# Refugio de Urriellu

Mountain hut en Cabrales · Cabrales

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/where-to-stay/urriellu-refuge · Revisado: 2026-11-13

- Desde: 15 € por cama
- Qué tiene: At 1,960 m at the foot of the Picu Urriellu · Bunks in shared dormitories · Dinner and breakfast · Staffed from 15 March to 15 December · No showers

Staffed refuge of the Asturian federation at 1,960 m, in the Vega de Urriellu, at the foot of the Naranjo de Bulnes: continuous bunks, dinner and breakfast.

A night at the foot of the Picu
The refuge is in the Vega de Urriellu, at 1,960 metres, in the central massif of the Picos de Europa and just below the west face of the Naranjo de Bulnes. It is run by the Federación de Montaña del Principado de Asturias (FEMPA) and there has been a refuge in the vega since 1954; the current building was put up between 1989 and 1990 with materials flown up by helicopter.
You sleep in continuous bunks, in shared dormitories of 16 places, with a mattress, pillow and a duvet per place. Its website speaks of 64 places; the booking centre still says 96. The toilets are outside the dormitories and there are no showers, because water is scarce; there is no free kitchen either. There is electric light, a fountain outside, lockers with padlocks and refuge footwear.
What the night is like
Go up with the idea of a mountain refuge, not a hostel. Boots stay outside the dormitories, which open at 21:00 in summer and 19:00 in winter, and must be left by 9:00. Quiet hours run from 23:00 to 7:00. You are at almost 2,000 metres: bring a coat for the evening, and expect snow in the vega outside summer.
You can't get there by car. From the Sotres area it is 3 h 30 to 4 h of climb and a little over 1,000 metres of ascent; from Bulnes, by the Canal de Balcosín, 5 h 30 to 7 h; and from the Fuente Dé cable car, by Horcados Rojos, 3 to 4 h over high-mountain terrain. Children can sleep there, at a reduced rate, if they can manage the climb. No animals are admitted inside the refuge, so with a dog it is not an option.
Season, prices and booking
It is staffed from 15 March to 15 December. The rest of the year only a bivouac area with six bunks, blankets and water outside remains open. The overnight stay costs €15 for federation members and €20 for non-members over 14; under-14s pay €9 or €15. Breakfast is €8 and dinner or lunch, €19. The bar also serves sandwiches, tapas and a packed lunch for the next day.
You book through the Picos de Europa refuge booking centre. Federation members have priority, and the reserved place is kept if you arrive before 19:00; after that it is allocated in order of arrival. You can't stay more than three nights in a row. In summer, and especially at weekends, book in advance.
The classic climb is in the route from Sotres to the Vega de Urriellu. If you go up from Bulnes, you can save yourself the first stretch with the Bulnes funicular.

## Practical details

- Address: Vega de Urriellu, Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa, 33554 Cabrales, Asturias
- Phone: +34 984 090 981
- Capacity: 64
- Facilities: Bar, Restaurant, Electric hook-up
- Details checked on 13 November 2026.

## Policies

- Children: Under-14s pay less for the overnight stay
- Pets: No animals admitted inside the refuge
- Smoking: Smoking prohibited inside
- Also: Maximum three nights in a row; the reservation is kept if you arrive before 19:00; quiet from 23:00 to 7:00

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Web: https://www.refugiodeurriellu.com/
- Coordenadas: 43.202678, -4.821266

## Cerca de aquí

- [Walk from Sotres to the Vega de Urriellu, at the foot of the Naranjo de Bulnes](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/things-to-do/urriellu-from-sotres), a 889 m
- [Funicular from Poncebos to Bulnes](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/things-to-do/bulnes-funicular), a 6.4 km
- [Hotel Arcea Mirador de Cabrales](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/where-to-stay/hotel-arcea-mirador-de-cabrales), a 6.5 km
- [Casa Cipriano Restaurant, in Sotres](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/where-to-eat/casa-cipriano), a 6.7 km
- [Hotel Rural Casa Cipriano](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/where-to-stay/casa-cipriano), a 6.7 km
- [Visit to a Cabrales dairy and its cave, in Sotres or Arenas](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/things-to-do/cabrales-dairy-visit), a 6.7 km
- [Naranjo de Bulnes viewpoints: Pozo de la Oración and Asiegu](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/things-to-do/pozo-de-la-oracion-viewpoint), a 10.4 km
- [Cabrales Cheese Cave Exhibition, in Arenas](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales/things-to-do/cabrales-cheese-cave), a 10.6 km

## Consejos

### Bring your federation card
Without it you pay the non-member rate, even if you are a member.

### Arrive before 19:00
After that time your reserved place may go to another climber.

### Order dinner on arrival
There is no free kitchen, so dinner and breakfast are the refuge's or whatever you carry up.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### When is it open?
Staffed from 15 March to 15 December. In winter there is only a free bivouac with six bunks.

### Are there showers?
No. There are toilets outside the dormitories, but it has never had showers because of the lack of water.

### Can I go up with a dog?
The National Park asks that it always be on a lead on the route, but inside the refuge no animals are admitted.

### How much does it cost to sleep?
€15 for members and €20 for non-members, over 14s. Dinner is extra, €19.

Destino: [Cabrales](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cabrales.md)