"Green balcony between two worlds"

To the north of Cabrales, closing the valley facing the sea, rises the Sierra del Cuera. This coastal mountain range, some 40 kilometers long, functions as a gigantic natural wall separating the Cantabrian coast from the inland valleys. It is the "coastal sister" of the Picos de Europa, a giant of limestone rock that defines the climate and landscape of the entire region.

Geologically, the Cuera is a mirror of the Picos: a karst terrain dominated by lapiaces, dolines and an apparent absence of surface water, which quickly seeps into the subsoil. Its roof, Pico Turbina (1,315 m), acts as a privileged viewpoint over two opposing universes: to the north, the blue immensity of the Cantabrian Sea; to the south, the most impressive frontal view of the Macizo Central and Picu Urriellu.

This mountain barrier is responsible for the eternal "green" of the valley. It acts as a climatic screen, holding back the clouds from the sea (the "beret" of the Cuera) and protecting Cabrales, creating a unique microclimate that allows the coexistence of beech forests in the shadows with Mediterranean oaks on the sunny rock.

But the Cuera exemplifies the harmonious coexistence between rural activity and the natural environment. Unlike the severity of the high mountains, here there is a distinguished landscape that invites you to enjoy routes without overcrowding, ideal for those seeking silence and spaciousness. Its trails are not mere sporting routes; they are ancient paths witnessed by generations of livestock farmers, transhumance routes to the summer sheepfolds that reflect the rich rural tradition of the territory.

It is, in short, the perfect counterpoint to the verticality of the Urrieles: a panoramic balcony where you can contemplate the unusual image of the coast and the sea, while walking on the living history of shepherding cabraliego.

We invite you to walk it by these routes recommended for all.