# San Vicente de la Barquera

A seafaring town on the estuary, with a castle, a Gothic church and the Maza bridge, the Merón sands for surfing and Oyambre next door. An hour from Santander.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/san-vicente-de-la-barquera · Revisado: 2026-11-12

San Vicente de la Barquera is the last seafaring town in Cantabria before Asturias. It has the best-known postcard on the coast: a walled old town on top of a promontory, with the castle and a Gothic church, a 28-arch bridge crossing the estuary and, behind, the Picos de Europa. Below, the fishing harbour and a row of fish restaurants. To the east, the Sable de Merón, more than three kilometres of open sand where you can learn to surf all year round, and the Oyambre Natural Park.

## How to get there from Santander

Take the A-8 towards Oviedo, exit 264, and the N-634 to the centre. Allow about 55 minutes and a little over 60 km. From Oviedo, on the same motorway in the opposite direction, around an hour and twenty; from Bilbao, an hour and three quarters. Comillas is a quarter of an hour away along the coast road, so the two towns combine well. Without a car, there is a bus from Santander to the station on avenida Miramar, in the centre, and Renfe's narrow-gauge train line stops at La Acebosa, on the outskirts, with two trains a day in each direction.

## Where to park

The Puebla Vieja is all slopes and narrow streets: don't drive in. Park in the port area and on avenida Miramar, beside the estuary, and walk up. For the beach, the Sable de Merón has a large car park next to the sand, and there is another opposite El Rosal beach, next to the campsite and the surf school. In August and during La Folía festival everything fills up early.

## How long do you need?

A day is enough for the town in the morning and the beach in the afternoon. The tourist office suggests a route in four stops: the Puebla Vieja, from the Puerta del Mar and the Castillo del Rey along the Calle Alta; the viewpoint at the Santa María de los Ángeles churchyard; the alleys back to the harbour; and the Maza bridge, finishing at the lighthouse at sunset. It takes about three hours without hurrying, plus lunch. With a night, the second day is for Oyambre: a surf lesson at Merón, the Pájaro Amarillo route at low tide or the Rubín marsh for birdwatching.

## When to go

San Vicente is alive all year, and it is one of the few places on the coast where winter also has something to offer: the surf schools teach at Merón in every season, and the marsh receives migratory birds in autumn and winter. From June to September the beach has lifeguards and the town fills up; May, June, September and October offer the best balance. On the second Sunday after Easter La Folía is held, the maritime procession of the Virgen de la Barquera with the Cofradía de Mareantes, the town's big festival. The tourist office is open 365 days a year.

## What to do

The walk around the Puebla Vieja climbs from the Puerta del Mar to the church of Santa María de los Ángeles, Cantabrian Gothic with the tomb of the inquisitor Corro and the best view of the town; the Camino Lebaniego to Santo Toribio sets out from there. Halfway up is the Castillo del Rey, with a small museum and battlements over the estuary. Below, cross the 500-metre Maza bridge. For the water, a surf lesson at Merón from €35, or paddle surfing on the estuary when there is too much swell. For walking, the Pájaro Amarillo route along the Oyambre coast.

## Where to eat

The town is about fish and seafood. Las Redes, next to the old quay, serves wild fish from the fish market, rice dishes and sorropotún, the tuna stew; Augusto, opposite the market, is the seafood restaurant for rice with lobster; Sotavento, small and open at midday only, has queen scallops and sea urchins. All three open on Sunday lunchtimes; Las Redes closes on Wednesdays, Augusto on Tuesdays and Sotavento on Wednesdays.

## Where to sleep

In the centre, the Hotel Luzón, a 1905 stately house with a garden over the estuary, from €80 for a double in low season. On the beach, the Hotel Playa de Merón, open all year, with studios for four. And in season, the Camping El Rosal, among pines and on the front line, which reopens at Easter 2027.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Cantabrian Coast
- Cerca: Comillas (a 8.6 km), Santillana del Mar and Altamira (a 23.5 km), Llanes (a 29.2 km), Liébana and Potes (a 31.2 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Surf lesson on Merón beach** (2 h · All ages; groups by age and level · Desde 35 € student, 2 h lesson): What it is
Merón beach (the Sable de Merón) has more than 3 kilometres of sand, lifeguards in season and a steady wave. The town council's website recommends it equally for beginners and experienced surfers, and Cantabria Tourism lists it among the region's surf spots. Because it is so long, the beach never gets crowded, even in high season.
The Buena Onda Surf School gives its beginner lessons here: two hours in the water with an instructor, in small groups by age and level, with a safety briefing beforehand covering currents and tides. Lessons are given in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.
What a lesson is like
The lesson starts with the briefing on safety, currents and tides, then continues in the water with the instructor. On an open beach like Merón, understanding the currents matters as much as standing up on the board, which is why the school covers it before you go in. If you are staying several days, the packs work out cheaper per lesson: from €35 for a single lesson down to €20 each in the twenty-lesson pack.
How much it costs
Beginner rates are per student:


LessonsHoursPrice


12 h€35
24 h€70
510 h€150
714 h€195
1020 h€250
1530 h€315
2040 h€400


There are discounts for schools, families and companies: ask when you book.
For the little ones
The Surfkids course is for children aged 5 to 7: lessons of an hour and a half with a first introduction to the water and to surfing equipment. It costs €30 for one day, €60 for two, €120 for five, €210 for ten and €320 for twenty.
Where and how to book
The school is at Avenida Francisco Giner de los Ríos, 48, opposite the El Rosal beach car park and next to the campsite. Arrive 15 minutes before the lesson. Book on 635 725 832 or 646 554 053, both with WhatsApp, or at info@escueladesurfbuenaonda.com. The website does not publish timetables: agree the time when you book.
What to bring
The beginner course page does not say what equipment is included; ask when you book whether the board and wetsuit are in the price. Bring swimwear, a towel, sun cream and warm clothes for afterwards, because the Cantabrian Sea is cold almost all year.
What to combine it with
If the sea is too rough, the same school offers paddle surfing on the estuary, in calm water. After the lesson, stroll along the Sable de Merón or walk a stretch of the Yellow Bird trail, which starts on this very beach. For the afternoon, head up to the Old Town.
- **Walk around the Puebla Vieja** (1 h 30 · All ages; slopes and cobbles · Free): What it is
The Puebla Vieja is the upper old town of San Vicente de la Barquera, the former walled citadel on the promontory that overlooks the harbour and the estuary. The Government of Cantabria has declared it a historic-artistic site, and it holds the town's two monuments: the 14th-century castle and the Gothic church of Santa María de los Ángeles. You can walk it in an hour and a half, taking it slowly and stopping at the viewpoint. It is a short walk in distance but uphill: Calle Alta climbs from the harbour to the highest point of the promontory, and from the top you understand why a citadel was built here.
The route
The town council's one-day guide to San Vicente suggests this loop. You enter the old town through the Puerta del Mar, with the Castillo del Rey, now a museum, on your right. You continue along Calle Alta, the spine of the citadel, past remains of the wall, the Corro palace, which is now the town hall, and the Preboste tower, where taxes were once collected. Further up you pass the old Concepción hospital and reach the church of Santa María de los Ángeles, which crowns the citadel.
From the churchyard, at the end of Calle Alta, you get the best panorama of the town: the Pombo estuary, the harbour and, if the weather is good, the Picos de Europa. To come down, use Calle Alta as your axis and duck into the alleys of El Acuerdo, El Carbonero, Las Huertas and Ronda, with their passageways; the route ends at a window with views over the harbour.
Who it is for
All ages, but with slopes and cobbles: it is hard going with a pushchair, and the alleys are narrow. Wear comfortable shoes. With children, the castle and its battlements are the highlight; for adults, the church and the tomb of Inquisitor Corro.
Opening times and tickets
Walking around the Puebla Vieja is free and always open. The town council's website does not publish the castle's opening hours or price, nor the church's visiting hours: ask at the tourist office, on 942 710 797 or at turismo@sanvicentedelabarquera.es, before you climb if you want to go into both.
When to go
Early in the morning, when the town is quiet, or at the end of the afternoon, with low light over the estuary. In August and on bank-holiday weekends it is busier: go up early if you want the viewpoint to yourself.
What to combine it with
Down at the harbour, the loop continues across the Maza bridge towards the beaches of La Maza and El Tostadero. On the other side of the estuary lie the Merón sands and the Rubín marsh. If you have the afternoon to spare, the town council's guide suggests finishing at the Punta de la Silla lighthouse at sunset.
- **Maza bridge** (30 min · 1 km · All ages; pushchair-friendly · Free): What it is
A bridge of about 500 metres with 28 semicircular arches, slightly curved, crossing the San Vicente estuary. According to the town council's website, it was built in the 15th century, in the time of the Catholic Monarchs, to improve links with Castile; before that there had been a wooden footbridge since the 6th century. Today the N-634 runs across it, and you can cross on foot.
From the middle you get the classic view of San Vicente: the old town on its promontory, with the Castillo del Rey and the church of Santa María de los Ángeles behind, and the estuary at your feet. Tradition says you should cross it without breathing and make a wish; almost nobody manages it, and it usually ends in laughter.
The walk
The town council's one-day guide to San Vicente suggests crossing it from the harbour towards the beaches of La Maza and El Tostadero, two town beaches of fine sand and calm water, and seeing the ruins of the old convent of San Luis on the other side. At the foot of the bridge a new beach has formed, La Maza, which is also called Los Vagos. To return, cross by the Barquera bridge, pass the Old and New harbours and reach the Barquera sanctuary; from there you can go carefully to La Barra and finish at the Punta de la Silla lighthouse at sunset.
It is a flat walk, suitable for pushchairs and any age. Allow half an hour to cross at an easy pace and take photos, and an hour and a half if you do the whole loop.
Nearby
The town council's website places other points near the bridge to round off the walk: the Santa Marina chapel, the Virgen de la Guía chapel and the parish church of San Pedro Apóstol, as well as the entrance to the Oyambre Natural Park. If you come by car, park in the town and cross on foot: the bridge is part of a busy national road, and the experience is in walking it slowly, looking at the estuary on one side and the old town on the other.
When to go
Any time of day will do, but the best light is in the afternoon, when the sun drops over the estuary. At high tide the water fills the estuary under the arches; at low tide the sands are left exposed. Both versions deserve a photo.
What to combine it with
Beyond La Maza and El Tostadero you reach the Merón sands, and beyond them the Oyambre Natural Park. If you prefer the water, you can go paddle surfing on the estuary. And back in the town, climb through the Puebla Vieja to the churchyard viewpoint, from where you can see the whole bridge.
- **Castillo del Rey** (45 min · All ages): What it is
The Castillo del Rey stands on the climb from the quay to the top of the promontory and dominates the estuary: the municipal website calls it the silent guardian of San Vicente de la Barquera. It was built between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries as part of the town's defensive system, when the port was a strategic point on the road to Castile. It has an elongated plan, thick walls and two large towers, designed to withstand attacks, control the approaches and consolidate power.
The Gobierno de Cantabria's leaflet of driving routes cites it, together with the Gothic church of Santa María de los Ángeles, as the most significant monument of the Puebla Alta, the old quarter of the town, declared a conjunto histórico artístico (historic-artistic site). From the Puente de la Maza, castle and church form the silhouette that identifies San Vicente.
What to see
After its restoration, the rooms work as a small museum with information panels and scale models on the history of the town. The best part, however, is climbing up to the battlements: from the top you see the Maza bridge, the port, the marshes and, on clear days, the Picos de Europa. Allow about three quarters of an hour, more if you linger over the views.
Opening hours and admission
The municipal website does not publish opening hours or price, and gives no details on the building's accessibility. Before you go, ask at the tourist office, on 942 710 797 or at turismo@sanvicentedelabarquera.es. If you are going with someone with reduced mobility, also ask about the stairs up to the battlements.
Getting there
It is at avenida Antonio Garelly, 1, at the entrance to the Puebla Vieja: you enter through the Puerta del Mar and it is on your right. From the port it is a few minutes' walk uphill. Park below, in the town, because up there the streets are narrow and cobbled.
With children
A castle with battlements over the sea is a good hook for children, and the scale models help explain what the walled town was like. The visit is short, so it fits well with a stroll and an ice cream at the port. Keep an eye on them up on the battlements, and let them look in the models for the wall they will then follow along the calle Alta.
What to combine it with
The castle is the first stop of the walk around the Puebla Vieja: continue along the calle Alta, past stretches of wall, the palacio Corro and the torre del Preboste, up to the church of Santa María de los Ángeles, at the top, with the cemetery viewpoint. Then go down the alleys to the port and cross the Maza bridge towards the beaches. If you have more time, the Oyambre Natural Park begins on the other side of the estuary, with the sands of Merón and the Rubín marsh.
- **Church of Santa María de los Ángeles and its viewpoint** (30 min · All ages · Free viewpoint): What it is
The church of Santa María de los Ángeles crowns the promontory of the Puebla Vieja, the upper old town of San Vicente, which is declared a historic-artistic site. It was built between the 13th and 16th centuries in Cantabrian Gothic style, with an almost military sobriety on the outside: flying buttresses, stone walls and capitals carved with plant motifs. Together with the Castillo del Rey, on the slope down to the quay, it is the silhouette you see from the Maza bridge.
What to see inside
The best-known piece is the tomb of Inquisitor Antonio del Corro, from the 16th century, which the town council's website highlights for the quality of its sculpture. Inside there is also a carving of the saint and other examples of funerary sculpture. At sunset the light through the stained glass changes the interior; at dawn, from outside, you can see the mist over the estuary.
The town council's website does not publish visiting or Mass times. As this is the parish church, the safest thing is to ask at the parish, on 942 710 026 or at upvicentedelabarquera@gmail.com, or at the tourist office, on 942 710 797. Go in respectfully if a service is under way.
The Campo de Santa María viewpoint
From the churchyard, at the end of Calle Alta, you get what the town guide calls the best panorama of the town: the Pombo estuary, the harbour and, on a clear day, the Picos de Europa. The viewpoint is free. You can walk there along the estuary from the Barquera sanctuary and up the cobbled lanes of the Puebla Vieja.
Kilometre zero of the Camino Lebaniego
The Camino Lebaniego starts here, linking the coast with the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, in Potes: 71.73 kilometres in three stages. If you plan to walk it, the church is the natural starting point; ask at the tourist office about the stages before setting off. And if you are not going to walk, at least look in at the door: one of Cantabria's pilgrimage routes begins here.
Getting there
The church is at Calle Alta, 12. From the harbour it is a few minutes' walk uphill, going in through the Puerta del Mar and following Calle Alta, the spine of the old citadel; the cobbles and the slope make a pushchair awkward. It is the natural end of the walk around the Old Town.
What to combine it with
Go down the alleys of El Acuerdo, El Carbonero, Las Huertas and Ronda towards the harbour, cross the Maza bridge and finish at the beaches or at the Rubín marsh, on the other side of the estuary. If you are heading to Liébana afterwards, the Camino ends at the monastery of Santo Toribio.
- **Paddle surfing on the San Vicente estuary** (2 h · Ages 10 and over; under-10s with an instructor · Desde 35 € student): What it is
A two-hour outing standing on a board on the San Vicente estuary, in calm water, with the Maza bridge and the Old Town alongside. The Buena Onda Surf School calls it SUP flatwater: during the lesson you practise paddling positions and basic board movements, and then you take an easy outing along the estuary. It is the plan for a day when Merón has too much swell, or for anyone who wants to be on the water without falling into the open sea.
Who it is for
For anyone who has never paddled standing up and wants to start without waves, for families with children aged 10 or over, and for groups of friends looking for a morning or afternoon activity. The estuary is sheltered from the open sea: the town beaches of La Maza and El Tostadero, on its banks, are the town's calm-water bathing spots, which is why you can learn balance here without fighting the waves. If you already have some practice, ask the school about multi-day rates.
Price and groups
Rates are per student:

1 day: €35.
2 days: €70.
5 days: €130.
10 and 20 days: price on request.

The group is a minimum of two students. There are discounts for schools, families and companies: ask when you book. The minimum age is 10; younger children can take part, but accompanied by an instructor on their own board.
Where and how to book
The school is at Avenida Francisco Giner de los Ríos, 48, opposite the El Rosal beach car park and next to the campsite. Arrive 15 minutes before the start time. Book on 635 725 832 or 646 554 053, both with WhatsApp, or at info@escueladesurfbuenaonda.com. The website does not publish fixed timetables: agree the time when you book, and in summer call a couple of days ahead.
What to bring
The course page does not say what equipment is included; ask when you book. Bring swimwear, a towel, sun cream and a change of clothes, and leave your phone on land if you do not have a waterproof case. If you have never stood on a board, bear in mind that falling in is part of learning: on the estuary the water is calm, but it is still the Cantabrian Sea and it is cold almost all year.
What to combine it with
After the lesson, walk up to the Old Town and the Castillo del Rey, or cross the Maza bridge to look down on the estuary you have just paddled. If you feel like trying waves, the same school gives surf lessons at Merón.
- **Sable de Merón** (3 h · All ages; strong surf · Free): What it is
San Vicente's long beach: more than 3 kilometres of white sand with dunes behind it, between the estuary and Cape Oyambre, with views of the Punta de la Silla lighthouse, the Oyambre Natural Park and the Picos de Europa on the horizon. According to the Cantabrian Rural Development Network, the beach reaches about four kilometres and goes by several names along its length: Merón, La Braña, Bederna and Gerra. Behind it there is a line of dunes and, at the western end, a small maritime pine wood planted in the middle of the last century to hold the sand.
It is a cliff-foot beach with a large intertidal area: at low tide the sand widens enormously and at high tide only a dry strip remains, so check the tide table before putting up your parasol. Dune plants such as sea holly and sea bindweed grow in the dunes; do not trample them and use the marked access paths.
Swimming and facilities
The town council's website says it has all the basic services, lifeguards and a large car park with easy access. The surf is strong, with almost constant waves and wind: swim only where there is a flag and supervision, and do not go beyond the patrolled area. The website does not publish the rules on dogs or the exact lifeguard dates; ask at the tourist office, on 942 710 797 or at turismo@sanvicentedelabarquera.es. With children, the width of the beach at low tide gives plenty of room to play away from the water's edge, but do not lose sight of them when they go into the water.
Surfing
Cantabria Tourism lists it among the region's major surf spots, and the town council's website recommends it both for beginners and for experienced surfers. Because it is so long, it does not get crowded even in high season. If you want to try, there is a school in the town: see the surf lesson at Merón.
When and how to go
For swimming, in summer; for walking, all year, best at low tide, when you can walk on the firm sand as far as Bederna and Gerra. From San Vicente you can walk there across the Maza bridge, or drive to the car park. Gerra, at the far end, is among rocks and is good for watching the sunset.
What to combine it with
The beach is the first stretch of the Yellow Bird trail, which follows the coast to the La Rabia estuary. Behind it lie the Rubín marsh and the rest of the natural park, with its interpretation centre at the Punta de la Silla lighthouse. If you prefer calm water, there is paddle surfing on the estuary. To end the day, climb up to the church of Santa María de los Ángeles, whose churchyard looks over the whole coast.
- **Yellow Bird trail** (3 h · Walkers; at low tide · Free): What it is
A coastal trail through the Oyambre Natural Park that passes through almost all of its habitats: beaches, dunes, cliffs and estuaries, with the Picos de Europa ahead of you. The council's information sheet describes it from west to east along the beaches of El Rosal, Merón, Bederna and Gerra as far as Punta del Oeste. The Cantabrian Rural Development Network publishes a linear version that starts at El Tostadero beach, in San Vicente, passes the breakwater at the mouth of the estuary and covers the whole Merón beach and Cape Oyambre as far as the La Rabia estuary.
It is named after the Yellow Bird, the aeroplane of the first direct transatlantic flight from the United States to touch down on Spanish soil, in 1929. It landed here, in the Los Llaos area, and a monument recalls it beside the path, on the stretch towards the Oyambre dune.
Distance and difficulty
According to the Cantabrian Network's sheet, the route from El Tostadero to La Rabia is 8.6 kilometres one way, about four hours, with 97 metres of ascent and low difficulty, over sand, track and some stretches of road. As it is linear, leave a car at the end, in the Oyambre beach car park, or allow for coming back the same way. The highest point is 94 metres, at the top of the cape.
What you will see
The first stretch is Merón beach, about four kilometres long, with a line of dunes and a small pine wood to the west. On the cape, above the cliffs, grow species you would not expect on the Cantabrian coast, such as wild olives, wild vines and bay laurels, and the limestone has sinkholes and karren. The sheet mentions birds such as the peregrine falcon, the kestrel, dunlins and the stonechat, and the council's version adds gannets, razorbills and guillemots out at sea; on the rocks of the cape it is easy to see cormorants resting. At the end, a new dune, partly occupied by a golf course, separates the beach from the La Rabia estuary.
When to go
All year, but always at low tide: at high tide there is hardly any beach left and walking on the sand becomes difficult. Check the tide table before setting off, take water, a hat and sun cream, and footwear that copes with sand and track. With children used to walking, it is a good half-day outing; along the top of the cape, near the cliff edge, hold their hands.
What to combine it with
Before setting off, the Sable de Merón is the beach of the first stretch, and the town's school gives surf lessons on it. The park's interpretation centre is at the Punta de la Silla lighthouse. Behind the town lies the Rubín marsh, with its migratory birds, for another morning.
- **Rubín marsh** (1 h · All ages; binoculars · Free): What it is
The Rubín marsh surrounds the village of Abaño, beside the S-214, between the fresh water of the River Escudo and the salt water of the Cantabrian Sea. Together with the Pombo marsh, it forms the San Vicente de la Barquera estuary, those arms of water that reach inland behind the town. It is part of the Oyambre Natural Park, an area of 57 square kilometres according to the town council's website, and of the Natura 2000 network, and the council presents it as one of the places of greatest environmental value in Cantabria.
With the tide, the landscape changes every few hours: at high tide the water fills the channels and covers the mudflats; at low tide the flats where the birds feed are left exposed.
Which birds you can see
Rubín is a stopover for migratory birds travelling between Africa and Europe each year. The council's information sheet mentions curlews, redshanks, sandpipers, ducks, mallards and teals; the tourist office's two-day route adds herons and dunlins across the park as a whole. The best time is autumn and winter, when migrants stop to rest and feed. Bring binoculars, go first thing or at the end of the afternoon, and check the tide table: at low tide there is more mud exposed and more birds feeding.
How to get there
From San Vicente, take the road towards Abaño, the S-214; the village is a few minutes away by car. The council's website does not describe any paths or hides in the marsh: the idea is to stroll calmly along the village lanes and the water's edge, without stepping onto the mud or into enclosed meadows. Respect the birds: if they take off as you pass, you have come too close. The tourist office is on 942 710 797 and at turismo@sanvicentedelabarquera.es if you want advice for the day.
With children
It works well as a short, one-hour walk with children who have the patience to watch. Bring a bird guide or an app to put names to what you see, and warm clothes, because in winter the wind blows hard over the water.
What to combine it with
The Oyambre Natural Park interpretation centre is at the Punta de la Silla lighthouse, past the harbour and La Barra, and explains how the natural area works: it is worth a visit before you go looking for birds. The lighthouse is also the spot the tourist office suggests for watching the sunset in the town. From there, the park continues along the coast through the beaches of Merón and the Yellow Bird trail. Back in San Vicente, cross the Maza bridge, which also has views over the estuary, and climb up through the Old Town.

## Dónde comer
- **Las Redes Restaurant** (Restaurant, San Vicente de la Barquera, €€€). Qué pedir: ask about the day's fish from the fish auction and order the sorropotún if they have it; rice dishes are the kitchen's speciality
- **Augusto Seafood Restaurant** (Restaurant, San Vicente de la Barquera, €€€). Qué pedir: start with fried squid; then the lobster rice, which they say they pioneered, or a seafood platter from the tank if there are several of you, and the cream millefeuille for dessert
- **Sotavento** (Restaurant, San Vicente de la Barquera, €€€). Qué pedir: to start, queen scallops, sea urchins or octopus leg; then fish from the auction or the clam rice, which is made to order

## By car: By car, on the A-8
San Vicente sits right beside the A-8, between Santander and Asturias. Park when you arrive and do the town on foot; the car is for Merón, the Rubín marsh, Oyambre and Comillas, a quarter of an hour away.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–130 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Luzón** (Hotel, desde 80 € / night): In 1905 a mansion of ashlar stone was built in the centre of San Vicente de la Barquera, facing the estuary and in the middle of its own garden, designed from the start as a hotel: the Luzón. Inside, it keeps its original style. It has 36 rooms, and from here you can do everything on foot, from the harbour to the Puebla Vieja, and the bus station is a hundred metres away.
A 1905 mansion on Avenida Miramar
The hotel is at Avenida Miramar, 1, facing the estuary. From the door you reach the Maza bridge, the harbour and the Puerta del Mar, the way up to the castle and the church, in a few minutes. On the same avenue, a few doorways along, is Sotavento, and opposite the market, Augusto, with its lobster rice.
From single to quadruple
The 36 rooms range from singles to quadruples, taking in doubles and triples, all with a full bathroom, direct-dial telephone and television. There is a lift to all floors, wifi and central heating throughout the building. For a family of four, the quadruple saves booking two rooms.
High and low season rates


RoomLow seasonHigh season


Single€50€60
Double€80€100
Triple€100€120
Quadruple€110€140


The website does not say which dates are high season or whether breakfast is included: ask when you request a price. The form on its website does not make a booking, only checks availability; the hotel replies to confirm. If you prefer, call 942 710 050.
Without a car from Santander
San Vicente's bus station is a hundred metres away, with the Santander line and the one that continues to Potes through the La Hermida gorge: see the bus station and stop. By car, take the Cantabrian motorway, exit 264, and the N-634. Santander airport is about 60 km away. The website does not mention private parking.
Closed in January
The hotel closes for the whole of January for maintenance and works. The rest of the year it is open.
- **Hotel Playa de Merón** (Hotel): Twenty-eight rooms with balconies and seven studios and apartments with kitchens for four, in front of Merón beach: that is the Playa de Merón, on Avenida Francisco Giner de los Ríos, the road that leaves the town towards El Rosal. From the hotel you step straight onto the sand, and the surf schools are close by.
A balcony onto the beach or the garden
All 28 rooms have a balcony, some with sea views and others overlooking the garden: if you want to see the beach, ask when you book. There is a double bed or two beds, a bathroom with shower, a flat-screen television, heating and free wifi throughout the hotel.
Seven studios with kitchens and their own lawn
As well as the hotel there are seven independent units, each with its own entrance, for a maximum of four people:

Three apartments of about 45 m², with a bedroom with two beds and a living-dining room with a sofa bed.
Three studios of the same size, open-plan, with two beds, a sofa bed and a dining area.
One house-style apartment, with a bedroom with two beds and a spacious living-dining room with a sofa bed.

The apartments and studios have an induction hob, extractor hood, microwave and fridge, and their own terrace with a lawn and a wooden picnic table; the house-style one adds an oven and a breakfast bar. Sheets and towels are included. According to the neighbouring campsite, these studios and apartments are rented all year.
Breakfast from 8:00 to 11:00 and a café all day
Breakfast is continental, from 8:00 to 11:00: coffee, tea, juice, toast, pastries, cold meats, cheese and fresh fruit. The café is open all day with tapas, sharing plates, salads, burgers, sandwiches, combination plates and rice dishes, inside or on a large terrace with views. In the evening it works as a bar serving drinks and cocktails.
Merón, surfing and golf
Merón beach is one of Cantabria's surf beaches; the surf lesson from the town's school takes place on it. The El Rosal campsite is a minute's walk away. If you play golf, the hotel has packages with accommodation and breakfast, and the 9-hole Shangri-La course is about ten minutes away by car.
What to ask
The website does not publish prices, whether there is parking, whether dogs are allowed, or check-in and check-out times. Write to info@hotelplayademeron.com or call 942 712 426.
- **El Rosal Campsite** (Campsite, desde 12.9 € / pitch): From El Rosal campsite you step straight onto the sand: it sits right on the front line, between Merón beach and El Tostadero, on the edge of San Vicente de la Barquera, with direct access to the beach and the Picos de Europa in the distance. It operates from Easter to October: in November 2026 it is closed and reopens at Easter 2027. In the meantime, the Hotel Playa de Merón, a minute's walk away, rents its studios and apartments all year.
Pitches cannot be booked: arrive before 11:00
Almost all pitches are given on a first-come basis; bookings are only accepted for long stays. From Easter to mid-July and from late August to October there is usually plenty of room. Between the last week of July and the third week of August, go early: places are freed up every day at 11:00, with no guarantee.
What a night cost in 2026


Per nightLowMidHigh


Adult€5.70€6.90€8.70
Child€4.00€5.30€6.70
Pitch (car with caravan or tent, or motorhome)€12.90€18.00€21.00
Half pitch (small tent and car)€8.50€12.00€14.00
Extra tent€4.80€6.20€7.20
Electricity€6.90€6.90€6.90
Dog€2.20€2.60€4.20


VAT included. In 2026 low season ran from 27 March to 11 June and from 13 September to 11 October; mid season from 12 to 30 June and from 1 to 12 September, and high season was July and August. The 2027 rates have not been published yet.
Twenty bungalows with a porch
The 20 bungalows sleep four or five people: one bedroom with a double bed and another with bunk beds, a living room with kitchen (ceramic hob, fridge, microwave, kitchenware), a bathroom with shower, heating and a furnished porch with its own garden. They come with sheets, blankets and pillows, and a parking space. They are booked online; the price appears when you check dates.
Showers, washing machine and restaurant
There are three washroom blocks with hot water 24 hours a day, self-service washing machines and dryers, a mini-supermarket with the basics, a restaurant with a terrace, wifi throughout the campsite and a children's playground.
The surf beach in front
You walk out of the campsite straight onto Merón, the town's long beach, and the Yellow Bird trail passes by here along the Oyambre coast. The surf lesson at Merón takes place on the same beach.

## As a family: Surf, a castle and a 28-arch bridge

San Vicente works for families because everything is close and free or cheap: the castle with battlements, the bridge to cross without breathing and an enormous beach with a surf school for all ages.

### What works best
Surf lesson at Merón, €35 and two hours, with groups by age; Surfkids up to age 7

Maza bridge, flat and pushchair-friendly

Castillo del Rey, for climbing up to the battlements

Sable de Merón, with lifeguards in summer

### Sleep
Hotel Luzón, with triple and quadruple rooms

Hotel Playa de Merón, with studios for four

### Eat
Augusto, marked in the Michelin Guide as good for going with the family

### Bear in mind
The Puebla Vieja is steep and cobbled: a backpack carrier is better than a pushchair

Merón has strong surf: swim where there is supervision

### Qué hacer as a family
- Surf lesson on Merón beach
- Walk around the Puebla Vieja
- Maza bridge
- Castillo del Rey
- Paddle surfing on the San Vicente estuary
- Sable de Merón

## With teenagers: Waves, boards and a trail with aviation history

For teenagers, San Vicente means water: surfing in the open sea, paddle surfing on the estuary and a trail along the Oyambre coast that ends where the first flight from the United States to Europe landed.

### What works best
Surfing at Merón, with multi-day packs if they get hooked

Paddle surfing on the estuary, from age 10

Yellow Bird trail, at low tide

### Sleep
El Rosal campsite, next to the surf schools, in season

Hotel Playa de Merón, on the same beach

### Eat
The café at the Hotel Playa de Merón, burgers and rice dishes on the terrace

### Bear in mind
The Yellow Bird trail depends on the tide: check it beforehand

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Surf lesson on Merón beach
- Paddle surfing on the San Vicente estuary
- Sable de Merón
- Yellow Bird trail

## Consejos

### Do the town in the morning
The light comes in from the east over the estuary and the bridge looks better in photos; in the afternoon, the beach.

### Check the tides
The Pájaro Amarillo route and walks on the sand depend on low tide.

### Book Sunday lunch
The harbour restaurants fill up at weekends.

### Cross the bridge without breathing
It is the tradition, and children love it.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### What is there to see in San Vicente de la Barquera in a day?
The Puebla Vieja with the Castillo del Rey and the church of Santa María de los Ángeles, the Maza bridge and Merón beach.

### How long does it take from Santander?
About 55 minutes on the A-8.

### Can you learn to surf in winter?
Yes. The Merón schools teach all year; an introductory lesson is two hours from €35.

### Where do you park?
Next to the port and avenida Miramar for the town; in the Merón car park for the beach.

### What is La Folía?
The maritime procession of the Virgen de la Barquera, on the second Sunday after Easter.

### Can you go with a dog?
In the town and on the bridge, on a lead. Las Redes and Augusto admit them on the terrace, and Camping El Rosal in season.