Santoña anchovy factory tour from Santander: Small groups

Walk through a working anchovy factory and see how Cantabria's most famous export is made

A small-group tour from Santander to the fishing village of Santoña includes a guided visit to Conservas Emilia anchovy factory, a walk through the port, and a climb to a 17th-century fortification with bay views. An optional one-hour boat trip crosses the bay to the Lighthouse of El Caballo, or you can spend the time exploring the village at your own pace. Groups stay under eight people. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Italian.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Santoña and anchovy factory

• Visit Santoña fishing village
• Tour Conservas Emilia anchovy factory
• Optional boat trip in Santoña bay
• Free time to explore Santoña village
• Walk through Santoña port
• Walk up to 17th-century fortification

The experience

The tour centers on Conservas Emilia, one of the region's largest anchovy producers. You'll walk through the factory floor and learn how the fish are caught, preserved and packed. The process that has made Santoña anchovies a staple on European tables for generations. The guide explains the work at each stage, and you can buy directly from the factory shop afterward if you want to take some home.

After the factory, you move through Santoña itself. A short walk along the port shows the fishing boats that still bring in the daily catch, and the guide walks you through how the anchovy and white tuna fishing works. From the port, a steeper path climbs to a 17th-century fortification where the views open across the whole bay. If you'd rather not walk, free time in the village lets you explore on your own: cafes, the waterfront, the narrow streets all move at your pace.

The optional boat trip runs one hour and crosses the bay toward the Lighthouse of El Caballo, passing through the marshes that ring Santoña. It costs 15 euros for adults and 7 euros for children aged 4 to 12. If you skip the boat, that hour stays yours to spend in the village. The whole tour runs about four and a half hours from pickup in Santander to drop-off.

What’s included

• Visit to Conservas Emilia anchovy factory with guide.
• transport by private vehicle from Santander.
• walk through Santoña port and up to the 17th-century fortification.
• free time to explore the village on your own.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and ThursdayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 26 Nov

Book up to1d before

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

GroupUp to 8

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 due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 15

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by EXPLORING CANTABRIA

Is this one for you?The small-group format keeps the pace manageable and the guide attentive, which matters on a tour built around learning a craft rather than rushing between photo stops. The optional boat trip lets you choose whether to stay active or slow down in the village. Pick the boat if you want to see the marshes and lighthouse, or skip it if you'd rather wander Santoña's streets and cafes.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can children come?

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

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens inside the anchovy factory?

Conservas Emilia walks you through the production floor where you see how the fish are cleaned, salted, preserved and packed into tins. The guide explains each step and the history of the process. You're not watching from behind glass but moving through the actual workspace. A factory shop lets you buy directly afterward.

Can I do the boat trip, or is it really optional?

The boat trip is genuinely optional and costs extra: 15 euros per adult, 7 euros per child aged 4 to 12. If you skip it, you get free time in Santoña instead. Both choices fit inside the tour's schedule.

What's the walk to the fortification like?

It's a short but steep climb from the port up to the 17th-century fort. The views across the bay are the payoff. If the climb doesn't suit you, free time in the village is the alternative.

How many people travel together on this tour?

Groups max out at eight people per booking, so it stays small and the guide can move at a pace that works for everyone.