The beautiful landscapes that Asturias treasures are the perfect setting for hiking. Here are some of the most famous in Spain, such as the Ruta del Cares or Senda del Oso. Another very popular route is the so-called Ruta de las Xanas, a spectacular itinerary that takes us through a gorge. Along the way, in addition to the stunning views, we will come across open caves, an old mine, and a riverside forest.

Ruta de las XanasThe Ruta de las Xanas is of low difficulty, covers a total of 3.8 kilometers, and lasts 1 and a half hours (one way) with a gradient of 358 meters. The starting point is a recreational area with parking located next to the town of Villanueva, in the council of Santo Adriano.

Ruta de las Xanas.Getty Images/iStockphoto
From here, we will start walking through an area full of stones, leaving behind the Proaza valley. Little by little, we will ascend and enter the incredible gorge of the Xanas. This term refers to a character from Asturian mythology, which describes the xanas as small fairies that live in the caves of the rivers and springs. The path through the gorge is truly dizzying, as we will advance along a narrow path carved into the steep rocky wall. This was created in the 1950s to connect the towns of Santo Adriano, Quirós, and Proaza, but the works were never completed, and the place became an impressive tourist attraction.

Desfiladero de las Xanas.JaviJ / iStock
We will cross several tunnels and pass by ”stalactites from ancient caves open in the limestone and that the river cut leaving them exposed,” detailed by Tourism of Asturias. We will even find traces of the area’s important mining past, specifically the mouth of an old mine along the route. The path opens up, and we enter a wooded area with beech trees, where we will cross the Viescas river on a wooden bridge. Finally, we will only have to climb through a meadow to reach the town of Pedroveya, next to the church of Pedroveya. After resting and visiting the village, we will have to retrace our steps and return to the starting point in Villanueva.

How to get to VillanuevaThe car journey from the city of Oviedo to Villanueva is only 30 minutes via the A-63 and the AS-228. Sign up for the newsletter and receive the best travel proposals for traveling around Spain and the world.