Santoña offers plenty of reasons to stay: trails on Monte Buciero, birdwatching in the wetland, coastal scenery and historic buildings. When choosing a hotel, it can help to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip. Those who enjoy hiking will find different things to explore here than visitors interested in architecture, festivals or local food culture.
Forest, coastal trails and Faro del Caballo
Monte Buciero is home to one of the best-preserved and most floristically diverse Cantabrian holm oak forests on the Iberian Peninsula. Senda 2 leads into the heart of this forest. Senda 1 - Faros y acantilados takes a different route: this 12-kilometre circular trail runs along the coast of Monte Buciero. Check trail conditions before setting out on a hike.
Faro del Caballo stands at the foot of the cliffs of Monte Buciero. The lighthouse was built in 1863 and ceased operating in 1993. A stone staircase with 763 steps leads down to the lighthouse; another 111 steps descend to sea level. During the summer season, boat trips as well as guided kayak and paddle-surf tours from Santoña offer views of the lighthouse from the sea. As these activities are seasonal and may change, it is worth checking dates and availability in advance.
For a route that takes in additional points of interest, consider Senda 4 - Tradición pesquera y Fuertes Napoleónicos. In the area around the town centre, it passes the main Napoleonic fortifications and later military structures, as well as salt marshes and coastal holm oak ecosystems. It is classified as an easy trail.
Marshland, birdlife and Playa de Berria
The Parque Natural de las Marismas de Santoña, Victoria y Joyel is one of Spain’s most important wetlands. Its network of trails and observation points lets visitors watch birds without disturbing their tranquillity. This offers a distinct focus from the coastal trails on Monte Buciero: in the nature park, the emphasis is on wetlands and birdwatching.
Playa de Berria is a 2,000-metre-long semi-urban sandy beach. Surfing and beach volleyball are available there. Beach activities, trails and observation points offer different themes to consider when planning a trip; check the relevant activities and conditions for your visit.
Fortresses and architecture
The fortresses also tell different chapters of the town’s history. Fuerte del Mazo was built in 1812 on Napoleon’s orders, completely restored in 2001, and designated a Bien de Interés Cultural. Check road access locally. Fuerte de San Carlos can be reached by a road running east along Monte Buciero; local conditions may also affect access here.
Fuerte de San Martín now serves as a cultural venue and houses several permanent exhibitions. The exhibition programme may change. Iglesia de Santa María del Puerto offers a different kind of cultural experience: it was built in the first half of the 13th century in a transitional style between Romanesque and Early Gothic. Its three naves, wider central nave and many surviving original Romanesque columns make its architecture tangible.
Teatro Casino Liceo dates from the beginning of the 20th century. Its historicist and eclectic style combines neoclassical and modernist elements. Monumento a Juan de la Cosa commemorates the cartographer and co-discoverer of America, who is considered the creator of the first world map, made in 1500.
Festivals and culinary tradition
Virgen del Puerto is the patron saint of Santoña and is carried in a procession each year on September 8. Carnaval is also part of the recurring festival tradition; in 1985, it was recognised as a Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional. Dates and programmes vary each year, so it is worth checking the specific event dates before travelling.
Since 1999, Santoña has held the Feria de la Anchoa, featuring tastings and artisan workshops. Dates and programmes also change from year to year. Beyond the festival, the marketing of bonito and famous anchovies in olive oil is an important part of local industry. If you would like to tie your trip to an event, you can take your interests—nature, architecture or food culture—into account when choosing when to stay.
Discover more destinations: Puente San Miguel, Noja, Comillas, Silió, Marina De Cudeyo, Selaya, Luey, Cillorigo De Liébana
For the broader travel overview: Cantabria.
