Canales: Hiking Routes and Cultural Heritage

Canales offers several clearly distinct points of interest for planning a trip: a circular route with a specified length, another route with a named destination, coastal views, and traces of mining and prehistory. If you are looking for hotels in Canales, these differences can help you decide which themes you want to shape your stay. Hiking, scenery and local history each offer their own perspective.

Hiking and Choosing a Route

The Sendero Real is an 8.8-kilometre circular route. It starts in the Barrio de Canales and is suitable for hiking and mountain biking. Views of the coast near Comillas and Oyambre are also part of this route. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out. Its length and circular format offer concrete guidance for planning the excursion; current conditions should also factor into your decision on the day of your trip.

Part of the Sendero Real follows the route taken by Alfonso XII during his visit to Udías in 1882. This historical connection links a section of the present-day route with that visit, without suggesting that the entire route follows the historical path.

Route 7 also starts in Canales and ends at the Ermita de San Esteban on Monte Corona. Route 7 also lists the Ermita de San Juan as a sight in Canales. The two hikes are described differently: the Sendero Real is defined by its circular format and length, while Route 7 is described by its named starting point and destination. This can help you decide whether a circular route with a specified length or a path with a named destination better suits your plans.

Coastal Views and Orientation

The viewpoints add to the route information. The Sendero Real offers views of the coast near Comillas and Oyambre. A panorama in Canales also includes Oyambre, as well as the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. Oyambre is therefore a shared point of reference; the other named perspectives differ, with one taking in the coast near Comillas and the other the university. These give you specific sights to help align your interests with the landscape and surroundings.

Mining and Archaeological Traces

The Mina de San Bartolomé is an open-pit mine in Canales. Roman objects and coins found there attest to Roman activity in the Udías Valley during Late Antiquity. The finds thus connect the mine with the history of the wider valley area.

Cueva de Las Cáscaras is also in Canales and contains a collective burial. Radiocarbon dating indicates that at least one person buried there was interred during the Neolithic, in the 4th millennium BCE. This date applies to at least one person. Finds include skulls, lower jaws and shells; there is also evidence of arrowheads embedded in some bones. The human remains are housed at the Museo de Prehistoria de Santander. Views of Comillas, the beach and the university are also associated with the cave.

El Mozucu and When to Visit

An official announcement from 2025 describes El Mozucu as a festival of regional tourist interest and mentions a traditional parade of carts that stops in Canales and La Hayuela. Parade details may vary from one edition to another. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates and details for the relevant edition.

Discover more destinations: Valoria

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