Poncebos, Spain Photography

Photographing Poncebos

Poncebos is the trailhead village at the mouth of the Cares Gorge in the Picos de Europa, the start of the Ruta del Cares and the Bulnes funicular.

Where to shoot

Ruta del Cares — the twelve-kilometre path cut into the Cares Gorge between Poncebos and Caín, roughly three hours each way.
The Cares river — turquoise, glacial and very cold, running along the bottom of the gorge the whole way.
The Bulnes funicular — a steep railway up to Bulnes, a village with no road access until the tunnel was built.
Picos de Europa National Park — the limestone massif around the gorge, with trails continuing well beyond the Cares route.

When to go

June and September. July and August are hot inside the gorge and busy, and the path can be closed by snow or rockfall in winter and early spring.

What to eat

Order cachopo — a large breaded veal cutlet stuffed with ham and cheese — or a plate of Cabrales blue cheese, both Asturian staples, at one of the restaurants at the trailhead.

Where to stay

At Poncebos itself if you can get a room; otherwise Arenas de Cabrales, a short drive away, has more choice and a supermarket.

Start before 8am. The gorge holds heat, there is almost no shade, and the path is narrow enough that a busy afternoon means walking in single file behind other groups.