Ruta del Cares from Poncebos to Caín and back

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Closed sections marked 2.3 km from the start (October 2025).

The Ruta del Cares is undoubtedly the most beautiful route in the entire Picos de Europa mountain range, also known as Garganta Divina (Divine Gorge in Spanish).

This path, carved into the rock on the mountainside, overlooks the Rio Cares for more than 10 kilometres. It will take you from Poncebos to Caìn through a breathtakingly beautiful gorge.

N.B. The total elevation gain is overestimated: expect around 700 metres.

Details

n°904478
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.65 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 14h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 9,652 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 9,629 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,739 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 840 ft
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Photos

There are quite a few goats and billy goats on the trail
Barriers preventing passage.
Footbridge
Ruta del Cares

Description of the walk

Park on the small road near La Jaya bridge.

(S/E) Leave the car park and head south-west along the unpaved track. Walk for about 250 metres.

(1) Then turn right and head up the paved path, the Ruta del CaresPR®®-PNPE 3. This is the most difficult part of the route... Continue westwards along the path, which becomes stony.

Pass the ruined building via the winding, stepped path. Reach Los Collados and begin the descent. Leave the Canal del Escalero behind, continue on and cross the Riega del Saigu ford.

(2) Go through the tunnel whilst continuing towards Caìn. Pass La Viña; further on, the path widens for a few dozen metres and runs alongside the canal.

Pass a bridge (Puente Pando) below and, on the right, the Canal de Culiembro. A little further on, there is another bridge (Puente de los Papos) in ruins. Continue through a series of tunnels.

(3) Pass the De Los Martinez footbridge, built following the collapse of a tunnel. About 400 metres further on, you reach the end of the province of Asturias and the start of the province of Castilla y León.

(4) Leave the Canal de Cabrerizas on your right and cross the River Cares via the bridge (Puente Bolin) to reach the right bank. Continue for about 250 metres.

(5) Take the bridge (Puente de los Rebecos) to return to the left bank.

(6) Pass through a long tunnel (a torch may be useful) with large openings, which leads to the Caìn dam. Cross the dam and continue along the right bank.

(7) At Los Pinderos, leave thePR®®-PNPE 3, cross the bridge and turn left towards Caìn.

(8) Start the return journey via the same route.

(7) On leaving Caìn, cross the bridge and follow thePR®®-PNPE 3. Then cross all the bridges and go through all the tunnels you used on the way out, continuing without leaving this path.

Leave Llano de la Sota on your left. Pass El Roblo and begin the climb towards Los Collados, then descend towards Poncebos. As you pass the recycling bins, you can dispose of any rubbish.
Head towards the Pont de la Raya (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 840 ft - Raya Bridge
  2. 1 : mi 0.07 - alt. 843 ft - Start of the paved path
  3. 2 : mi 2.63 - alt. 1,427 ft - Tunnel
  4. 3 : mi 3.92 - alt. 1,358 ft - Los Martinez Footbridge
  5. 4 : mi 4.99 - alt. 1,529 ft - Puente Bolin
  6. 5 : mi 5.22 - alt. 1,493 ft - Puente de los Rebecos
  7. 6 : mi 5.55 - alt. 1,549 ft - Long tunnel
  8. 7 : mi 6.02 - alt. 1,509 ft - Los Pindéros - Bridge
  9. 8 : mi 6.33 - alt. 1,509 ft - Caìn
  10. S/E : mi 12.65 - alt. 843 ft - Raya Bridge

Notes

Warning! You must remain very vigilant on this hike, especially if you are accompanied by children. This path runs alongside a precipice and has no safety barriers.

Watch out for goats grazing above you; they can cause rockfalls. In the late afternoon, goats swarm the path to reach the valley.

An easy route except for the first two kilometres, which have an elevation gain of around 250 metres. Do not rely on the elevation profile (on this steep terrain, the elevation differences have been overestimated); in reality, the total ascent is around 700 metres.
Allow 6½ hours for the round trip, plus time for your breaks.

Make sure you bring plenty of water; there is no drinking water along the route. On the way back, you can fill your water bottles in Caïn

Avoid July, August, Holy Week and long weekends. You have been warned!

This route takes you from Poncebos to Caïn; at both ends you’ll find bars, restaurants and hotels.

If this hike appeals to you but a distance of 22 kilometres seems too long, you can take a shuttle from Poncebos to Caïn, from where you simply need to return to Poncebos via the Ruta del Cares, a 11-kilometre walk in the easiest direction. Allow for around €35 and a two- to two-and-a-half-hour journey. For the shuttle, check before you set off.

Worth a visit

In Cain, try the Crema de Queso (cream cheese made from cow's and goat's milk).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Sylvain64
Sylvain64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It’s a very popular route, of course, because it’s fairly easy, poses no real danger and is set in stunning surroundings! So you need to set off very early, especially on hot days, as some sections are exposed to the sun. Well worth a go.

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Durand-Omarjee
Durand-Omarjee

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We completed this round-trip walk in 5 hours, including stops for photos and a picnic
The description of the walk is spot on
The views of the canyon, which is very narrow in places, are spectacular
Contrary to what we’d been told, there’s a water tap along the route and a place to eat in Cain

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ana cristina
ana cristina

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk through beautiful gorges with breathtaking views. We set off from Poncebos and arrived in Cain. We did a round trip.

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Dom et Vero
Dom et Vero

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

You need to arrive early to find a parking space easily. The climb is a bit long at the start but manageable at your own pace, especially as it was hot. And then, once you catch sight of the route along the cliffs, it’s magnificent and almost flat all the way. At the end of the route there are picnic tables by the river – it’s very pleasant. Alternatively, if you don’t want to carry a lot, there are plenty of places to eat there.

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craco.35
craco.35

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is extraordinary! But... due to fires and landslides, it is closed 2.3 km from the start in Pôncebos. There is a sign indicating this at the start. Two barriers prevent you from continuing. For how long? Some people cross these barriers at their own risk.

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Thierry et Claudine
Thierry et Claudine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An exceptional hike. A little difficult at the start, then mainly flat. A beautiful site. Caution for those prone to vertigo, but the path is wide enough to move away from the edge. Also be aware that it is 12 km there and 12 km back. Park at Las Arenas and take the bus for £3/person return. It will take you to the start of the hike.
Not to be missed.

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BrunoFlyman
BrunoFlyman
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike (one of the most beautiful we have done in Spain, along with Congost de Montrebey), but we did a round trip starting from Cain because we were coming from the south. This is not a bad idea, as the main climb is halfway along the route in this case.

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Tatananou
Tatananou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We set off against the current from Cain... unfortunately only a short way, as the weather was unfavourable and we quickly turned back! We will return, hoping for better weather

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Olivier-rlv
Olivier-rlv

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The walk should be done from Cain to Poncebos, if it fits into your trip to the Picos de Europa.
For a shorter stay, start in Poncebos, which is 30 minutes from the motorway exit.
Also take the walk to the Enol and Ercina lakes.
And again, if you have time, go to Fuente Dé, take the cable car up and walk down - 4 hours.
You can skip the Bulnes funicular.

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jeje0208
jeje0208

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike with lots of people at this time of year

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longinus42530
longinus42530

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A walk that is perfectly accessible for good walkers; there were also children present
Do not take into account the advertised duration and elevation gain
We did the Poncebos-Cain section in 3 hours (steep climb at the start, closer to 700 m elevation gain)
The same for the return trip
Very crowded in August

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello Philou, thank you for your comments.

There is a "recalculate elevation gain" function: I just activated it and the elevation gain went from 3,458 to 1,800 metres...

That's still far too much, but the author took care to write in bold in the introduction that the elevation gain was overestimated. He suggests around 700 m.

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Philou.47
Philou.47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking enthusiasts, you won't be climbing Pic d'Aneto, as the 3,548 m elevation gain is PARISH SPECIFIC TO BRITTAIN...
For this hike, you should expect an elevation gain of around 450 metres...

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Aquacyclopode
Aquacyclopode

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

There are many hikers on this trail. It's a pleasant walk. You really must go to the village of Cain, which is worth visiting for its scenery and refreshments. Note that the first part is quite steep and can be difficult in hot weather. The solution: set off at dawn (fewer people and cooler temperatures).

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perpat1960
perpat1960

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

very long hike: 3 hours 15 minutes one way, so allow 6 hours 30 minutes for the round trip.
you need to set off early; around 8 a.m. is good because in the afternoon the weather becomes overcast with a risk of rain or thunderstorms.
there is no water on the trail and no shade
otherwise, the best part is at the end, with footbridges and a tunnel
it gets very busy in the afternoon

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