Spread over the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria and León, the Picos de Europa National Park is the only National Park that, belonging to 3 different autonomies, is managed jointly by all of them. In July 2003 it was declared a Biosphere Reserve and the difference between this park and the Picos de Europa Regional Park, which is a protected area in Castilla y León, must be clear.
Commonly called "Los Picos de Europa" , it is the second most visited National Park in the entire country, only surpassed in visitors by the Teide National Park on the island of Tenerife. The surface of the park reaches almost 65,000 hectares, of which there are almost 25,000 in León, another 25,000 in Asturias and the remaining 15,000 in Cantabria. Torrecerredo peak is the highest at 2,648 meters above sea level.
Flora and Fauna of the Picos de Europa
Its flora and fauna are very rich and varied, with many protected species that can be found in the different forests. As for the flora, species such as beech, hazel, scots pine , holly, saxifrage, holm oaks, junipers or strawberry trees predominate. The fauna is probably one of the richest in the country thanks to the fact that it contains a representation of all the fauna of Cantabria. Amphibians, reptiles, birds and land mammals are in great variety, with species that stand out such as the Cantabrian grouse , the bearded vulture or the brown bear.
Hiking in paradise
There are several routes and trails that you can follow to enjoy the different landscapes in the park, being able to see forests, oak groves, glacial valleys , meadows, lakes … A true natural wonder that is worth visiting at least once in your life. In addition, there are various activities and a very valuable cultural heritage thanks to forges, bullpen, churches, medieval towers …