Picos de Europa National Park

SPECIAL HOTEL REFUGIO DE ALIVA – Hotel 3 ***

Trips From 3 days. For groups and individuals Reference: A3X

Technical Specifications.

The Picos de Europa were first called RUPES EUROPEAE by Lucino Marino Sáculo, then Ambrosio Morales named them Montañas de Europa (Europe Mountains) in the 16th century and once and for all they were baptised Picos de Europa by both the Count of Saint Saud and his chaperone Paul Labrouche at the end of the 19th century.

It's rumoured that the origin of the name Picos de Europa is owing to the fact that they are the first visible shape of Europe from the sea.

“ Picos de Europa is one of the favourite places chosen by the people who have a special interest in hiking so they decide to spend their summer holiday there. The reason for their choice is very simple: nature, tradition and good

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services get together in order to transform these mountains into one of our country’s most pleasant places or, I even dare say, one of Europe's best spots”

“The high peaks are guarded by three strange and mysterious forces; three powers granted by the gods of Nature to the mountains so they can keep both intact and free”

Thanks to the altitude, the tops of the mountains are still wild and look unreachable. Also the inhospitable and unpredictable weather phenomena in this area take part into this cursed dance that instils worry into undecided mountaineers.

The Arab invasion finished upon defeat in Covadonga and the territory preserved by the Christians became the Kingdom of Asturias. Then Liébana was the core of this geographical area. Nevertheless, keeping at bay the historical controversy on whether the historical feats recounted that took place are either of Asturian or Cantabrian origin, Liébana would become, throughout the years, the actual scene of political, cultural and religious development of the New Kingdom.

Liébana looks like a big circus; sheltered by peaks over 2,500 metres. Talking about its characteristic relief, it is worth to mention that in its southern area there are slate and sandstone while the rest of the region is full of big limestone massifs which shape both the Central and Oriental massifs of Picos de Europa. In the middle of these spectacular mountains there are four valleys converging in the capital, Potes.

The Picos de Europa National Park occupies an area of about 700 km2 belonging to Cantabria, Asturias and Castilla y León. This nature park is made of impressive massive limestone mounds across which the rivers Deva, Duje, Cares and Sella and their tributaries flow. The Picos are divided into three massifs clearly differentiated; The Oriental one (Ándara), the Central Massif (the one having the highest peaks: Peña Vieja, Pico Tesorero, Bulnes) and finally the Occidental Massif.

In the high mountain, when the snow thaws, we can see numerous pastures, one of which is the gorge of Áliva where the shepherds take their herds of cows, sheep and horses. There they graze in the open air during the whole summer till the first snowfalls in the autumn. The 3-star Hotel Refugio de Áliva is located in the middle of this amazing place, at 1,660 metres above the sea level. Once this building used to be an ancient mountain shelter transformed into a wonderful hotel, therefore this is a unique experience to get to know this National Park. In addition, this is the only accommodation in the National park located at such a high altitude. For all these reasons, this is an ideal place, not only to walk, but also to unwind and have a rest.

In addition to all the common facilities found in a 3-star hotel, the rich local cuisine is carefully prepared.

You have to different ways to get to this hotel; either by cable-car (departing from Fuente Dé) then walking for 20 minutes until you get to the hotel or by 4x4 (departing from Espinama) which should have previously hired

We include a 3-day stay (two nights), but this period can be extended as many days as the client wishes.

ESQUEMA DE PROGRAMA DAY BREAKFAST MORNING LUNCH TIME AFTERNOON SNACK BREAK DINNER ACCOMMODATION 1 - - - - - In the Hotel accommodation 2 In the Visit o Pic-nic or Visit o hiking In the In the Hotel accommodatio hiking restaurant accommodatio accommodatio 3 In the Visit o Pic-nic or Visit o hiking In the - - accommodatio hiking restaurant accommodatio

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ROUTE

1st Day From Santander airport to Áliva Transfer from Santander airport to the Hotel Refugio de Áliva. Meals included: dinner and accommodation. In the afternoon we suggest the first hiking route through the Puertos de Áliva and the surroundings of the ancient mines. We will also have the chance to see Chalet Real, an old shelter where King Alphonse XIII used to stay during his hunting days.

2nd Day Ruta del Cares Buffet-Breakfast. Today we will travel by car 4x4 to the area of Caín where we will start the famous route of El Cares. This is, undoubtedly, the most popular excursion in the Cordillera and one of Spain's most highly travelled ones. Over 200,000 hikers per year have been counted up lately. Throughout the 9 km-long gorge linking Caín to Puente Poncebos, big canals break through in the high mountains, thus shaping the gorge. The pathway is crossed by a number of tunnels. This place holds a strong attraction for any lover of nature from any corner of the world since it is perfect thanks to its spectacular beauty and the comfort of the trip. Meals included: buffet-breakfast, picnic, afternoon snack and dinner.

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3rd Day Route Horcados Rojos Buffet-breakfast. This is one of the most accessible trips around Picos de Europa. Our way will follow the basis of the huge walls which make up the buttresses of mount Peña Vieja; hence we will have to zigzag across quite often until we reach La Torre de Horcados Rojos. From there we will have the chance to observe both the impressive descent leading to Jou de los Boches and Picu Urriellu (Naranco de Bulnes) in the background. Both the popular shelter Cabaña Verónica and Pico de Santa Ana are located on the right. Then we will start our way back. A picnic meal. Arrival in the hotel. End of the scheduled planning.

Price per person in a double room: 330€

• Children under 12 : Please Ask • For individual reservations : 1 person Please Ask • For groups of a number of people other than the ones aforementioned: Please Ask

The program includes:

• 2 buffet-breakfasts: 2 picnics including the following ( a sandwich, chocolate bar, a fruit, water or a soft drink); 2 afternoon snacks ( coffee, tea with biscuits or cake); 2 dinners • Transfer from Santander airport to the accommodation in Áliva and the last day transfer back to Santander airport. • Accommodation • Health and Accident Insurance according with the cover extract set forth at the end of the current program. • A PERSON WHO WILL ACCOMPANY THE CLIENTS IN THE COURSE OF THE ROUTES

The program does not include:

• Fuente-Dé cable-car tickets: Two-way ticket fare: 12 € for Adults, children (aged 6 to 12) 5 €. one-way ticket fare is: 7€ for Adults, 3 € for children aged 6 to 12. • Excursions or optional activities. • Every service which is not listed in the program. • Extra expenses incurred in the accommodation e.g. drinks, phone calls, mini-bar, laundry service, etc...

Possible dates for the scheduled trips: The date depends on the hotel opening dates, usually from April to October. Note that the hotel is closed throughout the winter season.

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Remarks:

Who can make this type of trip? The answer is quite simple because these programs are open to everybody. The routes are considered as EASY; consequently our trips are unlimited. In fact, it is normal to meet any kind of person on these routes. Nevertheless we must insist that the travellers themselves must assume the decision to carry out the activities planned in the program moreover this awareness will exempt us from any unexpected event; however we think that the most important thing is the cheerfulness, the happiness and the spirit to enjoy a place that is unique in the world.

When do our trips take place?

This trip can be made only when the hotel is open, usually from April to October.

How to get there?

Santander is the capital of the region of Cantabria and also represents the best communication hub to get to Picos de Europa National Park where our activities take place.

The Santander airport is currently operated by the following airlines: Ryanair, Iberia and Air Nostrum with flights to the following destinations: Madrid- Barcelona- Alicante- Valencia- Seville- Las Palmas- Tenerife- Lanzarote- London-Dublin- Frankfurt- Rome- Pisa- Bergamo- Brussels.

Brittany F. / Santander-Plymouth.

By railway, Santander is presently linked to the rest of Spain.

If you travel to Santander by plane, note that the airport has a regular bus service which links the airport to the bus station. There you can take a bus to Potes twice a day and also to the other counties where most of our accommodations are located.

It's good to know that the bus timetable and the time frequency schedule are limited; furthermore subject to variations depending on both the seasons and the weekdays; therefore we suggest that you send us an email requesting information for a day in particular.

Note that you can also rent at car without driver both at the airport and at the train station.

If you arrive in Bilbao, it is good to know that there is a regular bus service to Santander in the town centre. There is also a train departing from Bilbao, but this option is a lot less practical because it is slower and less frequent. Either of those transport means departing from Bilbao will arrive in Santander train or bus stations.

The cost of a transfer by car from Bilbao (with a driver) is 100€ / a trip (4 people maximum)

In case of groups over 4 people, please ask

Also...

• Request a quotation either for individual reservations or for private groups • Bilingual guides (Spanish-English) on request.

To join us it is necessary:

• A photocopy of your ID card or passport (in case you are not Spanish)

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• Deposit of 20% upon confirmation of your reservation. • The remaining amount must be settled 30 days before arrival, but this clause may vary according to the season in which the activity is intended to be carried out. • The contract duly signed will be issued along with the confirmation. • All the data shown in this program are subject to the General Terms and Conditions set forth by our company and present on our website.

List of the suggested personal kit:

Regardless of the season, we suggest that you should be appropriately prepared for weather conditions because we will hike across areas that are located in in middle and high-mountain terrains

• A 50-litre capacity backpack • Synthetic underwear • A long-sleeved shirt • A cotton shirt • Trekking trousers • Fleece Jacket • A thick hooded or similar jacket • A pair of leggings • A pair of gloves • Thick socks made of fleece fibre or wool (2 pairs) • Thin synthetic socks (2 pairs) • Trekking shoes or boots • A scarf for your neck • Wool or fleece balaclava • wool or fleece cap • Cap for the sun • sunglasses with UV filter for high solar radiation (1 pair) • Sun cream protector • The kit of toiletries must be reduced to the minimum necessary • Torch with batteries • Trekking sticks • Own necessary medicines.

Pay attention to the following notes:

The prices listed here are the off-peak prices provided by each of the accommodations suggested; hence any client shall confirm every price after request. Thus the client will decide whether to accept or not the proposal. In case any client decides not to confirm their trip, they will not have to pay for anything.

• The client waives any claim or complaint against the company. The accommodations offered will be listed on the Internet so the client will be able to check the latter. • Any change, alteration of the foreign currency, number of travellers or provider fees that should happen before the departure day may vary the budget previously estimated. • Moreover the accommodation is subject to availability. • Any increase in the services rendered by the Organization once the trip has started, shall be approved by our Organization and paid in full by the client before any of the activities involved are carried out. • This quotation, its carrying out or cancellation are submitted to the law in force the text of which is available in our offices at the client's disposal. • In some accommodations the client might be asked to leave either at credit card or an amount of money, as a deposit, as a precaution against extra expenses the client may incur and also in case of damage to the hotel. If no damage or extra expense is incurred the client will be fully refunded at the moment of the departure. • In case our company should have to leave a special deposit in order to ensure the reservation of a service, the

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client will be then requested to settle the amount aforementioned as soon as our company is asked to do so by the provider. In this event, the amount to be deposited is other than the one already left. • If you consider you have health problems, please inform us if necessary. • In case of travelling with children, it is obligatory to communicate both their names and age. • If any change or the eventual cancellation of the scheduled plan should happen, we will immediately contact you by using the information provided at moment of making the reservation with us (by phone, email or fax). It's the responsibility of the client to warn us about any changes of contact data, including email address. Likewise it is the responsibility of the holder of the reservation to warn the other individuals registered on his/her behalf about the changes or cancellation which may occur. • As an intermediary company between the travellers and the persons or companies requested to render a service whatsoever, we accept no responsibility for any deficiency, damage, delays or any irregularity that may happen during the process. The company reserves the right to either alter, cancel or bring forward the date of the return trip in case of unforeseeable circumstances resulting from such force majeure event. • Once the client has signed the travel contract with us, he or she will assume to be aware of the risks attached to this type of trip which may involve both physical and circumstantial difficulties such as weather conditions, political trouble, etc; Thus we will be exempted from any liabilities for any claim, complaint or lawsuit as a result of the circumstances or services that are not comprised in the program hereby.

REGULATIONS ON THE BEHAVIOUR DURING THE TREKKINGS AND ADVENTURE TRIPS

• All the travellers shall commit to both respecting and complying with the established terms and conditions: schedule timetable, road-books, order of the members of the group, schedule, stops, etc.. • During the stages, all of the members belonging to the group shall respect the pre-established order without dissociating from the group except when the staff responsible for the trip allows any alteration. • Any person who intends to momentarily leave the group is constrained to communicate it to the staff in charge of the group who will determine the most suitable procedure. • The organizers may decide whether a member has to leave the group for various reasons such as: neglecting the regulations on the behaviour, putting oneself or any other member at risk, endangering the achievement of the scheduled program, behaving in an openly unsympathetic to the group or to any member in particular. • Any expense caused by the expulsion of a member duly determined either by the Organization or by any of the members of the staff responsible for the group will be entirely to the account of the member expelled from the group. • Games of chance involving money gambling as well as alcohol consumption which is not controlled by the Organization or the consumption of any other substance that may cause damage to the health of any of the members are strictly forbidden. • The Organization is represented by the person responsible for the scheduled program: alterations of the route plan, unexpected changes. • The Organization shall not be held responsible for any effect derived from the irresponsible activities carried out by any of the participating members. • The travellers assume and accept the content held within the GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS stipulated by the Organizer which are delivered to the customer at time of making the reservation.

All the data and information contained in the SPECIFICATIONS OF THE TRIP are furthermore subject to the General Terms And Conditions undertaken by our company and published on our website. The details of the route as well as the information held in these specifications are drawn up a long time beforehand on the basis of budgets and information in particular the aim of which is to inform the client about the main details of the trip they wish; therefore these specifications should be taken into account only as a rough guide to the basis of the scheduled program, but they may always be subject to alterations. At time of contracting the trip, the client must enquire about the reservations and specific prices. In addition, the client is requested to compulsorily check the definitive route and will have to sign the corresponding combined travel contract issued by the agency

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