Sunday in Ribadesella: paintings twenty thousand years old and footprints in the rock.

Ribadesella brings together two prehistories in one Sunday: the paintings of the Tito Bustillo cave, a World Heritage site, and the dinosaur footprints on the Tereñes cliffs. In between, the Grúa promenade up to the Guía chapel and a fish grill facing Vega beach. With the cave closed until March 2027, the rock art centre is the way to see it.

The day, hour by hour

9:30 · Set off. From Oviedo, an hour on the A-8; from Santander, an hour and twenty minutes.

10:30 · Tito Bustillo Rock Art Centre. West of the bridge over the Sella. Six areas with the story of the discovery and reproductions of the great panel. In November and December, on Sundays it opens from 10:30 to 18:00. Entry €5.45; reduced rate for ages 4 to 11, €3.29.

12:15 · Grúa promenade and Guía chapel. Park next to the harbour and follow the water's edge towards the mouth of the ria, with the six Mingote panels. Almost at the end, a stepped path climbs to the 16th-century chapel, with the ria and Santa Marina at your feet.

14:00 · Lunch at Güeyu-Mar. On Vega beach, to the west. Sardines and wild fish grilled over embers, midday only, Wednesday to Sunday. Book ahead.

16:30 · Tereñes. Back towards Ribadesella along the coast. Next to the lighthouse, go down to the Jurassic rock: the first footprints are about 40 metres away. Only at low tide and in calm seas.

18:00 · Head home. In Oviedo around 19:00.

With teenagers, in summer or if it rains

With teenagers, start the day with a surf lesson at Santa Marina with Surf Camp Ribadesella: two hours, equipment included, from €40, with times set by the tide. From March to October, if you can get a place, swap the centre for the cave: 15 people per session, €4.14. If it rains or the tide does not suit, skip Tereñes and stroll around Santa Marina, with its villas built by returned emigrants and the footprints at Punta el Pozu.