International
2023 Spain
Lighthouse Tour of Northern Spain - Sep 2023
Join us for a lighthouse, cultural and historical tour of northern Spain. We will start in the northeast, in San Sebastian, near the border with France, in the heart of the Basque region and head west along the shores of the Cantabrian Sea through Vizcaya, Cantabria, Asturias and into Galicia and see roughly 35 lighthouses. We’ll spend nights in cities such as San Sebastian – enjoying “pintxos”, the local version of tapas -, Bilbao – where we will visit the Guggenheim Museum, Santander, Oviedo and La Coruña, home to the Tower of Hercules, the oldest light station in continuous use in the world. We will also have a few “detours” through some of the interior to visit historic sites such as Covadonga – birthplace of the Reconquista in the mountains of Asturias, Guernica – site of German aerial bombings during the Spanish Civil War, and Santiago de Compostela – the end point of the Camino de Santiago. We will also enjoy culinary delights for lunch, savoring the variety of local flavors along the way, matched with great wines everywhere and “cidra” (alcoholic apple cider) in Asturias. This will be roughly a 12-day tour using a minibus, so it will be limited to probably 16 members. The tour guides will be Henry Gonzalez, our Society Vice President, and his wife Chris. They have traveled extensively throughout Spain and knows these lighthouses well as his great-great grandfather was a lighthouse keeper at nine lighthouses along the coast.
Tour Leaders: Henry & Chris Gonzales
Lighthouses
- Faro de Cabo Higuer
- Faro de la Plata
- Faro Monte Igueldo
- Faro de Zumaia
- Faro de Lekeitio
- Arriluze
- Punta Galea
- Caballo
- Pescador
- Cabo de Ajo
- Cabo Mayor
- Faro de la Suances
- Llanes
- San Vicente de la Barquera
- Cabo Lastres
- Faro de Tazones
- Cabo Torres
- Candas
- Faro de Aviles
- Cudillero
- Cabo Vidio
- Cabo de Busto
- Luarca
- Faro de San Agustin
- Tapia de Casariego
- Illa Pancho-Galicia
- San Ciprian
- Roncadoira
- Estaca de Bares
- Cabo Ortegal
- Frouxeria
- Cabo Prior
- Algorta Breakwater
- Tower of Hercules
- Cabo Vilan
- Cabo Machichaco
- Faro de Castro-Urdiales
- Faro de la Isla Mouro
- Faro de Cabo Penas
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive in San Sebastian and relax until the Welcome dinner.
Day 2 - This day we will visit Cabo Higuer Lighthouse, Faro de la Plata Lighthouse and Faro Monte Igueldo Lighthouse. We return for leisure time in the afternoon and pintxos at dinner with wine or beer.
Day 3 - Today we leave San Sebastian and head for Bilbao. On the way we will visit Faro de Zumaia Lighthouse, Loyola Sanctuary, Faro de Lekeitio Lighthouse and a stop at Guggenheim Bilboa Art Museum. Night one in Bilbao.
Day 4 - We will tour to see Arriluze Lighthouse and Algortu Breakwater Light, and Punta Galea Lighthouse. Then we will tour Guernica with a guide. We will have lunch in Bermeo. After lunch we will see Machichaco Lighthouse and then back to the hotel in Bilbao for night 2. Dinner is on your own so you can explore the area.
Day 5 - We start this day with a visit to Faro de Castro-Urdiales Lighthouse and castle. Then we have a boat ride to see Caballo and Pescador Lighthouses. Before lunch we visit Cabo de Ajo Lighthouse. After lunch we go to Cabo Mayor Lighthouse then on to see Magdalena Palace and Faro de la Isla Mouro Lighthouse. Then a visit to Cabo Mayor Lighthouse. From there we go to our hotel in Santander with dinner at the hotel.
Day 6 - Today we visit 3 lighthouses before lunch - Faro de Suances, San Vicente de la Barquera and Llanes. We have lunch in Llanes. We then go to Covadonga Sanctuary historic site before going to our hotel in Cangas de Onis Parador. We will have dinner in Parador.
Day 7 - We will tour to see Faro Cabot Lastres Lighthouse and then move on to Faro de Tazones Lighthouse. Before lunch we visit Cabo Torres Lighthouse then head for lunch in Gijon. After that we visit Candas Lighthouse and Cabo Penas Lighthouse. Then on to our hotel in Oveida - night one of two. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8 - Day of rest with optional non-lighthouse tours. Second night in Oveida with lunch and dinner on your own. Second night at hotel.
Day 9 - Our first stop today is Faro de Aviles, then we visit Cudillero Lighthouse. We will then view Cabo Vidio Lighthouse and have lunch in Luarca. After lunch we see Luarca Lighthouse and one more Cabo Busto Lighthouse. Then on to our hotel in Navia where we will have dinner.
Day 10 - Today is filled with lighthouses. First is Faro de San Agustin Lighthouse, then Tapia de Casariego Lighthouse and then Illa Pancho-Galacia Lighthouse. We will have lunch in San Ciprian. After lunch we visit San Ciprian Lighthouse, and Roncadoira Lighthouse. We then head to Viveiro and our hotel.
Day 11 - Another day of lots of lighthouses. In the morning we see Faro de Estaca de Bares and Cabo Ortegal Lighthouse. We have lunch in Frousxeria and then visit Punta Frouxeria Lighthouse. Next is a visit to Cabo Prio Lighthouse and we end the day with a visit to the Tower of Hercules Lighthouse, one of the most historic and ancient lighthouses in the world. We end up at our hotel in Coruna which is only .6 miles from the Tower of Hercules.
Day 12 - In the morning we have a late departure which will offer you one more chance to see the Tower of Hercules. Then on to visit Cabo Vilan Lighthouse. We will have lunch in Fisterra. We will then visit Faro de Finisterre Lighthouse, ou rlast lighthouse of the tour. We move on to Santiago de Compostela for visit to the cathedral and museum. We stay at a hotel here and have our farewell dinner this evening.
Day 13 - Breakfast and flights home.
Costs:
Want more details?
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Register
Download a Tour Registration Form (PDF). Complete and mail your check to USLHS, 9005 Point No Point Rd NE, Hansville, WA 98340.