# Tazones, Charles V's port, and its dinosaur footprints

What to do en Villaviciosa and Tazones · Villaviciosa and Tazones

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/things-to-do/tazones · Revisado: 2026-11-13

- Desde: 0 € 
- Duración: 3 h
- Temporada: All year; the footprints, at low tide
- Para quién: All ages

Fishing town · Half a day · Free · Two districts of fishermen's houses, fish market, lighthouse and dinosaur footprints at low tide

Tazones is the small port at the mouth of the Villaviciosa estuary, about 11 km from the town. Here Charles V landed in September 1517, on his first journey to the peninsula, and it is the only Asturian port that is part of the emperor's imperial routes. The villagers re-enact it every August in a festival declared of Tourist Interest. The rest of the year it is a fishing village with two districts, San Miguel and San Roque, declared a Historic-Artistic Ensemble.
What to see
Climb the lanes of coloured fishermen's houses and look for corners such as the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells). Below, the fish market auctions what the boats bring in, which is why the port's restaurants and cider houses live off the day's fish and seafood. The lighthouse, one of the best preserved on the Asturian coast, is on the edge of the village.
Dinosaur footprints
Tazones is one of the points on the Jurassic Museum's Dinosaur Coast. On the cliff at the eastern edge of the beach, about 120 metres from the access ramp, you can see on a tilted rock layer several three-toed footprints of theropod dinosaurs, some forming a trail, and a loose block with more footprints. Beside the lighthouse there are hand and foot prints of quadruped dinosaurs. Go at low tide, with footwear that grips wet rock, and do not stand at the foot of the cliff. To understand what you see, the Jurassic Museum is half an hour away.
Getting there and parking
By car from Villaviciosa, about 16 minutes along the edge of the estuary. In summer and on Sundays the village fills up at lunchtime: arrive before twelve or mid-afternoon.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 43.5446, -5.4006

## Cerca de aquí

- [Birds of the Villaviciosa estuary and the El Puntal interpretation centre](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/things-to-do/villaviciosa-estuary-birdwatching), a 3.1 km
- [Guided visit to the El Gaitero cider mill, in La Espuncia](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/things-to-do/gaitero-cider-tour), a 6.8 km
- [Sidrería El Roxu](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/where-to-eat/sidreria-el-roxu), a 7.5 km
- [Hotel Arcea Villaviciosa](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/where-to-stay/hotel-arcea-villaviciosa), a 8.0 km
- [La Casona de Amandi](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/where-to-stay/la-casona-de-amandi), a 8.6 km
- [Casa Cortina Cider House, in Amandi](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/where-to-eat/casa-cortina), a 8.7 km
- [Visit to the Llagar de la Ferrería of Sidra Cortina, in Amandi](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/things-to-do/cortina-cider-mill), a 8.7 km
- [Jurassic Museum of Asturias, the MUJA, in Colunga](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones/things-to-do/jurassic-museum), a 11.2 km

## Consejos

### Check the tide table
The footprints on the beach are only clearly visible at low tide.

### Eat early
The port terraces fill up between two and four.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Where are the Tazones dinosaur footprints?
On the eastern cliff of the beach, about 120 metres from the ramp, and beside the lighthouse. They are seen at low tide.

### Can I go with a dog?
In the village, on a lead. On the beaches of the estuary reserve, dogs are not allowed off the lead.

Destino: [Villaviciosa and Tazones](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/villaviciosa-and-tazones.md)