hiking, trekking, mountaineering, orientation, etc. and we offer introductory and specialization training courses (can be for groups and individuals) related to all the above.

Languages

English

Certificates

AEGM | UIMLA

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