Thermal Cave and Circuit at La Hermida Spa

At La Hermida, halfway through the gorge between Panes and Potes, the water comes out of the rock at almost 60 °C. The spa cools it to 38 °C and shares it between two baths anyone can use, without staying: an open-air thermal cave, opened in November 2021 beside the main building, and a covered circuit of eleven stations. You can pay for one of the two or combine them in a day pass.

Pools at 38 °C beneath the gorge wall

The cave is an outdoor space, at the foot of the mountain, with several hot-water areas around a hollow in the rock. The session lasts 90 minutes. It costs from €30 per adult and from €20 for children aged 3 to 7, so it is the bath that works for going as a family. Outside it is as cold or hot as the day, and in the water you are at 38 °C: in winter, with mist in the canyon, is when you notice it most.

Capacity is limited and the spa advises booking, online or by telephone. There is a version with a meal at the hotel restaurant, the Río Deva, serving Liébana cooking.

The night session, adults only

At night the cave opens from 23:00 to 01:00, for adults only, from €45 per person. Until 30 September it runs every day except Sunday; the rest of the year, only Friday and Saturday. Capacity is also limited: book beforehand.

The covered circuit, station by station

It is 80 minutes, from €39 and from age 6, with compulsory prior booking. The route goes in this order:

• cleansing shower and wet steam bath;
• foot walkway with water at two temperatures;
• Finnish sauna and cold-plunge bath;
• Hermida steam-and-water bath, cold mist and the spring's vaporarium;
• jacuzzi and two-temperature shower;
• and, at the end, the dynamic pool: hydromassage beds, jets at several heights, neck massage, a bubble volcano, counter-current swimming and water curtains.

The day pass and what it all costs

The Hermida Experience Pass combines the cave (90 minutes) and the circuit (80) for €65 per person; the restaurant menu adds €35 and a half-hour massage, €45. It cannot be combined with other offers and depends on capacity. If you are going with small children, the pass is no use: the circuit starts at age 6.

What to bring and what you pay for there

Swimsuit, cap, flip-flops and towel or bathrobe are compulsory. If you are missing something, at reception they hire the bathrobe for €6, with a €20 deposit per garment; flip-flops are not hired, they are sold at €6.50, and the cap costs €4.50. Bring your own and you save almost €11.

Getting to the spa

It is beside the N-621, the La Hermida to Potes road, in the municipality of Peñarrubia, about 90 km from Santander airport. Potes is about 20 km up the road. In the café, open to customers and visitors, there is a terrace over the río Deva for the coffee afterwards.