If Somiedo is the bear’s past and Fuentes del Narcea its present, Liébana is its future: the Cantabrian bear population is expanding eastwards and the Liébana valley is the great beneficiary of that recovery. Every year brings more sightings in its mountains and more sows raising cubs on the Cantabrian side.
For the observer, Liébana offers a unique combination: rising odds, Picos de Europa scenery and bear tourism that is still far from crowded.
When and where to try
Autumn is again the star: the oak woods and chestnut groves of Liébana draw bears in full hyperphagia, and sightings concentrate in the mountains of Camaleño, Pesaguero and Cabezón. In spring, sows choose the slopes of the Bullón valley and the San Glorio side.
The mountain roads — towards San Glorio, Piedrasluengas and the Pandetrave pass — are the best linear viewpoints: you can scan the slopes with binoculars without disturbing the animal.
Plan it: Picos + bear on the same trip
Liébana lets you combine bear watching with the great draws of the Picos de Europa: the Fuente Dé cable car, the Cares Gorge trail, the Covadonga lakes on the Asturian side… It is the ideal area for a trip in which the bear is the prize and the Picos, the guarantee.
- Bear dawn: a sunrise outing to the valley viewpoints, back to Potes for breakfast.
- Morning trails: Fuente Dé or the Valdebaró valley with children.
- Cultural afternoon: Potes, the Infantado tower and an orujo to round off the day.
