Cantabria Natural Reserves
Parque Natural Saja-Besaya:
this Parque Natural includes the largest national hunting reserve
in Spain, developed between 1948 and 1966. It covers most of the
western part of Cantabria.
Parque Natural de Oyambre:
This area of marshland and woodland behind a four-kilometre beach
has a wide variety of aquatic and migratory birds. Large whalebones
frequently appear on the beach, since whales were slaughtered
here from medieval times onwards; the watch-tower from which they
were spotted on the horizon still stands.
Parque Natural de las Dunas de Liencres:
This covers the magnificent dune system formed in the estuary
of the river Pas.
Parque Natural de Peña Cabarga:
this protected area covers the mountain range of the same name,
which rises over the bay of Santander.
Parque Natural de los Collados del Asón.
Reserva Natural de las Marismas de Santoña
y Noja:
Also declared a national sanctuary for aquatic bird life. Pantano
del Ebro: National sanctuary for aquatic bird life
Parque Nacional de Picos de Europa:
Established in 1995, over an area of 700 km2, it includes ten
mountain municipalities in three autonomous communities: Asturias,
Cantabria and Castilla-Leon. It is the biggest national park in
the country, consisting of three limestone massifs that were formed
during the Carboniferous period and includes some of the deepest
chasms in the world. It is one of the national parks most frequently
visited by tourists, mountaineers and climbers, and offers a wide
range of mountain accommodation and refuges.
Cantabria guide