The best hiking routes in Parque Natural Dunas de Liencres y Costa Quebrada

Parque Natural Dunas de Liencres y Costa Quebrada offers two distinct walking environments shaped by the estuary of the Pas River and the Bay of Biscay. The western section is dominated by the pine forest of Liencres, planted to stabilize the massive sand dunes. Underfoot, the paths here transition from soft pine needles to deep, loose sand as you approach the estuary. This forested area provides a sheltered, shaded walk that contrasts sharply with the exposed coastal cliffs further east.

Along the coastal strip, the landscape changes to dramatic geological formations, including flysch rock platforms, sea stacks, and small sandy coves. The walking tracks here follow the cliff edges, where the terrain is mostly hard-packed dirt and short coastal grass, though some descents to the beaches require navigating steep, rocky steps. You will notice how the relentless action of the waves has carved the limestone into sharp ridges and arches, a process visible from the main coastal path.

This park is not a wilderness of high mountains or deep valleys; it is a narrow, gently undulating coastal strip where the main challenge is navigating the sandy sections and occasional steep climbs from the beaches. The area near the main parking lots and the popular beaches of Valdearenas and Canallave can be busy with surfers and day-trippers, but walking further along the cliff paths toward the east generally leads to quieter stretches.