The limestone massif of the Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe) are part of the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain. It extends over parts of the autonomous communities of Asturias, Castile-Leon and Cantabria. The Picos de Europa National Park has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2003.
The highest peaks of the mountains are the Torre de Cerredo with 2648 m and the Naranjo de Bulnes with 2518 m. Even if these "peaks of Europe" are not among the highest mountains in Europe, they were at a distance of only 20 kilometers from the sea coast but the elevations that Spanish sailors saw first when they returned from their voyages by ship.
Well known is the impressive Parador Hotel called Fuente De, which is in an excellent location and invites you to hike up to the climbable peaks.
A cable car takes you from this place to 1,823 meters. From here we hiked the challenging Ruta Horcados Rojos in a northwesterly direction to the "Red Peaks" with a view of the Peña Vieja. You finally get to the viewpoint Horcados Rojo in the middle of the Picos.
The distance there and back is about 12 kilometers with a difference in altitude of 780 meters.
