Dunas de Liencres Natural Park

The Dunas de Liencres were declared a Natural Park in 1996 and cover a total area of 256 hectares.

They’re only about 15 km from Santander, just to the left of the mouth of the Pas River in the Ría de Mogro. You can get there via the CA-231 regional road that connects Liencres with Boo of Piélagos.

This Nature Reserve is one of the largest systems of dunes on the Cantabrian coast and is home to rich fauna (aquatic and migratory birds, lizards, snakes, amphibians, newts, etc.) and plant life including dune pines and other species that have adapted to live in the sand.

In addition, there is a sandy jetty 2km long that separates the two beaches of Valdearenas and Canallave. The first is quite long (2.8km), and has fine golden sand. Canallave measures 220m and is very windy with choppy seas that make it very popular among surfers.

If I had to describe Liencres in a single word, it'd be "waves." The strong Cantabrian waves are in full force most days and will give you a solid thrashing if you're not careful!

But for all beginners looking to take up surfing, I'd say that it's no big deal. You fall, get up, and get back on the board to correct what you did wrong the first time.

For those who already know how to surf, there is nothing to say. You already know that there’s nothing a good day of surfing won't cure!

I go almost every year to Santander. Each time, a visit to the dunes is in order. You can park the car, take a walk through the forest, and finally reach the dunes and the huge beach...it’s absolute tranquility.