El Transcantabrico
From Santiago de Compostela to Leon, OR from Leon to Santiago, all the magic of the north awaits the traveller, from the lands of old Castile and Leon, to the shores of the Bay of Biscay. These are enchanting places full of vitality and history which have gradually become living works of art with the passing of the centuries and includes the following cities and towns: Santiago de Compostela, Vivero, Oviedo, Ribadesella, Llanes, Santillana del Mar, Santander, Bilbao, Carrion de los Condes and Leon, to name a few. The El Transcantabrico is a very special journey that introduces the traveller to this unique area of Spain, known to the locals as the ‘Green Spain’. The beauty of Green Spain, its countryside, monuments and the pleasure of unrivalled cuisine, await all travellers accommodated in this incredible hotel on rails. On board the train there are suites catering for two people or for individuals, where one can enjoy all the privacy one needs during the journey
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On board the El Transcantabrico:
Without doubt, the train’s true personality is embodied in the four lounge cars, veritable railway treasures owing to their external design and finish together with their internal décor and furnishings. These are the common areas of the train, where many have began a lasting friendship inspired by the unique ambience of the carriages.
Travellers are offered daily press, magazines, a wide selection of books from the library, television, DVD and more. In other words, all that one needs to make the journey a truly pleasant experience.
Each suite on the El Transcantabrico is especially designed to rest and privacy. Travellers can sleep silently because the train is completely stationary overnight. This means that your sleep is not disturbed by moving and jolting and allows those who enjoy nightlife an opportunity to go our and sample the atmosphere of each place.
Each compartment is equipped with a complete set of complementary bathroom accessories.
Each suite compartment has a double bed, and some have the option of an extra overhead bunk bed. All compartments are equipped with:
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The private bathroom has a hydro-sauna, turbo massage, steam bath and hair dryer. Air-conditioning, heating, music and lights are controlled individually and the floors of the compartments are carpeted.
All suites have large windows allowing travellers to contemplate the passing scenery. Curtains provide the privacy one needs for rest. All cars are connected internally for the travellers’ ease of movement.
Itinerary 2008
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Leon – Santiago de Compostela Day 1, Saturday (Leon – Cistierna) Today we meet at the monumental Parador de San Marcos at 12:00 noon in Leon, a magnificent 16th c. building with its Spanish Plateresque façade. Tour of Leon, a city of great history with an important old quarter situated around the 13th c. cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and the Collegiate church of San Isidoro. Lunch in Leon. Later on the train will take us to Cistierna in the Esla Valley. Dinner in Cistierna. Day 2, Sunday, (Cistierna – Mercadillo) During breakfast the train covers the journey between Cistierna and Guardo. We travel by coach so as to visit Olmeda’s Roman Villa and the Romanesque art of Palencia, Carrion de Los Condes, Villalcazar de Sirga and Fromista, all of great architectural significance. Lunch in Villacazar. In the afternoon we travel from Mataporquera to Mercadillo, as we curve around the rim of the impressive Ebro dam and the beautiful marshland region of Las Merindades. Dinner in Mercadillo. Day 3, Monday, (Mercadillo – Santander) While having breakfast, the train winds its way through the Valley of Mena and the lands of Vizcaya to reach Bilbao, a modern city, where the river searches for the sea. The tour of the city includes a visit to the famous Guggenheim Museum (only July and August, as the museum is closed on Mondays for the rest of the year). Lunch. In the afthernoom the train will arrive to Santander, capital of Cantabria, a beautiful coastal city with an enchanting past. Tour of the city and dinner. Optional excursion to the local Casino after dinner. Day 4, Tuesday, (Santander – Arriondas) During breakfast the train will be arriving to Cabezon de la Sal. Our coach will take us to Santillana del Mar, a beautiful medieval village captured in time. The tour includes a visit to the Neocave Museum at Altamira which incorporates a replica of the nearby Stone Age caves famous for their Pre-Historic paintings. Lunch in Santillana. In the afternoon, we continue by train from Cabezon de la Sal to the province of Asturias where we will visit the beautiful seaside resort town of Llanes, Ribadesella and later we will enjoy dinner in Cangas de Onis. Day 5, Wednesday, (Arriondas – Gijon) Today we get into the heart of Asturias. We will go by coach up to the magnificent National Park ‘Picos de Europa’ visiting the lakes, the sanctuary of Covadonga and then we continue on to Cangas de Onis. Lunch on board. During lunch the train will be arriving to Gijon, the impressive city of the Asturian seaboard. Dinner in Gijon. Day 6, Thursday, (Gijon – Luarca) A short trip brings us from Gijon to Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias, a city of great elegance known for its gastronomic delights and some of the finest Pre-Romanesque monuments of Europe. Lunch in Oviedo. The journey continues on to Luarca, the ‘White Town’ of the Green Coast. Dinner in Luarca. Day 7, Friday, (Luarca –Vivero) This morning we head further along the coast to Ribadeo, the first city of the province of Galicia on the border with Asturias, set magestically on the mouth of the River Eo. Trip by boat on the estuary. The landscape from here along the coast is called the ‘Rias Altas’ or ‘Upper Estuaries’ and is awe-inspiring. Lunch in Ribadeo. In the afternoon we continue by train to Vivero. Dinner in Vivero. Day 8, Saturday, (Ferrol – Santiago) Our last journey by train as we travel from Vivero to Ferrol. In Ferrol we board our coach for our last destination: Santiago de Compostela, and the focus of the Pilgrimage. A city tour entreats us to savour the beauty of the old quarter, the Obradoiro Square, the Platerias and the Cathedral. |
Santiago de Compostela – Leon Day 1, Saturday, (Santiago –Vivero) The journey begins in historical Santiago de Compostela, the city of St James and the focus of the Pilgrimage. A city tour entreats us to savour the beauty of the old quarter, the Obradoiro square as well as the famous Cathedral. Lunch in Santiago. From Santiago we take our coach to Ferrol, where the train awaits us to begin our rail journey to Vivero, an attractive walled town on the coast with great ambience. Tour of Vivero and dinner. Day 2, Sunday,( Vivero – Luarca) Breakfast on board. We continue by train through the scenic landscape called the ‘Rias Altas’ or ‘Upper Estuaries’ on to Ribadeo, set magestically on the mouth of the River Eo. Trip by boat on the estuary. Tour of Ribadeo and lunch. From here we get into the province of Asturias in Luarca, the ‘White Town’ of the Green Coast. Dinner in Luarca. Day 3, Monday, (Luarca – Gijon) Our train travels towards Oviedo, capital of the Asturian Principality, a city of great elegance known for its gastronomic delights and some of the finest Pre-Romanesque monuments of Spain. Lunch in Oviedo. Afterwards we get to Gijon, the impressive city of the Asturian seaboard. Dinner in Gijon. Day 4, Tuesday, (Gijon – Llanes) We arrive in Arriondas as we enter into the heart of Asturias. We take the coach up to the National Park ‘Picos de Europa’, visiting the lakes and the sanctuary of Covadonga. Lunch on board while we will follow the River Sella as it winds down to the charming town of Ribadesella. From here we travel on to the beautiful seaside resort town of Llanes. Dinner in Llanes. Day 5, Wednesday, (Llanes – Santander) While having breakfast the train will arrive in Cabezon de la Sal. From here we will take the coach so as to visit the Neocave Museum of Altamira which incorporates a replica of the nearby Stone Age caves famous for their Pre-Historic paintings. We continue on to Santillana del Mar, a beautiful medieval village captured in time. We enjoy a tour of the village and then have lunch in Santillana. In the afternoon the train will take us to Santander, capital of Cantabria, a beautiful coastal city. Tour of the city followed by dinner. If you wish you can visit the local Casino after dinner. Day 6, Thursday (Santander – Mercadillo) After breakfast there will be freetime in Santander. Lunch on board while getting to Bilbao, a modern bustling city, where the river searches the sea. The tour of the city includes a visit to the famous Guggenheim Museum (closed on Mondays, except July and August). In the afternoon the train will arrive in Mercadillo. Dinner in Mercadillo. Day 7, Friday, (Mercadillo – Cistierna) In the morning we arrive in Mataporquera from where we will take our coach in order to visit the Castile’s Channel and some of the Romanesque art of Palencia, as we pass through the towns of Villalcazar de Sirga, Carrion de los Condes and Fromista. Lunch in Villalcazar. We move on to Guardo where we take the train to Cistierna. Dinner in Cistierna. Day 8, Saturday, (Cistierna – Leon) During breakfast the train will arrive in old Leon, as it traverses the river valleys sculptured by the rivers Curueño and Torio. Leon is a town full of history with an important old quarter situated around the 13th c. cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Collegiate church of San Isidoro and the magnificent Parador of San Marcos, with its Spanish Plateresque façade. |
El Transcantabrico Charter
You can also charter El Transcantabrico for groups up to 50 people. The possibilities are endless: business, gastronomy, pleasure, conferences, art and architectural studies. The charter season runs from March, April, May, October, November and December. This includes the possibility of organising an END OF YEAR journey. Prices will vary according to the itinerary, number of days, extras, etc. Please, do not hesitate contacting for further information about rates for your charter trip.