Excursion to Picos de Europa : Bulnes, funicular and cheese Cabrales

This long day from Gijón takes you from Poncebos into the mountain village of Bulnes, then adds a funicular ride, Cares Gorge views, and a Cabrales cheese tasting. I especially like the return funicular ticket, valued at €22.16, and the useful combination of mountain scenery with a local food stop. The main drawback is the length: at about 12 hours, this is a full day with a fair amount of time on the bus.

I also like that an English-speaking local guide leads the day and that lunch access in Bulnes is guaranteed, even though lunch itself costs extra. The group can reach 54 people, so you should expect a shared coach experience rather than a quiet private outing.

Key points at a glance

• Bulnes without the driving puzzle: The tour handles transport to Poncebos and the return funicular from the remote mountain village.
• Three hours in Bulnes: You get a guided visit plus free time to look around and arrange lunch.
• Cabrales cheese in its natural setting: The tour includes a guided visit to a cheese cave, followed by Cabrales cheese and Asturian cider.
• A scenic Cares Gorge ride: Much of the mountain experience comes from the panoramic bus journey through the gorge.
• A possible high viewpoint: You can climb to the highest accessible point at the Mirador Naranjo de Bulnes if you wish.
• Good support for solo visitors: Santiago, the guide praised most warmly in the available feedback, kept the group together and handled the day carefully.

Why this Picos de Europa day works

The Picos de Europa are best enjoyed when you can focus on the scenery instead of solving a chain of transport problems. This excursion starts in Gijón and uses a private bus, a guide, and the Bulnes funicular to connect places that are not especially simple to visit on your own.

At $83.48 per person, the price is reasonable if you would otherwise need to arrange mountain transport, pay for the funicular, and book a cheese cave visit separately. The fee includes the private bus, an expert local guide, the return funicular ticket, the cheese cave tour, the tasting, and the guided walk in Bulnes. You still pay for lunch, so the final cost will be higher if you eat in the village.

The day is sold in English and comes with a mobile ticket. It is often booked about 42 days ahead, which suggests that you should not leave it until the last minute if your dates in Asturias are fixed.

Poncebos: the gateway to Bulnes

Your first substantial stop is Poncebos, the point where the ascent and descent to Bulnes begins. You have about two hours here as the group organizes the mountain portion of the day.

Poncebos matters because Bulnes is not simply another village beside a main road. The excursion removes much of the practical work involved in reaching it. Instead of figuring out where to leave a car or how to coordinate the funicular, you arrive with the group and follow the guide’s plan.

The private bus is useful at this stage, but remember that the tour can include up to 54 people. A large group may make loading, unloading, and gathering slower than on a small-group outing. That is the trade-off for a lower price and a simple day from Gijón.

Bulnes and its three-hour mountain pause

Bulnes receives the largest single block of time, about three hours. The guide leads you through the village, then you have free time to look around and arrange lunch.

This balance is one of the tour’s strongest features. A guided visit gives you an introduction to the village, while the free time prevents the stop from feeling like a quick photo break. You can wander at your own pace, take in the stone setting, and sit down for a meal before the afternoon continues.

Lunch is not included, but access for lunch is guaranteed. That wording matters. You should budget separately for food, yet you are not left to wonder if the schedule allows a meal in Bulnes. Three hours gives the stop enough breathing room for both the guided portion and lunch.

The tour does not state a fixed restaurant or menu, so I would not book this day expecting a particular dish or dining room. Treat the meal as flexible time in the village. If you prefer a full sit-down lunch, keep an eye on the guide’s timing and do not wander too far from the meeting point.

You should also be ready for a day that mixes organized movement with outdoor sightseeing. The details supplied do not promise a particular walking distance or difficulty level. Most people can participate, but anyone with concerns about the climb or extended time on their feet should ask the operator before booking.

The return funicular ride

The return trip by funicular is included, with a stated value of €22.16. That inclusion adds real value to the $83.48 price, especially because it handles a key part of the Bulnes connection for you.

The funicular is not just a transport footnote. It is part of what makes the village visit possible without turning your day into a complicated self-guided project. Your guide can keep the group moving through the correct sequence, while you concentrate on the setting.

The ticket is specifically for the return trip. Keep that distinction in mind when reading the schedule. The tour begins with arrival at Poncebos, then includes the village visit and the funicular transport as part of the planned ascent and descent.

Cabrales cheese and cider in Arenas de Cabrales

After Poncebos, the bus continues to Arenas de Cabrales for a guided tour of a Cabrales cheese cave. The visit takes about two hours, including the tasting.

Cabrales is one of Asturias’s best-known local foods, and seeing the cave gives the tasting more context than a plate of cheese at a generic café. You learn how the product connects to the area, then sample Cabrales cheese with Asturian cider. The tour includes both the guided cave visit, valued at €5, and the tasting.

I like this part because it changes the pace of the day. After mountain views, a village visit, and bus travel, the cheese stop gives you a focused local experience. One posted account praised the cheese visit as a pleasant way to unwind after the Picos portion, and that is a fair description of its role in the schedule.

Do not expect the tasting to replace lunch. It is described as a snack tasting, while lunch in Bulnes is separate and not included. If you have a strong dislike of blue or pungent cheeses, the Cabrales stop may be less appealing, though the food focus is clear before you book.

Cares Gorge from the bus

The tour includes about two hours of panoramic bus travel through the Cares Gorge on the way to the visitable points. This is an important part of the experience, not merely dead time between stops.

A bus ride lets you see more of the gorge without committing to a separate hike. You can watch the scenery change from your seat and let the guide manage the route. That makes the day suitable for someone who wants access to the Picos without building a self-guided driving and walking plan.

The trade-off is obvious: a bus view is not the same as walking beside the gorge. If your main goal is a long hike through the Cares Gorge, this excursion is not presented as that kind of trip. It offers a panoramic ride and access to viewpoints, with the bus doing most of the connecting work.

Seat choice may affect your view, but the supplied details do not promise a particular side of the bus or a guaranteed individual window seat. I would arrive ready for a shared coach setting and use the stops, rather than the ride alone, for your best photographs.

The Mirador Naranjo de Bulnes and the highest access point

The itinerary includes a possible climb to the highest area at the Mirador Naranjo de Bulnes. Those who wish can go up for views from the viewpoint, with about one hour assigned to this part.

A second one-hour stop is listed at Naranjo de Bulnes, described as the highest place tourists can access. The wording indicates that this is the top access point for the excursion, not an invitation to attempt a mountaineering route. You should follow the guide’s instructions and stay within the areas open to visitors.

This section gives the day a strong finish. After seeing Bulnes from village level and traveling through the gorge, you get a chance to look out from higher ground. The climb is optional, so you have some choice if you prefer not to go to the highest area.

The exact walking conditions are not provided, so I would wear practical shoes and avoid assuming that the climb will be effortless. The tour description says most people can participate, but it does not give a detailed accessibility assessment or promise a flat route.

A long day made easier by a guide

The full excursion lasts about 12 hours. That is a lot of time, but the itinerary has a clear rhythm: Poncebos and Bulnes, the funicular connection, Cares Gorge views, a high viewpoint, and the cheese cave in Arenas de Cabrales.

A guide matters here because the day involves several moving parts. One posted account singled out Santiago for keeping everyone accounted for, staying responsible, and explaining the route well. That kind of group management is valuable on a long mountain day, especially if you are visiting alone and do not want to coordinate buses, tickets, meeting points, and lunch timing yourself.

The strongest praise for this experience centers on organization from pickup through the return. That is useful information for a solo visitor. You may not get the intimacy of a small private tour, but you do get a person responsible for the group’s timing and transport.

The group limit of 54 is worth keeping in view. A coach of that size can make the experience feel less personal, and each stop may take longer to organize. On the other hand, the guide’s role becomes even more useful when many people need to move through the same mountain schedule.

Price, value, and what you still pay

At $83.48 per person, the tour offers a solid bundle of inclusions. The funicular ticket alone is listed at €22.16, and the cheese cave visit has a stated value of €5. Add the private bus, guide, tasting, Bulnes tour, and Cares Gorge routing, and the price makes sense for someone who values convenience.

The missing item is lunch. Since the stop in Bulnes lasts about three hours and lunch access is guaranteed, you should plan for that extra expense. The cheese and cider tasting is described as a snack, not a meal.

The value is strongest for:

• Solo visitors who do not want to drive or arrange mountain transport
• First-time visitors to the Picos de Europa
• People who want a broad day rather than one long hike
• Food-minded visitors who enjoy adding a regional tasting
• Anyone staying in Gijón who wants a structured trip into the mountains

The value is weaker if you want a small group, a slow village stay, or an extended hike through the Cares Gorge. In those cases, a different format may suit you better.

What to know before you book

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the ticket is mobile. The tour is offered in English. Most people can take part, but the published information does not provide detailed guidance about wheelchair access, exact walking distances, or physical requirements.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations made inside that period are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached, the operator offers another date or experience, or a full refund.

One caution comes from a past cancellation tied to vehicle problems. The affected person was offered the Lagos de Covadonga excursion instead, though access problems connected with fires later prevented that alternative as well. This appears to be an unusual situation rather than the normal plan, but it is a reminder that mountain routes can be disrupted by transport issues, fires, or other conditions.

Should you book the Bulnes and Cabrales excursion?

I would book this tour if you want a practical, full-day introduction to the Picos de Europa from Gijón. The funicular, guide, private bus, Bulnes visit, Cares Gorge ride, viewpoint access, cheese cave, and cider tasting cover a lot of ground for $83.48.

I would skip it if your priority is a small group or a serious hike. The 54-person maximum and long coach segments may feel too structured for someone seeking solitude. For solo visitors, first-time mountain visitors, and anyone who prefers scenery plus local food over complicated logistics, this is a sensible choice. Reserve ahead, budget for lunch, and treat the 12-hour schedule as the full-day commitment it is.

FAQ

Where does the excursion begin?

The experience is based in Gijón, Spain. The itinerary begins with transport to Poncebos, the access point for Bulnes.

How long does the tour last?

The excursion lasts about 12 hours.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation by private bus is included.

Is the Bulnes funicular ticket included?

Yes. The return trip by funicular is included and is listed as having a value of €22.16.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but the tour guarantees access to Bulnes for lunch.

What food and drink are included?

The tour includes a tasting of Cabrales cheese and Asturian cider after the guided cheese cave visit.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 54 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.