The route through the Desfiladero de la Hermida (Hermida Gorge) is one of the most striking natural corridors in northern Spain — sheer limestone walls dropping to the river below — and is worth pausing to appreciate. The village of Lebeña, just off the main road, contains a pre-Romanesque church dating to the 10th century that many travelers pass without realizing its significance. On the return leg, the coastal town of San Vicente de la Barquera offers a complete contrast: a fishing harbor, castle ruins, and a chance to finish the day at the sea before heading back.
Potes sits roughly 170 km (106 miles) from Santander and around 155 km (96 miles) from Oviedo. From Santander, the drive takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours depending on conditions, winding through increasingly spectacular mountain scenery as you approach the Picos de Europa. The route is one of the more scenic drives in northern Spain, so the journey itself becomes part of the experience.
Most travelers find 4 to 6 hours in and around Potes gives them time to explore the old town, cross the medieval bridge over the Deva river, visit the Torre del Infantado, and make a short trip to the Monastery of Santo Toribio, located about 3 km (2 miles) from the town center. If you want to take in a short walk into the surrounding Liébana valley, allow closer to 6 hours. A full day comfortably covers the highlights without feeling rushed.
Yes. The town itself is compact and easy to walk with children, and the surrounding landscape offers gentle riverside paths alongside more ambitious mountain trails. The monastery visit is short and accessible, and the town's central plaza and cafes provide natural rest stops. The region also produces its own liqueur, orujo de Liébana, which is celebrated at a local festival each autumn — though the town's relaxed pace and riverside setting make it enjoyable for families year-round, not just during festivals.
Potes is a small medieval market town tucked into the Cantabrian Mountains at the heart of the Picos de Europa, one of Spain's most dramatic natural parks. Its stone bridges, centuries-old tower (Torre del Infantado), and winding old town streets make it a genuinely rewarding destination beyond the typical tourist circuit. The surrounding peaks, river valleys, and nearby Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana — a long-standing pilgrimage site associated with a relic said to be a fragment of the True Cross — give the town a depth that rewards visitors looking for both natural beauty and cultural history.
The road into Potes, particularly the approach through the Hermida Gorge, is spectacular but demanding — narrow in sections and unfamiliar to first-time visitors. Traveling with a local Daytrip driver means you can focus on the scenery rather than navigation, and the flexibility to stop for photos or add an unplanned detour is built into the service. You also avoid the stress of parking in a town with limited space, arriving and departing on your own schedule rather than working around public transport timetables that offer very limited service to this area.
Daytrip is a private car service platform that connects you with local drivers who will transport you door-to-door. We also give you the opportunity to explore sights/attractions along the way. We drive, you discover.
Daytrip offers private door-to-door transfers with optional sightseeing stops, hourly driver hire, and curated day trips — all with local English-speaking drivers and operating across 130+ countries.
For private trips, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure.
Yes! Book a private, door-to-door airport transfer with a local English-speaking driver. Enjoy fixed and transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and the option to pay in advance without the hassle of exchanging cash at a foreign airport.
You will receive the vehicle that best fits the number of travelers in your group, ranging from a sedan to a van for groups of up to 7. Depending where you travel, you can book anything from a sedan comparable to a Toyota Corolla to a Mercedes V-Class to a Classic Cuban Car. While the exact model may vary, we always ensure that the vehicle provided meets your needs in terms of safety, reliability, and comfort. You may be upgraded to a larger vehicle class free of charge depending on availability. Since our largest vehicle seats 7, for groups larger a combination of vehicles will be used. We will send you the exact vehicle details a few days before your trip.
Everywhere except the USA, drivers will supply appropriate child seats (just let us know during booking). In the USA, certain states require you to supply your own child seats.
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So, so happy I stumbled upon this website to book two private transports while visiting Lima, Peru. They were both one-way trips approximately 3 hours in length. Great communication as soon as everything was booked via email and I then downloaded their app. I had a few issues with the app and the customer service was awesome trying to assist me in getting it corrected. Honestly impressive customer service which gave you a positive feeling that you made the right choice. Both drivers were right on time - No issues whatsoever! Can't say enough about the service and ease of everything when travelling so far away. Great job to the daytrip team! Would strongly recommend.
