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

Bulnes is reached by an eight-minute underground funicular, not a winding mountain road. That unusual ride leads to a tiny village in the Picos de Europa, followed by Cabrales cheese and cider in Arenas. I like the sharp contrast between the two parts: first, big mountain scenery and quiet lanes, then a close look at a food tradition that belongs to Asturias.

I also like that the funicular ticket and private bus are included, and that you have guaranteed access to Bulnes for lunch, even though lunch itself costs extra. The drawback is the long day on the road. You can also find the English interpretation rushed at times, especially during the cheese visit.

Key points to know before booking

• The funicular runs underground: Expect a short train-like ride through the mountain, with no views from the carriage.
• Bulnes has no road access: You’ll walk among cobbled lanes, traditional houses, a small chapel, and viewpoints toward Picu Urriellu.
• The Cares Gorge comes before Bulnes: The tour shows you Poncebos and the gorge, but it does not turn this into a full Cares Route hike.
• Cabrales cheese is the food highlight: The cave visit explains traditional production and ends with cheese and Asturian cider.
• It is a full day: The tour lasts about 8 to 12 hours, with roughly three hours of outbound bus travel.
• English service can vary: The tour is offered in English and Spanish. At the cheese cave, English-speaking visitors may receive an iPad with translated text.

Why Bulnes makes such a memorable stop

Bulnes has an unusual sense of separation. You cannot reach the village by road, so the approach feels different from a normal mountain-town visit. The funicular now makes access simple, but the village itself still has a quiet, old-fashioned character.

The route starts with a drive toward Poncebos, following the Cares River through the Picos de Europa. Mountain walls rise around the road, and small rural settlements appear along the way. This is not a quick transfer through dull countryside. The ride is part of the experience, though three hours on a bus is a serious commitment.

At Poncebos, you pause near the beginning of the famous Cares Route, known locally as La Garganta Divina, or the Divine Gorge. The Cares River cut through the rock here, leaving a narrow canyon between steep walls. You’ll have time to take in the gorge and river, but this excursion is not a walking tour of the full route.

That distinction matters. If you came hoping to hike for several hours beside the Cares River, this is not the right outing. If you want to see Poncebos without giving up the rest of the day to a long trek, the stop gives you a useful taste of the area.

The underground ride to Bulnes

The funicular is one of the most distinctive parts of the day. It takes about eight minutes to travel through the mountain from the lower station to Bulnes. Think of it as a small train pulled along a track by cable, not a sightseeing cable car.

You will not get panoramic views from the carriage. The reward comes at the other end, when you step into a village that cannot be reached by ordinary road transport. The ticket is included in the $81 price, with a stated value of $26.99, so you do not need to handle that extra cost yourself.

The ride is easy, but the full outing is not designed for anyone who has difficulty walking. The village has cobbled streets and the viewpoint involves an uphill walk. The activity is specifically not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Once you arrive, the guide leads you through Bulnes and leaves time for a walk and some free exploration. The planned stop includes about an hour of walking and free time, although the exact pace can depend on the group and the day’s transport schedule.

Walking Bulnes and looking toward Picu Urriellu

Bulnes is small enough to explore without a map. Its stone houses, narrow lanes, and quiet setting make the village feel removed from the busier parts of Asturias. There is no cell phone coverage, which can be either a pleasant break or a nuisance if you need to stay in touch.

The chapel of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves is one of the simple points of interest in the village. You can also walk up to a viewpoint for views toward Picu Urriellu, also called Naranjo de Bulnes. This peak is one of Spain’s best-known mountain symbols and a major reference point for climbers.

Do not expect a long list of formal attractions in Bulnes. The appeal is the setting, the village scale, and the feeling of being in a place shaped by mountain life rather than by modern traffic. I would give your attention to the lanes and the surrounding rock rather than rushing from one sight to the next.

Lunch is not included, but the tour guarantees access to Bulnes for lunch. That is useful because the village is small and the group needs a practical meal break within the schedule. Bring money for food and drinks, and remember that the cider tasting later is included, while extra refreshments are not.

What the long bus ride means for your day

The private bus is a practical advantage. You do not need to arrange separate transport between your pickup point, Poncebos, Bulnes, and Arenas de Cabrales. Pickup and drop-off options include the bus station in Cangas de Onís, Panadería Manín, Buendía Store in Oviedo, and C. Uría 58, depending on the option booked.

The tradeoff is time. The outbound coach journey is listed at about three hours, followed by the mountain stops, the funicular, Bulnes, and the cheese cave. The return coach journey is about two and a half hours. With pickup variations and transport connections, the entire day can run from eight to twelve hours.

I would not book this tour on a day when you need to be back at a precise time for another activity. The schedule has several moving parts: a long bus journey, a funicular, guided time in Bulnes, and a visit in Arenas. It works best when you can give the whole day to the mountains.

The upside is that the drive lets you see more of Asturias than a simple visit to Bulnes would. The guide can provide context along the route, and the road follows the Cares River toward the Picos. One past participant singled out the fine views during the long ride, even while noting that the bus time felt substantial.

Cabrales cheese in Arenas

After Bulnes, the tour continues to Arenas de Cabrales, the home area of Cabrales cheese. This changes the mood of the day. Instead of looking at mountain scenery, you learn how a local product is made and why it matters to Asturian food culture.

The cheese cave visit explains the traditional process. Cabrales is known for its strong character and is made using methods passed down through generations. The cave setting gives the lesson a direct connection to the place, rather than presenting the cheese as just another item on a tasting board.

The scheduled visit lasts about an hour, including the guided portion and tasting. The cheese is served with Asturian cider, a natural regional pairing. It is a small tasting rather than a full meal, so plan to eat lunch in Bulnes and treat this as the final food stop.

You should also prepare for a possible language issue. The tour operates in English and Spanish, but the cheese presentation may be delivered mainly in Spanish. English speakers may receive an iPad with translated text. One useful warning is that the Spanish narration can move quickly, leaving little time to read along.

That does not make the stop worthless, but it changes what you get from it. If you speak Spanish, you may receive the fullest version of the explanation. If you do not, focus on the demonstration, the setting, and the tasting, and ask the guide for clarification when possible.

The guide can shape the whole experience

This is a guide-led day, so communication matters. The strongest feedback names Santiago as an experienced guide who kept communication with the group clear and made the excursion interesting. If Santiago leads your departure, you can reasonably hope for a well-organized day and useful explanations.

Guides can change, so I would not book solely on the promise of one person. Still, the tour has live guiding in English and Spanish, and the guide handles the movement between coach, funicular, village, and cheese cave. Good timing is important here because a missed connection would affect the whole day.

Ask at the start how the English information will be handled at each stop. That is especially helpful at the cheese cave, where the spoken presentation and tablet translation may not move at the same pace. A quick question early can save confusion later.

The experience has received a strong overall score of 4.8 from 58 ratings, with praise for planning, value, communication, and English explanations. The consistent caution is not about the main sights. It is about the long coach journey and uneven language delivery at some parts of the day.

Is $81 good value?

At $81 per person, this is a fair price if you want several pieces of the Picos experience in one day. The package includes round-trip private-bus transport, the Bulnes funicular ticket, a guided visit to Bulnes, the cheese cave visit, and the cheese and cider tasting.

The funicular ticket alone is valued at $26.99. You are also paying for transport on roads that would be awkward to organize independently, plus a guide who connects the mountain and food portions of the day.

The value drops if you mainly want a quiet visit to Bulnes. The coach ride takes up a large part of the schedule, and you may prefer to spend more time walking in the mountains rather than visiting a cheese cave. This tour is built for variety, not for a long hike or a slow village stay.

Lunch and any extra drinks are not included. That is easy to manage, but remember to budget for the meal in Bulnes. The tasting at the end is included, so you do not need to pay separately for the Cabrales and cider pairing.

What to wear and bring

Wear comfortable shoes. Bulnes includes cobbled streets and an uphill walk to the viewpoint, while the Picos weather can change quickly. Bring clothing suited to the forecast rather than relying on a warm or dry morning.

You should also allow for a long day outside the coach. A small amount of water and anything you need for the bus ride can make the day easier, though only food and drinks not listed in the tour are your own responsibility.

The lack of cell phone coverage in Bulnes is worth knowing in advance. Download anything you need before leaving, and tell anyone expecting regular contact that you may be unreachable for part of the day.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times depend on availability, and the pickup point changes with the option selected, so check those details before booking.

Who should book this excursion?

I would choose this tour if you want to combine mountain scenery, a distinctive village, and regional food without arranging several separate tickets. It suits you if you enjoy a guided day, do not mind a long coach ride, and want a broad introduction to this part of Asturias.

It is also a good fit if you prefer seeing the Cares Gorge rather than hiking the full route. The stop at Poncebos gives you the gorge and river, while Bulnes provides a more intimate mountain setting.

I would look elsewhere if your priority is a serious hike, independent pacing, or uninterrupted English explanations at every stop. You may also find the day tiring if long bus journeys are not your idea of a holiday.

Should you book the Bulnes and Cabrales tour?

Book it if the combination appeals to you: a road-free mountain village, the strange pleasure of an underground funicular, views toward Picu Urriellu, and a Cabrales tasting with cider. The package covers the expensive and awkward parts of the day, and the private bus keeps the route simple.

Skip it if you want to spend most of your time walking. You get scenic stops and free time in Bulnes, but the tour is still a full-day circuit with several hours on the road. For the right visitor, that variety is exactly the point. For a dedicated hiker, it may feel too compressed.

FAQ

How long does the excursion last?

The activity lasts about 8 to 12 hours, depending on the selected departure and transport schedule.

Where can I join the tour?

Pickup options include the Estación de Autobuses de Cangas de Onís, C. Uría 58, Panadería Manín, and Buendía Store in Oviedo. The available meeting point depends on the option you book.

Is the Bulnes funicular ticket included?

Yes. The round-trip funicular ticket is included in the excursion price.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour guarantees access to Bulnes for lunch, but lunch and additional food or drinks are not included.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide operates in English and Spanish. Some content is presented in its original language.

Is the excursion suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.