Bulnes: Excursion with funicular and Cabrales cheese cave in the Picos de Europa

Bulnes is reached by an eight-minute underground funicular, not a mountain railway with big window views. That small detail sets the tone for the day: the real reward comes after the ride, when you step into a quiet stone village deep in the Picos de Europa, with Picu Urriellu rising beyond it.

I like the strong mix of nature and food. You see the Cares Gorge from Poncebos, then learn why Cabrales cheese tastes so powerful in its cave before pairing it with Asturian cider. I also like that the funicular ticket, worth $26.99, private bus transfers, a Bulnes tour, and the tasting are included in the $81 price.

The main drawback is time on the road. From some pickup points, the bus portion takes about three hours each way, so this is a full day of roughly 8 to 12 hours. English service can also vary by section, with some information delivered in Spanish and summarized quickly in English.

Key points to know before booking

• Bulnes is roadless: The funicular gives you access to a village that cannot be reached by car.
• The funicular runs underground: The ride takes about eight minutes and offers little or no scenery during the trip.
• Poncebos brings the big gorge views: You see the Cares River and the walls of the famous Cares Gorge.
• Cabrales is more than a cheese tasting: The cave visit explains the traditional method behind Asturias’s most famous cheese.
• Lunch is not included: You have access to Bulnes for lunch, but you pay separately for food and drinks.
• This is not a mobility-friendly outing: The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Why Bulnes makes a good day trip

Bulnes has an unusual sense of separation. There is no road into the village, and the funicular passes through the mountain rather than climbing in the open air. Once you arrive, cobbled lanes, traditional houses, and the lack of mobile coverage help you slow down.

That isolation is the point. Bulnes is not a large open-air museum with a long list of sights. It is a small mountain village where the setting does most of the work. You will have time to walk, look around, visit the chapel of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, and go to a viewpoint for views toward Picu Urriellu, also called Naranjo de Bulnes.

Do not expect a packed sightseeing program in the village. You are paying for access to a special place, a guided introduction, and the ease of getting there without arranging separate transport. The visit works best if you enjoy mountain scenery, small villages, and local food more than a long list of monuments.

The ride from Oviedo or Cangas de Onís

You can choose from four listed pickup points, including Oviedo, Cangas de Onís, Panadería Manín, and Buendía Store. Check the exact option carefully when booking, since your pickup and return point depend on the choice you make.

The private bus is practical because the day covers several separated points in the Picos de Europa. It also creates the tour’s biggest time cost. The outbound bus segment is listed at about three hours, followed by shorter transfers later in the day and another long ride back.

The road scenery helps. The route follows the Cares River toward Poncebos, with steep mountains and small rural villages along the way. Still, you should bring patience, especially if you are starting in Oviedo. This is not a quick hop into the mountains.

I would use the bus time to rest and keep your expectations realistic. The day is designed as one large outing, not as a relaxed base in Bulnes with hours to wander at your own pace.

Poncebos and the Cares Gorge

Poncebos is the gateway to the Cares Route, one of the best-known walks in this part of northern Spain. The route is often called La Garganta Divina, or The Divine Gorge, because the Cares River has cut a dramatic canyon between high rock walls.

You are not signing up for the full Cares walk on this excursion. Instead, you stop to take in the views and understand the setting before heading to the funicular. That makes the stop useful for anyone who wants to see the gorge but does not want to commit to a demanding mountain hike.

The views here are about scale. The river sits below the steep walls, and the road into Poncebos gives you a clear sense of how enclosed the valley can feel. Bring shoes with a good grip, since the day includes walking in a mountain village and around outdoor viewpoints.

Poncebos is also a good reminder that the Picos de Europa are not just about famous peaks. The river, canyon, villages, and roads are all part of the experience. If you enjoy scenery more than organized sightseeing, this may be one of your favorite portions of the day.

Taking the underground funicular to Bulnes

The funicular ticket is included, which matters because it removes one extra expense from a fairly long day. The ride itself takes around eight minutes and travels underground through the mountain.

Keep your expectations in check. This is not a scenic cable car or an open train with views down into the valley. It is closer to a small rail vehicle pulled through a tunnel by cable. The journey is interesting because of what it accomplishes, not because of what you see from the windows.

The arrival is the payoff. Instead of navigating a long mountain route on foot, you reach Bulnes directly and save your legs for exploring the village. The experience also gives you a clear sense of why Bulnes remained so cut off from road traffic.

The schedule includes time around the lower funicular station and later a return by train before the bus transfer to the cheese stop. The exact rhythm may depend on the day’s operation and group timing, so do not plan an independent appointment immediately after the tour.

Walking Bulnes and finding the Picu Urriellu view

The village portion includes a guided visit and free time. Your guide can give you the basic story of Bulnes, then you can use the spare time to walk its lanes and take in the surroundings.

The stone houses and cobbled streets are the main visual appeal. Bulnes feels quiet and compact, and the lack of cell phone coverage can be either a pleasure or a nuisance. If you want a break from constant messages, it is useful. If you need to stay reachable, plan around the gap.

The chapel of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves is a small but appealing stop. The viewpoint is more important for most people, especially if the weather is clear. From there, you may see Picu Urriellu, one of Spain’s best-known mountain peaks and a major goal for climbers.

Weather matters here. The tour information promises the viewpoint and the village setting, but mountain conditions can affect what you see. Even with cloud, Bulnes remains worthwhile for its location and architecture, but the famous peak view is not guaranteed on every day.

You also have access to Bulnes for lunch, though lunch is not included. That is a useful part of the schedule because you are not forced to eat before arriving or wait until the cheese tasting. Budget extra for your meal and any drinks.

Cabrales cheese in Arenas

After Bulnes, the tour continues to Arenas de Cabrales, where the cheese cave visit changes the pace from mountain scenery to local food culture. Cabrales is one of Asturias’s signature products, and the cave helps explain why it has such a distinct character.

Inside, you learn about the traditional production method and the way the process has been passed down through local families. The cave is not simply a place to sample cheese. It gives you context for the food, including the connection between the product and the mountain area around it.

The visit can be more challenging for English speakers than the Bulnes portion. Some of the cave information may be delivered mainly in Spanish, with an iPad provided for English reading. If the Spanish presentation moves quickly, you may need to focus on the written material rather than trying to follow every spoken detail.

That does not make the stop useless, but it is worth knowing before you book. If clear English explanation at every stage is essential to you, ask about the language arrangement before departure. The tour operates in English and Spanish, but some content is shown in its original language.

The Cabrales and cider tasting

The final tasting pairs Cabrales cheese with Asturian cider. This is a simple combination, but it says a lot about the region. The cheese is bold and strong, while cider brings a fresh local counterpoint.

The tasting is included, along with the guided cave visit. Extra food and drinks are not included, so treat this as a sample rather than a full meal. If you are hungry after the village visit, make use of the lunch opportunity in Bulnes instead of relying on the tasting to fill you up.

This part works because you have just heard how the cheese is made. You can connect the explanation with the taste, which is more satisfying than sampling a product with no context. You do not need to be a serious cheese enthusiast to enjoy it, but you should be open to strong flavors.

If you prefer mild cheese, Cabrales may be a challenge. That is also why the cider matters. The pairing gives you a distinctly Asturian finish rather than a generic snack stop.

How the $81 price holds up

At $81 per person, this tour offers fair value if you want a full day with transport and several major inclusions. The funicular ticket alone is valued at $26.99, and the price also covers private bus transfers, an expert guide, the guided Bulnes visit, and the cheese cave with tasting.

The value is strongest for people staying in Oviedo or Cangas de Onís who do not want to organize mountain transport, coordinate funicular tickets, and arrange a separate cheese visit. The bus handles the difficult connections, and the guide gives the day a clear structure.

The value is weaker if you want a slow, independent day in Bulnes. You will be tied to the group schedule and spend many hours on the bus. You also pay for the convenience of the full package, even if you would rather spend most of the day hiking or sitting in the village.

I would think of the price as a transport and access fee with a food experience added on. It is not a cheap short excursion, but the inclusion of the funicular and the long-distance transfers makes the cost easier to justify.

Guide quality and language expectations

The guide can make a major difference on a long day. Santiago received especially strong praise for clear communication, experience, and keeping the group engaged. With a good guide, the drive becomes more useful because you can understand what you are seeing rather than simply passing through mountain roads.

The stated guiding languages are English and Spanish. In practice, you should be ready for some information to come first in Spanish, followed by a shorter English explanation. That issue was most noticeable during the cave visit, where English speakers may receive an iPad with translated text.

If you are comfortable reading as well as listening, you can still get a lot from the visit. If you need every explanation delivered slowly in English, this may feel rushed. I would confirm the language setup before booking if that is a deciding factor.

What to bring and who should skip it

Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather. The day moves between a bus, a mountain village, outdoor viewpoints, a funicular, and a cave visit, so layers are sensible.

This outing is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. The cobbled village streets, mountain setting, walking sections, and transport changes make it a poor fit if you need step-free access.

I would recommend it for you if you want to see Bulnes without arranging the journey yourself, enjoy dramatic mountain scenery, and like the idea of connecting local food with its place of origin. It is also a good choice if you are based in Oviedo or Cangas de Onís and want one organized day covering several highlights.

I would skip it if your priority is a long hike, a quiet independent stay in Bulnes, or a short excursion with little time in the vehicle. The full day is rewarding, but it asks for stamina.

Should you book this Bulnes excursion?

Book it if you want the easiest way to combine Bulnes, the Cares Gorge, and Cabrales cheese in one day. The included funicular, private transport, guide, and tasting give the $81 price solid value, especially for a first visit to the Picos de Europa.

Go in knowing that the funicular is underground, the bus ride is long, lunch costs extra, and English explanations may be brief in parts of the cheese visit. If those limits suit you, this is a well-packed introduction to one of Asturias’s most distinctive mountain areas.

FAQ

How long does the Bulnes and Cabrales cheese excursion last?

The excursion lasts between 8 and 12 hours, depending on the departure option and schedule.

Where can I join the tour?

The listed starting points include the bus station in Cangas de Onís, C. Uría 58, Panadería Manín, and Buendía Store in Oviedo. Your exact meeting point depends on the option you book.

Is the Bulnes funicular ticket included?

Yes. The round-trip funicular ticket is included in the activity price.

Is the funicular ride scenic?

The funicular travels underground through the mountain and takes about eight minutes. You should not expect open mountain views during the ride.

Is lunch included?

No. You have access to Bulnes for lunch, but food and drinks are not included unless specifically mentioned as part of the itinerary.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide service is available in English and Spanish. Some content may be presented in its original language.

Can I join if I use a wheelchair?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.