Santillana Altamira Comillas tour: UNESCO cave paintings

Medieval villages and a replica of one of Europe's oldest cave paintings in a single day

A guided tour from Santander visiting San Vicente de la Barquera, Comillas, Santillana del Mar, and the Altamira Museum over nine hours, with hotel pickup and a local guide. You explore a 12th-century castle and Gothic church, walk through Modernist architecture designed by Catalan architects, spend two hours in a preserved medieval village, and finish at an exact replica of the Altamira cave, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cantabria's coastal villages

• Hotel pick-up and transfer to San Vicente
• Discover San Vicente old town and bay views
• See 12th-century castle exterior
• See 12th-century Gothic church exterior
• Tour Oyambre Natural Park by minibus
• Visit Comillas Modernist town and landmarks
• Walk past Marquis of Comillas summer palace
• Walk past neo-Gothic Pantheon Chapel
• See famous Catalan architect building
• Transfer from Comillas to Santillana
• Explore medieval Santillana village and church
• Enjoy free time for lunch and shopping
• Visit Altamira Museum and neocave
• Return journey to Santander

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and moves through four distinct stops along Cantabria's western coast. San Vicente de la Barquera opens with views over the bay and its fishing harbor. You see the 12th-century castle and the Gothic church that anchor the old town. From there, a minibus carries you through Oyambre Natural Park, a stretch of beaches, dunes and tidal estuaries that break up the drive before reaching Comillas.

Comillas is Cantabria's only Modernist town, built around the Sobrellano Palace, the Pantheon Chapel, and the Old Major Seminary: all designed by Catalan architects Joan Martorell and others. You walk past Gaudí's Caprice, a neo-Gothic structure that stands as one of the few buildings the famous architect designed outside Catalonia, or take free time to explore on your own. The guide leads you through the Pantheon Chapel, where the Marquis of Comillas' family is buried, and explains the architectural choices that shaped the town's character.

Santillana del Mar follows, one of Spain's best-preserved medieval villages, where small palaces, towers and mansions line cobbled streets. The Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana, a 12th-century Romanesque jewel, sits at the heart of the town. Two hours of free time lets you have lunch and walk at your own pace before the final leg to the Altamira Museum. There you enter the neocave, an exact replica of the original Altamira cave, whose paintings were sealed off from visitors decades ago to protect them. The museum holds the replica and the story of how the originals came to be recognized as among Europe's oldest art.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Santander.
• transportation by minibus through Oyambre Natural Park and between villages.
• a local guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to the Altamira Museum and its neocave.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Friday and SundayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 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 levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by EXPLORING CANTABRIA

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see four distinct Cantabrian villages and end at a UNESCO-listed site, all in one nine-hour day with a guide handling the route and the history. The fixed schedule is what fits all four stops and the museum into a single outing from Santander.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

How long does the tour take and what time does it start?

The tour runs nine hours total. Hotel pickup happens in the morning, though the exact departure time depends on your hotel's location in Santander. Confirm the pickup window when you book.

What is the Altamira neocave and why is it a replica?

The Altamira neocave is an exact replica of the original Altamira cave, whose paintings date back thousands of years and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. The original cave closed to visitors to preserve the artwork, so the museum built this replica to let travelers see the paintings without damaging them.

Do I get free time to eat and explore on my own?

Yes. In Santillana del Mar you have two hours of free time to have lunch, shop, and walk through the medieval streets at your own pace before the group moves on to Altamira.

What villages does the tour visit?

The tour visits San Vicente de la Barquera, a historic fishing village with a 12th-century castle and bay views; Comillas, known for its Modernist architecture and Gaudí's Caprice; Santillana del Mar, a medieval village with the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana; and the Altamira Museum. You also pass through Oyambre Natural Park by minibus.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup in Santander, transportation between all four villages and the museum, entry to the Altamira Museum, and the local guide are all included. Food and drinks are not.