The coastal strip between Castro Urdiales and Laredo is a highly touristic area, with well-developed infrastructure and urban planning, abundant hospitality facilities, and long promenades that are lively on weekends.

The largest beaches are urban, such as Brazomar in Castro Urdiales or La Salvé in Laredo. The area still retains great scenic appeal, marked by the meeting of sea and cliffs.

The valleys of Asón, Soba, and Ruesga, in the eastern interior of Cantabria, are experiencing a modest boom due to the rise of rural, adventure, and ecological tourism.

This area, well known for river fishing, the shrines of Our Lady of Bien Aparecida and the Holy Christ of Limpias, as well as for housing some of the longest caves in Europe underground, is still being discovered as a tourist destination. In contrast to the relative crowding of the coast, the eastern inland valleys are true havens of peace and nature. Their main towns (Ampuero, Ramales de la Victoria, and Arredondo) retain a picturesque charm evocative of bygone times.

In contact with nature

Throughout this area, contact with nature is the main attraction. In this rugged landscape, forests are neither dense nor extensive, with holm oaks and beeches being the most common trees; the holm oak groves are among the best preserved in Cantabria. However, the most attractive aspect of nature in this sparsely populated area is its geology. Among the Valnera Mountains, the Hornijo Range, and the Cañoneros Mountains are some of the region’s most impressive landforms, especially the fault where the Asón River originates, marked by an impressive waterfall. These limestone massifs hide within them complex cave systems that attract speleologists from around the world.

Culture and tradition

The intense port activity that the town of Limpias enjoyed until the 19th century made it a prosperous area, with rich civil architecture.

Ampuero, Ramales de la Victoria, and Arredondo, all very well preserved, offer calm and delightful walks through their urban centers, which reveal a long history of prosperity.

The shrines of La Bien Aparecida and the Holy Christ of Limpias are two important pilgrimage destinations for Christian faithful, who gather in large numbers during their respective feast days.

In the Guriezo valley, the Ferrería de la Yseca stands out, where all the instruments and tools typical of this now-defunct trade are preserved. As it is privately owned, only the exterior can be visited.

The eastern coast of Cantabria has a rich historical heritage.

In Castro Urdiales, the best example of Gothic architecture in the region stands out: the 13th-century Church of Santa María, which gives character to the seafaring town. In Laredo, the old town is classified as a historic-artistic site and retains a medieval character. Its Church of the Assumption is Gothic from the 13th century, with expansions continuing until the 18th century.