Santander Gastronomy Tour: Anchovy, Wine & Sobao Tasting

The anchovy of Santoña tastes nothing like the tin you know.

A private gastronomy tour from Santander takes up to eight travelers to an anchovy factory in Santoña, a family vineyard, and the largest sobao maker in Cantabria, with tastings at each stop, lunch at a local restaurant, and views over the Pasiego Valleys. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the guide speaks English, Spanish or Italian.

Step-by-step itinerary

Gastronomy tour in Cantabria

• Visit Conservas Emilia anchovy factory
• Explore Santoña fishing village port
• Visit vineyard and learn wine production
• Visit Sobaos Joselín factory in Selaya
• Enjoy views from Pasiego Valleys viewpoint

The experience

This is a day built around Cantabrian food, not sightseeing. You start at Conservas Emilia, the anchovy factory in Santoña, where you taste the Anchovy of Santoña straight from the source. The fishing port where it's made. The factory visit is short and direct. What matters is the tasting that follows. From there, the route moves inland to a family-run vineyard (which vineyard depends on the season and what's in production, it might be in Noja, Vidular or Castillo Pedroso, or in low season a local spirit factory instead). You learn how they make their white wines and taste what they've made. The guide walks you through it. You're not watching from a distance.

The third stop is Sobaos Joselín in Selaya, the largest sobao factory in Cantabria. A sobao is a small, rich sponge cake that's a regional staple, and you taste it fresh from the maker. After that comes a viewpoint over the Pasiego Valleys, the landscape break in the day, the quiet part. Lunch happens at a local restaurant, not a tourist spot, and it's included. The whole day runs nine hours from pickup to drop-off, which means you're back by mid-afternoon if you started in the morning, or you have the morning free if you prefer an afternoon departure.

The group stays small (a maximum of eight people per booking), and it's private, so the pace and the stops are yours. The guide is a live person, not an audio track, and they speak English, Spanish or Italian depending on what you need. Hotel pickup and drop-off are built in, so you don't arrange transport to the first stop.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• tastings of anchovy, wine (or local spirit in low season), and sobao at each producer.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• transport by private vehicle.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Italian.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by EXPLORING CANTABRIA

Is this one for you?The nine-hour commitment means you need a full morning or afternoon free, but it leaves the rest of your day open. Book an early departure and you're back by early afternoon, or book an afternoon slot and finish by evening. The private format works best if you're traveling with people you know, since the group is capped at eight and the route doesn't change for other bookings.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What exactly is the Anchovy of Santoña and why does it taste different from canned anchovy?

The Anchovy of Santoña is a protected designation product from the fishing port of Santoña, caught in the Bay of Biscay and cured in salt by hand in small batches. The factory visit lets you see how it's prepared and taste it fresh, which reveals why it's prized. The flesh is delicate and the salt cure is precise, nothing like the mass-produced tin anchovy most people know.

Will I actually make anything or taste things at each stop?

You taste at each stop (anchovy at the factory, wine at the vineyard, and sobao at the maker), but you're not making anything yourself. The visits are to working producers, and you watch how they do it, then taste the product. It's a tasting tour, not a hands-on cooking class.

What happens if I don't drink wine or prefer not to taste alcohol?

Wine tasting is part of the itinerary at the vineyard, but in low season the vineyard visit may be replaced with a local spirit factory instead. If you have concerns about the alcohol tastings, mention it when you book so the guide can adjust what you taste or offer alternatives.

How much walking is involved across the nine hours?

The factory visits and the viewpoint involve light walking (you're moving through a working space and standing to take in the valley views), but there's no hiking or strenuous terrain. The day is relaxed and suitable for all fitness levels.

Is lunch included, and will it be a big meal or a light bite?

Lunch at a local restaurant is included in the price. The operator describes it as a nice lunch, and it's part of the nine-hour day, so it's a proper meal, not a snack, but the exact menu depends on the restaurant's offerings that day.

Can I book this tour if I'm visiting Santander for just an afternoon?

The tour runs nine hours total, so it needs a full morning or a full afternoon plus evening. If you arrive in Santander mid-afternoon, this tour won't fit that day, but it works well if you have a free morning or if you're staying overnight and can start early.