About the destination
Somiedo is a Natural park, a Biosphere Reserve and one of the most valuable protected areas in the Cantabrian Mountains, Asturias. Its high degree of conservation and the diversity of ecosystems, create unique environmental conditions and a vast array of landscapes perfect for ecotourism.
The area is made up of 5 large glacial valleys descending from 2,194 to 300 metres: Saliencia, Valle de Lago, El Puerto, Perlunes and Pigüeña. There are also four large lakes and almost twenty smaller lakes and lagoons, as well as wide prairies and limestone pastures. Somiedo is home of the Cantabrian brown bear, and you will be able to follow their tracks responsibly with our certified guides and tours.
Over centuries, transhumance has been practised widely in the region. In the Ecomuseum of Somiedo you will learn about the long-distance transhumance with flocks of sheep, the medium-distance one with the Vaqueiros de Alzada and the short-distance one between the towns and the brañas (shepherds huts). Another singularity in this aspect are the Teitos, or vegetable-covered huts with different uses according to the human needs in the different moments of history.
Ecotourism experiences
In the Natural Park of Somiedo there are living traditions that you can only discover with local hosts. The last Molino de Teito is one of them. If you visit this place, you will learn the peculiarities of the teito (vegetable roofs) in a restored mill that still grinds flour with the impulse of the nearby river’s waters.
Somiedo is also an exciting destination for walking lovers and the best way to learn about the geology, wildlife and biodiversity of the area is with our certified guides. Some of the most impressive routes are in Braña de Sousa or in Lago del Valle, where a circular walking route is the star of the show.
Make sure you ask your ecotourism accommodation provider to prepare you a local produce lunch box for your walking experiences!
For further information and bookings
You can live this experience together with our local ecotourism host. Please enquire to GenuineSpain on WhatsApp +34 677 658 595 or by email at info@genuinespain.es to check availability and your preferred dates.
This experience is part of the 2022 Ecotourism Escapes Brochure (only in Spanish)
The Ecotourism Club in Spain groups together destinations and companies which guarantee, by fulfilling a series of requirements, their commitment to conservation and local sustainable development. That is why it has created its own brand “Ecotourist in Spain” and the website www.ecotouristinspain.com, where you can find protected areas, accommodation and companies which offer their tourism services, as well as experiences and activities committed to the preservation of the area in which they take place.
