Juan Infante Municipal Tourist Information Point

The Juan Infante Municipal Tourist Information Point is the tourist office of Santillana del Mar Town Council. Its name matches that of calle de Juan Infante, the axis of the town, and it is where to ask for the street map, the leaflet of the municipality's walking routes and information to organise your visit to the collegiate church and to Altamira.

Contact and hours

It answers on 942 093 108 and at [email protected]. Neither the municipal tourism website nor the leaflet publishes opening hours, so, if you want to be sure of finding it open, call beforehand. For written queries about tourist attractions, heritage or events, the Town Council, at Plaza Mayor 1, also has the email [email protected] and the phone number 942 818 075, and replies during municipal hours.

On the santillanadelmarturismo.com website you can download the municipality's leaflets before your trip: the town street plan, the arts and culture one, the hiking routes one and a tourist map of Cantabria.

The municipality's walking routes

The Routes and Trails leaflet lists six waymarked walks of easy going, on wide paths with little ascent: from sea level at Santa Justa beach to the 226 metres of the Vispieres peak. They are:

1. By the Sea of Santillana.
2. Climb to Monte Castillo.
3. Camino de Santiago.
4. Around Altamira.
5. Queveda – Mijares – Queveda.
6. Around the Peredo palace.

The leaflet recommends choosing the route according to your fitness, checking the weather forecast, wearing comfortable shoes, carrying water and something to eat, protecting yourself from the sun in summer and taking extra care on stretches that cross or follow the road, walking on the left and on the verge.

What to see in the town

With the map in hand, the classic route is the walk through the town, from Plaza de Ramón Pelayo to the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana along calle del Cantón and calle del Río. Ask here about the collegiate church's hours, which change with the season.

About 2 kilometres away is the Altamira Museum and the Neocave, with the replica of the cave and its bison ceiling; route 4 in the leaflet passes through its surroundings. If you are with children, the Santillana zoo is another half-day option.

Getting there

If you come by car, leave the car in the car parks at the entrance and walk in. Without a car, see the bus from Santander and Torrelavega. For a meal in the centre, the Parador Gil Blas restaurant is on the main square.