The Cares Route
- Cabrales Eastern Asturias
- Distance: 23,7 kms
- Difficulty: Half
- Code: PR229/PNPE3
- Altitude: 746 m.
- Unevenness: 335 m.
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On foot:
6 h. 15 min.
Round trip
- Start point: Poncebos
- Tour type: Round trip
- Layout of the route: Download kml, Download gpx
Info
To do the Cares Route from the Asturian side, you have to reach the village of Poncebos. This is a mountain route with additional risks that are not directly related to the slope or the level of difficulty: falling stones, polished surfaces that become dangerous in the rain, precipices, other orographic features and little or no mobile phone coverage. For all these reasons, it is essential to be cautious and foresighted.
The route is about 24 kilometres (outward and return). To complete it, it is necessary to be well equipped with suitable footwear, warm and waterproof clothing (both in winter and summer, as the weather can change at any time), a mobile phone, sun protection, a drink and some food (nuts, chocolate bars, etc.).
If you are travelling with children, although it is not forbidden to take them, it is advisable for them to be over 12 years of age or, if not, always take them by the hand, placing the child on the inside of the path.
Likewise, it is forbidden to carry unleashed pet dogs and the use of extendable leashes to keep them restrained is not permitted. See regulations ️
Route
Poncebos (Asturias) - Caín (León) 12
About 600 metres from the start, you will come to a fork, where you will see a path that crosses the Jaya bridge, which passes next to a house of the same name. Take the path to the right, which takes you towards the Cares gorge. After walking the first 2.5 kilometres, the steepest section of the route begins, where the path makes you climb and descend the mountainside for most of the route. But the differences in level are not very high, nor are the gradients very steep.
After 8 kilometres from the start of the route, we cross the river over the Bolín bridge, which is about 60 metres long and was built after the previous bridge, the Trea bridge, was destroyed by a rock in 1944. About 400 metres further on, we cross the river again over the Rebecos bridge. 4 kilometres and a few metres further on, at about kilometre 12.3, we will have reached the village of Caín, where this well-known and indispensable Asturian route ends.
The route, Poncebos-Caín and return, involves walking about 22 km, a distance that is not suitable for everyone, although technically it is not a difficult route. Those who are not able to cover this distance or who prefer to do just one of the routes can use the companies specialising in transfers on the Cares Route. Although this option involves a significant additional cost, this option allows you to enjoy a guided interpretative route in an all-terrain vehicle through the Eastern and Central Massif of the Picos de Europa National Park.