CABÁRCENO NATURAL PARK

In the village of Obregon, the unusual natural park of Santander is located in an animal park. To reach this small rocky enclave that makes Aboriginal pride, the proposed route describes a loop to the east: at the crossing, the heights of Peña Cabarga deserve a little contemplative stop. From Santander, take the direction of Bilbao (E -70): the road bypasses the bay of Santander, leaving the fébrile activity of the factories and shipyards nestled in the bottom of the cove. After 13 km, take the road that climbs towards Peña Cabarga mountain (4 km of laces). From the top of a viewpoint, we have the most perfect vision of the Cantabrian landscape, shared, or rather torn between its shores and its powerful mass. Continuing the road to the east, we arrive almost immediately in Solares, where you can regain your breath. Santander Park (750 ha) is located about 15 km from Solares by N -634 (direction Sarón-Vargas). A Sarón, turn right: a sign indicates the park. It is located on a high site of iron extraction for two millennia. The physionomie of this gigantic open pit, made of rock pitons from all sides, is as strange as it is fascinating. The park has over species on day-parole (bears, lions, elephants). We appreciate all the beauty from the Alto de Rubí, which is reached by car (parking in front of the lions) and then on foot.