Named the “Peaks of Europe” for being the first land visible to sailors returning from the Americas, this spectacular limestone mountain range stretches for 20 km across Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León in Northern Spain. The oldest in Spain, the National park contains a stunning landscape of jagged mountain peaks reaching 2,648m in altitude, dramatic karst gorges and vast oak and beech forests. Its lush alpine meadows and fertile river valleys are also home to a staggering diversity of plants and at least 150 species of butterfly.
Mammal fauna includes both wolf and brown bear, a significant population of wildcat, pine and beech martens, polecat, otter, red squirrel, snow and montane water voles, wild boar, red and roe deer and Cantabrian chamois.
The Picos de Europa are well known for staggering avian biodiversity which includes charismatic species such as bearded and griffon vultures, golden eagle, wallcreeper, black woodpecker, cappercaillie, eagle owl and alpine chough.
