Excursion to Picos de Europa : Bulnes, funicular and cheese Cabrales

The best part of this day is the contrast: you move from a quiet mountain village reached by funicular to the sharp scenery of the Picos de Europa, then finish with Cabrales cheese and Asturian cider. It gives you a taste of Asturias that is hard to arrange without a car.

I like the included return funicular ticket, worth €22.16, and the way the tour pairs mountain views with local food. I also like the practical setup for solo visitors, since a private bus and guide remove the need to work out rural connections. The main drawback is the length: at about 12 hours, this is a full day with several stops and a large group of up to 54 people.

Key points to know before booking

• Bulnes is the heart of the day: You get a guided visit and free time in one of the Picos de Europa’s most striking mountain villages.
• The return funicular ticket is included: This saves you €22.16 and avoids arranging that part yourself.
• Cabrales cheese comes with a cave visit: The tasting includes Cabrales cheese and Asturian cider.
• Lunch is not included: You are promised access to Bulnes for lunch, but the meal costs extra.
• The day lasts about 12 hours: Expect a long outing with bus travel, a mountain visit, food tasting, and viewpoints.
• The group can reach 54 people: The guide keeps the day organized, but this is not a small private walk.

Why Bulnes makes this Gijón day trip special

Bulnes is the reason to choose this excursion. The village sits within the Picos de Europa, and reaching it by funicular gives the day a sense of occasion without requiring a difficult independent plan.

The tour begins at Poncebos, described as the point where you ascend and descend to Bulnes. You spend about two hours there as part of the arrival and funicular arrangements. The funicular ticket for the return journey is included, which is important because it removes one of the larger extra costs from the day.

Once you reach Bulnes, you have around three hours for a guided tour and free time. That balance matters. A guide can explain the village and help you understand what makes it special, while free time lets you move at your own pace instead of following a nonstop schedule.

I would use the guided portion to get oriented, then keep some of the free time for simple wandering and lunch. The village is not presented as a quick photo stop. Three hours gives you room to look around, eat, and enjoy the mountain setting before returning.

The tour guarantees access to Bulnes for lunch, but lunch is not part of the $83.48 price. Bring that extra cost into your budget. You may also want to plan your meal early, since this is the central mid-day stop and the later schedule continues through the mountains and into the cheese visit.

The funicular ticket adds real value

The included return funicular ticket is valued at €22.16. At a tour price of $83.48 per person, that is a meaningful part of what you receive, before counting the private bus, guide, village tour, cheese cave, cider, and cheese tasting.

I like this arrangement because the funicular is not an optional add-on that you must remember to buy during a busy day. Your transport into the Bulnes portion is built into the experience, and the guide can keep the group moving as one.

Still, you should understand what this is and what it is not. The excursion gives you access to Bulnes and its mountain setting, but it is not marketed as a long independent hike. If you want a day of strenuous walking, this may feel too structured. If you want to see the area without driving mountain roads or solving public transport connections, the structure is a strong advantage.

The mobile ticket also makes the booking easy to carry. The tour is offered in English, so you can follow the explanations without needing to arrange a separate guide.

What to expect at Poncebos

Poncebos is your arrival point and the practical gateway to Bulnes. The stop is listed at about two hours, though that time is part of the wider transfer and funicular process rather than a stand-alone attraction.

This is where the day shifts from ordinary road travel to the Picos experience. You arrive by private bus, meet the route into Bulnes, and prepare for the ascent and return later. The guide is there to account for the group and keep the timing together.

That group management matters on a long rural excursion. One especially useful detail is the report that Santiago kept everyone accounted for and handled the day responsibly. If Santiago is leading your departure, you can expect a guide who has been associated with careful organization and clear information.

With a maximum of 54 people, you should not expect the intimacy of a two-person mountain walk. The upside is that the bus and schedule are arranged for you. The trade-off is that stops may feel less flexible, and the group must move together for transport connections.

Three hours in the village of Bulnes

The three-hour Bulnes stop is the most substantial time spent on foot. It includes a guided tour and free time, so you are not simply stepping out of the bus for a brief viewpoint.

The village itself is the main attraction. Its setting inside the Picos gives you the mountain atmosphere the tour promises, while the guided walk supplies context that you would miss if you only arrived, ate, and left. I appreciate that the schedule allows time to pause. Mountain villages are best experienced slowly, even when the overall excursion is busy.

You should wear practical shoes and be ready for walking, although the supplied information does not specify the exact terrain or the difficulty of the guided route. It is wise to treat the day as active rather than as a bus-only sightseeing trip.

The guaranteed access for lunch is helpful, especially on a long day. Since the cost of food is not included, ask your guide about the available timing when you arrive. You may prefer to eat at the village during the free period rather than wait until later, when the tour turns toward the cheese stop.

Cabrales cheese in Arenas de Cabrales

After Poncebos, the bus continues to Arenas de Cabrales for a guided visit to a Cabrales cheese cave. The cheese cave tour lasts about two hours as part of the stop, and it ends with a tasting of Cabrales cheese and Asturian cider.

This is more than a standard snack break. Cabrales is closely tied to Asturias, so the cave visit adds a local food tradition to the mountain scenery. You get a chance to learn how the cheese is connected with its place of production, then taste it in the same regional setting.

The cheese and cider tasting is included, along with the guided cave visit, which is valued at €5. That helps the price make sense for anyone who wants more than transport and viewpoints. You are not paying only for a scenic ride. The program also gives you a guided food experience.

The tasting is also a useful change of pace. After the long mountain section, it gives you time to sit back and enjoy something distinctly Asturian. One detailed account described the cheese visit as a good way to unwind after the Picos portion, and that is how I would view it: a calmer final chapter rather than another demanding stop.

Cabrales cheese can have a strong flavor. If you prefer mild cheese, the tasting may be more memorable than comfortable, but the point is to try a local product rather than receive a generic refreshment.

The Cares Gorge from the bus

The itinerary includes about two hours of panoramic bus travel through the Cares Gorge while heading toward the visitable points. This is the part of the day where your window seat matters.

You are seeing the gorge from the road rather than completing the famous Cares route on foot. That distinction is important. The tour provides views and access by bus, but it does not promise a full hiking experience through the gorge.

I like this portion for people who want to see more of the Picos without adding a long walk to an already packed schedule. You can watch the scenery change while the guide handles the route and driving logistics. It also makes the excursion workable for people who are comfortable with sightseeing but do not want to commit to a major mountain hike.

The limitation is just as clear: bus views cannot replace time on a trail. If your main goal is walking the Cares Gorge, look for a dedicated hiking outing instead. This tour is better suited to a broad introduction, with several short experiences linked together.

Mirador Naranjo de Bulnes and the highest accessible point

The itinerary then includes a viewpoint called Mirador Naranjo de Bulnes. Those who wish can climb to the highest area for wide views, with about one hour set aside for this part.

That wording gives you some choice. You do not have to treat the highest point as an obligation, which is useful after a full day of transport and walking. If your energy is good, the climb offers the chance to see the Picos from a higher position. If your legs are tired, you can decide how far to go.

A further hour is listed at Naranjo de Bulnes, described as the highest place tourists can access. The exact walking conditions and elevation gain are not provided, so I would not assume this is suitable for every visitor. Wear sensible shoes, stay within the guide’s instructions, and ask for clarification if you have concerns about the climb.

These final mountain stops can feel like a bonus for people who enjoy viewpoints. They may feel rushed to anyone who wants a long, quiet period in one place. The schedule includes several distinct locations, so the benefit is variety rather than extended time at a single lookout.

Is $83.48 a fair price?

For a 12-hour excursion, $83.48 is reasonable if you value convenience. The price includes private-bus transport, an English-speaking guide, the return funicular ticket, the Cabrales cheese cave visit, a guided tour of Bulnes, and cheese and cider tasting.

The funicular alone is listed at €22.16, and the cave tour is valued at €5. Add the day-long transport through rural mountain roads, and the package offers solid value for someone starting in Gijón without a car.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want independent time in Bulnes. You are paying for the organized route, group management, and linked stops. You also need to pay separately for lunch, so the true day cost will be higher than the headline price.

The group size is another value question. A maximum of 54 people can keep the tour affordable, but you should expect a coach-style outing rather than a personal guide experience. The benefit is that a guide such as Santiago can keep the schedule together and make the complicated parts easier.

Who should book this excursion?

I would recommend this tour to you if you are staying in Gijón, want to see the Picos de Europa, and do not want to drive or piece together rural transport. It also suits solo visitors who prefer a planned day with a guide and a clear return to the starting area.

It is a good match if you want several types of experience in one outing: a mountain village, a funicular, a gorge viewed from the road, a high viewpoint, and regional food. The tour offers more variety than a simple Bulnes transfer.

I would be more cautious if you dislike long days, large groups, or fixed schedules. You have about 12 hours on the road and at the stops, and the group can reach 54 people. The route includes walking and a possible climb, but it does not provide a full hiking day.

You should also check the cancellation terms before committing. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund, and the tour requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

My recommendation for the Bulnes and Cabrales day

Book this excursion if you want an efficient first look at the Picos de Europa from Gijón, with Bulnes as the main prize and Cabrales cheese as a satisfying local finish. The included transport and funicular ticket take away much of the planning burden, while the three-hour Bulnes stop gives you enough time to see the village rather than merely photograph it.

I would skip it only if you want a small-group walking tour, a long independent hike, or complete control over your timing. For everyone else, the combination of mountain scenery, village time, and regional tasting makes the $83.48 price defensible, especially for a solo visitor without a car.

FAQ

How long does the excursion from Gijón last?

The excursion lasts approximately 12 hours.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included, although the tour guarantees access to Bulnes for lunch.

Is the funicular ticket included?

Yes. The return trip by funicular is included and is valued at €22.16.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English and includes an expert local guide.

What food and drink are included?

The tour includes a tasting of Cabrales cheese and Asturian cider.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.