San Vicente de la Barquera is one of Cantabria's most beautiful villages. It’s a historic fishing village located next to the green slopes of Oyambre National Park.
The village’s old quarter has been declared a historic site. San Vicente’s famous estuary of sandy beaches makes an ideal first stop on this north-west Spain road trip.
Pick up your campervan in Bilbao and drive west to San Vicente along the excellent, toll-free A-8 motorway. Spend half a day visiting Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s oldest and best preserved villages.
Santillana is just 40 km (around 25 miles) from San Vicente, and besides its charming stone houses it’s mostly known for the Altamira Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Halfway between the two villages, Comillas is worth a short visit too. It’s a charming, aristocratic villa set on rolling hills that shelter a secluded harbour and a lovely beach.
Famous architect Antonio Gaudí built a modernist palace in Comillas, known as El Capricho (The Caprice). Kids will love its fairytale architecture.
The province of Asturias is famous for its wonderful landscapes. Ribadesella is a small coastal town ideal for exploring not only the coast, but also the nearby mountains.
Picos de Europa National Park is less than an hour away and offers several hiking routes suited to all fitness levels that start from the Covadonga Lakes.
Ribadesella's a great spot for enjoying the beach, wandering its old streets, or kayaking on the Sella River.
From San Vicente de la Barquera, head back onto the A-8 motorway and continue your north-west Spain road trip until you reach the Ribadesella exit. The fishing village is split in half by the Sella River delta, forming the spectacular Santa Marina beach.
Ribadesella's old, flamboyant architecture is a reminder of when it was a prosperous town, thanks to the Indianos, returning emigrants who'd made their fortunes in the Americas.
Castropol is an enchanting fishing village that looks out over the estuary of the River Eo from the top of a hill, with splendid views of the river mouth. The Eo estuary is a protected nature reserve for its marine ecosystem, as it’s one of the most important wetlands in northern Spain.
Located on the Northern Route of the Way of St James, Castropol is the last village in Asturias before this north-west Spain road trip enters Galicia.
Just a few minutes north of Castropol, Playa de Peñarronda is a gorgeous, wild beach shaped like an elongated shell, with a round rock in the centre that gives the beach its name.
Across the bridge over the Eo River sits Ribadeo, Galicia’s very first town. From there, head west for just 15 minutes in your campervan to reach one of Spain’s most famous beaches, Playa de la Catedrales (Beach of the Cathedrals). It’s beautiful at any time, but visit at low tide to fully appreciate its natural arches and caves.
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia. The city grew up around the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago, and has been the final destination of the Way of St James, a pilgrimage route since the 9th century.
Santiago’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and welcomes thousands of pilgrims and tourists to its well-preserved stone streets every year. It’s a must on any north-west Spain road trip for culture lovers, historians and travellers alike.
The cathedral is Santiago’s main attraction. Recently refurbished, it’s a stunning piece of architecture, particularly its towers and the Portico de la Gloria, the cathedral’s main entrance.
There’s lots more to see in Santiago, so give your legs a break (and the kids a great time!) by hopping on the little tourist train that winds through the hilly town. Santiago is a university town, so it’s very lively and has plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from.
Your final destination on this north-west Spain road trip, the Galician coast, is truly unique. Its long and deep estuaries, locally called rias, are not only of extreme beauty but also hold some of the best seafood in the world. Galicia’s long coast is divided between the Rias Altas and Rias Baixas.
Ria de Arousa is one of the main rias in the lower section, and Illa de Arousa, the island at the centre of the estuary, is the perfect place to park your campervan and enjoy this privileged location.
On the southern tip of the island is Carreiron Natural Park, great for a short family stroll. There are some secluded beaches with pristine waters within the park. On the mainland, Cambados is an old town worth a visit.
From there, head south towards another island: Illa da Toxa, one of Galicia's most famous tourist areas. Visit the nearby Lanzada beach and the O Grove peninsula for a complete family day out.
Bonus: spend a day in Porto, Portugal, before returning your campervan to the Porto depot!
