Road trip of 10 days in the north of Spain

For this trip, we were accompanied by WOLO Outdoors: a Liège-based brand selling and renting rooftop tents that we had already had the opportunity to test during a weekend in Belgium.

We had heard a lot of good things about vanlife in Spain, its famous spots and its sunny weather. And we thought the opportunity was perfect to go on a longer term trip with a roof tent. Verdict: we loved it!

Even if the weather wasn't perfect (we can assure you that the tent is waterproof) and some nights we slept in car parks; we always felt safe. The icing on the cake was those spots in the heart of nature, by a river, cliffs or in a desert. These spots where you are left speechless facing the sunset or observing the Milky Way.

From a practical point of view, you have to be well organized. We again had the camping kit from WOLO Outdoors which is perfect for all the camping equipment. Then, we had a bag with our clothes, another with the photo equipment, our duvet, our pillows and 2-3 plastic boxes for chargers, kitchen spices, etc. All in an Audi A3!

Comfort level, the tent mattress is just as comfortable for 2 days as it is for 10 and our duvet was enough for us despite some nights spent below 10°. We alternated throughout the trip between nature spots, nights in campsites and hotels to regain some comfort at times (well, especially a hot shower and real toilets 😇).

👉 Go on an adventure with WOLO Outdoors

If you have any other questions about traveling with a roof tent, don't hesitate to leave us a comment at the bottom of the page. We'll be happy to answer!

For our first night in Spain, we stopped at the Embalse de Yesa. An artificial dam lake in the Pyrenees. This one, usually turquoise blue, gave way to dry land and cracks. Only a small stream flowed at the bottom. One of the traces left by the drought that hit all of Europe this summer.

On the banks of the lake, there are hot springs in which you can swim. Unfortunately, we couldn't go, because the stormy weather and rain were present.

We leave the rain of the Spanish Pyrenees for the grey clouds of the Atlantic coast. After two days of driving, we stop at Playa Canallave west of Santander. On this wild beach, with fine sand despite a few rocks on the beach, it's the surfers' paradise! While they catch the best waves, their dog patiently waits on the beach for their sessions to end. On our side, we take the time to breathe in the sea spray and savour the beginning of our holidays.

In the afternoon, we continue our journey to get a little closer to the Principality of Asturias. We will stop at the Camping de Las Arenas, located in the small village of Pechón, on the border between Cantabria and Asturias. It is located on the edge of the ocean and at the mouth of the Ría de Tina Mayor and the terraced pitches offer a wide choice to enjoy the view. In addition to hot showers, we can enjoy their outdoor pool and the Las Arenas beach. We will finally spend 3 nights there, to recharge our batteries and wait for the rain to pass.

Typical Asturian village, Ribadesella is known for its environment as beautiful as atypical. We spent half a day strolling through the town, climbing to the Ermita de La Guía and discovering the most beautiful views.

A few kilometers from Ribadesella, we also discovered the historic village of Llanes. Its old town center with its colorful houses and wooden shopfronts charmed us as much as its small fishing port. Don't hesitate to continue your journey to the Llanes lighthouse to discover the town's letters and its intimate beach.

The day having started in the rain, this big blue sky in the afternoon was the perfect opportunity to slow down and enjoy one of the magnificent beaches of Asturias. Just 15 minutes by car from Llanes are the beautiful beaches: Playa de Ballota and Playa de Andrín.

We set our sights on the Playa de Ballota and we didn't regret it! The water is turquoise, the sand fine and the decor straight out of Thailand between the red rock of the cliffs and lush vegetation.

After a rainy morning at the Las Arenas campsite, we take advantage of a small break in the weather to explore the surroundings. We walk from the campsite to the village of Pechón.

Our arrival in Pechón is peaceful. We wander through the empty streets, with the exception of a few cats, looking for a small restaurant open to fill our rumbling stomachs. After several disappointments due to closed establishments, we end up at the Café/Bar La Cambera.

All the activity of the village is here, the hot dishes come out of the kitchens and the beer flows freely. A burger for Romain and a salad for me 'Por Favor'. In Spain, English is not very common so we mumble the names of the dishes in Spanish, accompanying them with gestures to make ourselves understood. It seems to work, our order arrives at the table. A warm address to recommend if you are passing through the area.

Definitely the most beautiful beach in Pechón with its rocky islet in the center and its wide stretches of fine sand at low tide. Right next to it is its little sister, Playa de Arama.

Don't hesitate to visit Banco de Madera, which offers a magnificent view of Playa de Amio and Arama. Unfortunately for us, the vegetation had grown a lot and the panorama was not as impressive as in the photos.

For vanlife enthusiasts, overnight stays are allowed in the Banco de Madera car park and we know how difficult it is to find overnight spots in the region.

We are leaving the Atlantic coast to go inland for a few days and discover the famous Peaks of Europe. A change of atmosphere and temperatures, it quickly gets cooler once the sun is hidden behind the clouds.

Starting from Poncebos, we go for a walk of about 4 kilometers to reach the famous village of Bulnes, perched in the mountains and cut off from the rest of the world. A beautiful hike, with a lot of elevation gain, perfect for soaking up the atmosphere of the mountains. For more information, we've included the link below to the complete article of our weekend in the Picos de Europa.

The region is quite popular with tourists compared to the coast, so it was very crowded at the start of the hike. We recommend staying nearby and arriving before 9am in Poncebos to get a parking space within 2 kilometers. We slept in the public parking lot a few kilometers from there. Again, the spot is popular, so feel free to go there in the late afternoon to find a flat place to spend the night.

To get to Covadonga, we take the 1.5 km tourist path from the P3 car park. There are smaller car parks closer, but this last one allows us to spend the night there, which is rare in the region. On site, we discover the magnificent neo-Gothic basilica of Covadonga with red stones that stands in the middle of the mountains.

A little further down, we can observe the Sanctuary of Covadonga, or Santa Maria de la Cueva, and its small troglodyte chapel. An important place of worship where hundreds of believers gather every year.

The Lakes of Covadonga are a must-see in Asturias and the Picos de Europa. Highly popular, the road to access them is subject to certain restrictions during the day. Here we are aboard the bus shuttle to reach the famous Ercina and Enol Lakes. On site, we did a hike of just over 5 kilometers that passes through both lakes. This is truly accessible to everyone and allows you to get away from the tourist areas surrounding the two lakes. A total immersion at over 1000 meters of altitude in the heart of the Picos de Europa National Park.

We discovered Cangas de Onis and all its animation the previous evening to find a supermarket still open in the region. At the foot of the Picos de Europa National Park, it also includes a rich cultural heritage. We stopped there at lunchtime to eat and form our own opinion on this tourist town.

We had dinner at La Fábrika and big fail, we didn't enjoy it at all (both the food and the service). To comfort ourselves, we succumbed to an artisanal ice cream at Cremela. The flavors were excellent, we totally recommend the address for a sweet break. Cone in hand, we wandered through the streets of Cangas de Onis to the famous Roman bridge or the Puentón.

The Mirador del Fitu is a must-see in the region where you can observe a 360° panorama from its old concrete watchtower. From there, the Sueve nature reserve, the Ponga natural park, the Picos de Europa National Park, and the coast with the villages of Ribadesella, Caravia, Colunga and Villaviciosa are visible. Suffice it to say that the view must be spectacular!

We had spotted a park4night spot to spend the night and do the combo: sunset, starry sky, sunrise. Unfortunately, there was a sporting event that day and the road was closed until 9 pm. We sadly skipped our turn for the Mirador del Fitu.

Following the failed attempt at Mirador de la Fitu, we found a spot to spend the night on the Asturian coast. Welcome to the Moniello recreational area! At the end of it, there's a small gravel parking lot where overnight stays are permitted, facing the sea. A popular spot, judging by the number of vans that joined us during the evening. And we understand why! We're on the edge of a protected area that offers several hiking trails to explore the surrounding cliffs. We enjoyed beautiful colors at the end of the day and a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, nothing more magical ✨

Nothing like settling on a deserted beach to start the day! At Playon de Bayas, the perfect sea for surfing and the dark sand is present on several kilometers of beach, enough to easily find space without having to stick to your beach neighbor.

On the road, don't hesitate to stop at the viewpoint to enjoy a magnificent panorama of Payon de Bayas and Playa Requexinos. The google point right here.

One of the images that comes back most often when talking about Asturias is the **small fishing village of Cudillero**. The particularity of this historic village is to be in a basin facing the sea. We spent the early afternoon **walking through the narrow streets** and finding **the best viewpoints** over the village. We give you all the information about Cudillero in the article below.

We stopped for a short time at Cabo Vidio to enjoy the exceptional views of the surrounding cliffs and the Pena Doria beach and the Cueva beach. There are several exceptional viewpoints in the area, Kevmrc Travel has listed them in an article. The light at Cabo Vidio is even more beautiful when the sun sets.

Small exception to the roof tent for this last night in Asturias. We found a nice boutique hotel in Pravia which is located inland. A night of comfort (yay for hot water and toilets) in the heart of this historic city. Our charming room at the Antiguo Casino Hotel overlooked the Santa María la Mayor church.

Our road trip in Northern Spain is gently coming to an end. After 6 hours of driving and crossing several regions, we find the Pyrenees, the desert landscapes, and the heat.

For the 10th day, a visit to the famous Bardenas Reales desert awaits us. We find a spot on park4night (truly the best ally for your road trips in a rooftop tent, van, or campervan) in the region to be close to the park. After 4 kilometers of tracks, we arrive at the Mirador Punta de la Negra. We are alone, except for a few vultures dancing in the sky, the sun slowly sets in the valley, offering us a sky of incredible purity with orange colors.

Waking up early, we weren't expecting the day that was coming. After breakfast, we fold up the tent like every morning. Well, almost, this time the car keys were left in the tent. Oops, we reopen, take the keys, close it again. This time it's the right one! It takes us almost an hour to reach the Visitor Center of Bardenas Reales and the entrance to the most beautiful part 'Blanca Baja'. The explanations are given, the park map is taken, the adventure can begin!

Besides, we dedicated an entire article to it, with the details of all the spots to stop in the Baja Blanca of Bardenas Reales.

Thank you for coming this far! We loved our road trip in northern Spain. A region that still feels untouched by mass tourism, where it's easy to get off the beaten path. We hope this article gives you the desire to visit Spain. Don't hesitate to leave a comment if you have any questions or simply to tell us if you liked the article 😉