Bulnes: Excursion with funicular and Cabrales cheese cave in the Picos de Europa

The most unusual part of this Picos de Europa outing is the underground funicular to Bulnes. In about eight minutes, the train passes through the mountain and reaches a village once cut off from road traffic. You then walk its stone lanes, look toward Picu Urriellu, and finish with Cabrales cheese and Asturian cider.

I like the mix of mountain scenery and local food. The views around Poncebos and the Cares Gorge give the day its drama, while the cheese cave explains a tradition you can taste immediately afterward. The main drawback is the long bus ride, which can take about three hours each way from some pickup points.

Key points to know before booking

• Bulnes is reached by an underground funicular, not a scenic cable car, so expect a short mountain train ride with no views during the journey.
• Poncebos gives you a look at the Cares Gorge, where the Cares River cuts through steep rock walls.
• Bulnes has no road access and no cell phone coverage, which adds to its quiet, old-fashioned feel.
• The Cabrales visit includes a tasting with Asturian cider, not just a talk about cheese-making.
• Lunch is not included, but the tour guarantees access to Bulnes for lunch.
• The bilingual format can vary, so ask how English explanations will be handled, especially at the cheese cave.

Why Bulnes makes this day different

Many mountain day trips are built around a viewpoint and a quick photo stop. This one has a stronger sense of place. You see the entrance to the Cares Gorge, ride into a remote village, and then connect the scenery with one of Asturias’s best-known foods.

Bulnes is not simply a pretty village placed beside a road. It sits in the Picos de Europa and cannot be reached by car. The funicular now makes the visit easy, but the village still feels separate from ordinary traffic. Its cobbled lanes, traditional homes, small chapel, and quiet setting give you a good idea of how demanding life in these mountains once was.

The tour also gives you two different kinds of scenery. Around Poncebos, the mountains feel grand and severe. In Bulnes, the scale is smaller and more intimate. You have time to walk, pause, and look up at the rock walls rather than rushing from one bus stop to another.

The long approach to Poncebos

The day begins from one of four pickup points: Cangas de Onís bus station, C. Uría 58, Panadería Manín, or Buendía Store in Oviedo. Check the exact option you booked carefully, since the meeting point changes according to the reservation.

The bus ride to the Picos de Europa takes about three hours. That is a serious part of the day, but it is not wasted time. The route follows the Cares River and passes through mountain scenery and small rural villages. You will want comfortable clothes and shoes, even though this is not a full-day hiking tour.

Poncebos is the gateway to the famous Cares Route, known locally as La Garganta Divina, or The Divine Gorge. The excursion does not turn into a long hike along the route. Instead, you stop to take in the gorge and river, with steep rock walls shaped by erosion.

This is an important distinction when you plan your day. If you came expecting to walk the full Cares Route, this is not that outing. You get a look at one of northern Spain’s great natural sights, then continue to Bulnes.

The Poncebos stop works best as a short introduction to the area. The gorge shows you the scale of the Picos before the tour shifts to village life and food traditions.

Riding the funicular into Bulnes

At the lower station, you board the Bulnes funicular. The ride lasts about eight minutes and runs underground through the mountain. It is pulled along a track by cable, so think of it as a mountain railway rather than a cable car floating above the valley.

This detail matters. You will not get panoramic views from the funicular itself. The ride is memorable because it takes you through solid rock and delivers you to a village that has no road connection. The train is practical first, scenic second.

The schedule includes a break at the lower station before the ride, followed by free time and walking once you reach Bulnes. The included funicular ticket is valued at $26.99, which helps explain some of the tour price.

For many people, this will be the day’s most distinctive transport experience. It removes the need for a demanding mountain walk, but it also means you miss the gradual change in scenery that comes with hiking. I see that as a good trade for a day with several stops.

Walking Bulnes without rushing

Once you arrive, the tour gives you a guided visit and free time. Bulnes is small, so you are not facing a huge sightseeing list. The pleasure comes from walking slowly, noticing the stone buildings, and taking in the silence.

The village has no cell phone coverage. That can be inconvenient if you need to make calls or check messages, but it also changes the mood. Bulnes feels calmer because modern traffic and constant phone use are absent.

The chapel of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves is one of the suggested places to see. It is small and modest, fitting the scale of the village. You can also walk to a viewpoint for views of Picu Urriellu, better known as Naranjo de Bulnes. This peak is an important symbol for climbers and one of the most recognizable sights in the area.

The viewpoint is a reason to leave some energy for walking uphill. The supplied schedule allows roughly an hour for walking and free time, with a guided visit included. That is enough for a look around, but you should not expect a long independent hike or a relaxed afternoon with unlimited time.

Bulnes is also where lunch fits into the day. Lunch is not part of the price, but the tour guarantees access to the village for lunch. That is useful because the funicular schedule and the remote setting make an improvised meal elsewhere difficult.

Bring a little patience to this part of the day. The village is interesting precisely because it is small and quiet. If you need a packed program of museums and major monuments, Bulnes may feel brief. If you like mountain villages and time to look around, the stop makes sense.

Cabrales cheese in Arenas

After Bulnes, the tour returns by funicular and takes the bus to Arenas de Cabrales, also referred to as Las Arenas in the schedule. The drive is about 30 minutes. Here, the subject shifts from mountain access to Asturian food.

Cabrales cheese is one of the region’s signature products. At the cheese cave, you learn how it is made using a traditional method passed down through generations. The visit gives the cheese some context before you taste it, which is valuable because Cabrales has a strong flavor and can be unfamiliar if you usually eat mild cheeses.

The cave visit lasts about an hour and includes a guided presentation and tasting. The final pairing is simple and very local: Cabrales cheese with Asturian cider. Cider is not just a drink added to fill out the program. It is part of Asturias’s food culture, and tasting the two together gives the day a clear regional finish.

The language arrangement deserves attention. The live guide operates in English and Spanish, but some content may be presented in its original language. At the cheese cave, English-speaking participants may receive an iPad with translated text. If the spoken Spanish moves quickly, it can be hard to read and listen at the same time.

I would ask at the start how the bilingual explanations will work. A guide such as Santiago, praised for clear communication and strong experience, can make a major difference to the day. Still, the cave presentation itself may not offer the same level of English interpretation as the main tour.

The tasting helps balance that limitation. Even if you miss part of the technical explanation, you still get to try the product and understand its place in the region. The cheese is not an afterthought. It is one of the tour’s strongest reasons to continue to Arenas after Bulnes.

How the timing affects the value

The advertised duration is eight to twelve hours. The wide range reflects the departure point, traffic, and the day’s operating schedule. From Oviedo, you should expect a long day, with about three hours by bus to the Picos and roughly two and a half hours back.

That leaves less time on foot than the total duration might suggest. You are paying for transportation, access, guiding, and several linked stops rather than a full day spent in one village.

At $81 per person, the value is strongest if you want the whole package. The price includes a private bus, expert guide, the return funicular ticket, a guided Bulnes visit, guaranteed lunch access, the cheese cave tour, and the tasting with cider. Buying the funicular ticket alone would account for $26.99 of that price.

The value is weaker if you are already based close to Poncebos, prefer to travel slowly, or want to hike independently. In that case, the long bus transfer may feel like too much time spent in transit.

For a visitor staying in Oviedo or Cangas de Onís without a car, the calculation is better. The tour links places that are awkward to combine on your own and removes the need to arrange the funicular, local transport, and cheese cave separately.

What to bring and what to expect physically

Wear comfortable walking shoes. The tour includes walking through Bulnes and time at the viewpoint, even though the funicular replaces a longer mountain approach.

Bring clothing suited to the weather. Mountain conditions can change, and the tour operates outdoors at Poncebos and Bulnes. The provided information does not promise a specific weather plan, so a light extra layer is sensible.

This is not a wheelchair-accessible activity and is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. The combination of bus transfers, funicular access, cobbled village streets, and walking makes that restriction important.

You should also plan for a full day away from your accommodation. Food and drinks beyond the stated tasting are not included. Since lunch is not included, budget for it separately in Bulnes.

The guide and bilingual experience

The tour has a live guide in English and Spanish. The guide is an important part of the day because the region’s geography and food traditions are easier to understand with explanation.

Santiago is specifically associated with strong communication, practical experience, and good group handling. That is worth noting if you want more than transport and photo stops. A good guide can explain why Poncebos matters, point out the key views around Bulnes, and connect the cheese cave to Asturian food culture.

Still, do not assume every part of the day will be equally polished in both languages. The main guiding may be bilingual, while some cave information can be delivered in Spanish with an iPad for English text. If your English comprehension is limited or you want detailed food production information, ask for clarification rather than trying to follow a fast explanation and a screen at once.

The tour’s overall score is 4.8 from 58 ratings, and the strongest praise focuses on organization, communication, value, and informative guiding. That matches the structure of the day: once the transport is arranged, the tour gives you a clear sequence of mountain views, village time, and food.

Who should book this outing

I would recommend it to you if you want to see Bulnes without taking a strenuous mountain route. It also suits anyone interested in regional food, especially if a cheese tasting feels more meaningful when you have just visited the place where the tradition is explained.

It is a good fit for first-time visitors to the Picos de Europa who want an introduction rather than a serious hiking day. You get the Cares Gorge, Bulnes, Picu Urriellu views, and Cabrales cheese in one outing.

You may want to skip it if your main goal is hiking the Cares Route. You may also find the day tiring if long bus rides bother you. The language setup is another consideration for anyone who needs full English interpretation at every stop.

Should you book the Bulnes and Cabrales tour?

Book this tour if you value convenience and variety. For $81, you get transport from selected points, the funicular, guiding, a remote mountain village, and a cheese-and-cider tasting. That is a fair deal for a long day in an area where independent transport can be awkward.

Go in with the right expectations. The funicular is underground, Bulnes is compact, lunch costs extra, and the bus ride is long. If those details suit your travel style, this is a practical way to connect the scenery and food of Asturias in one well-filled day.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the starting time and pickup point when booking, then bring good shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and an appetite for a strong blue cheese.

FAQ

How long does the Bulnes and Cabrales cheese tour last?

The tour lasts between 8 and 12 hours, depending on the starting point and schedule. The bus journey can take about three hours on the way to the Picos de Europa and about two and a half hours on the return.

Where can I join the tour?

The available starting points are Estación de Autobuses de Cangas de Onís, C. Uría 58, Panadería Manín, and Buendía Store in Oviedo. Your exact meeting point depends on the option booked.

Is the Bulnes funicular included?

Yes. A return ticket for the Bulnes funicular is included, with a stated value of $26.99. The ride through the mountain takes about eight minutes.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and additional food or drinks are not included. The tour does guarantee access to Bulnes for lunch.

What languages are available?

The live guide operates in English and Spanish. Some content may be provided in its original language, and English information at the cheese cave may be supplied on an iPad.

Is the activity suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.