Colunga lies between the Cantabrian Sea and the Sierra del Sueve. The region combines coastal and mountain landscapes with an unusually tangible glimpse into the history of the Earth: dinosaur footprints are visible in the cliffs around Llastres, including the tracks of large sauropods. When looking for a hotel, it helps to first choose the focus of your trip: the sea, Earth’s history, culture or nature.
Dinosaur Footprints and the Jurassic Period
The Museo del Jurásico de Asturias (MUJA) in the municipality of Colunga brings the Jurassic Period and its dinosaurs to life. Its permanent exhibition includes complete skeletons, fossilized footprints, and audiovisual and interactive features. This offers two ways to explore the subject: footprints can be seen in the cliffs around Llastres, while the MUJA presents the period in an exhibition.
The MUJA grounds include an outdoor play area, a garden with 20 large dinosaur models and a cafeteria. These different features give a museum visit a different focus from looking at footprints in the landscape. Visitors particularly interested in dinosaurs will find both paleontological finds and engaging interpretation as themes for their trip.
Maritime History and Architecture
In Llastres, an interactive route leads through the historic centre, with audio guides devoted to the town’s maritime history. This adds local history to the story of the Earth, focusing on the sea and the area’s maritime past. The Church of Santiago de Gobiendes in Gobiendes offers a different historical perspective: it dates from the second half of the 9th century and is an example of Asturian pre-Romanesque architecture. The Jurassic Period at the MUJA and this building represent distinctly different historical subjects, making Colunga interesting for culture-focused travellers.
Hiking Trails, Beech Forest and Mountains
Picu Pienzu rises to 1,161 metres in the Sierra del Sueve. Colunga has a network of hiking trails for different abilities, including coastal and village routes, family-friendly paths and ascents to the peaks of the Sierra. The various types of trails offer different experiences; choose one based on the excursion that interests you most.
La Biescona, the only beech forest in the Sierra del Sueve, is a special option for a woodland visit. It can be explored on a hiking route that is particularly impressive in autumn. Several distinctive fern species also grow in the Obaya valley. They are very rare in continental Europe and are found mostly in tropical climates. So, alongside the coast and mountain peaks, the municipality’s natural attractions also include woodland and remarkable plant life.
The Sea, Activities and Sidra Culture
Colunga’s beaches are suitable for swimming, surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. The Costa de los Dinosaurios driving route passes through Colunga and Llastres, linking the two places through their shared dinosaur theme. Visitors can also discover Asturian sidra culture with a tasting. These options offer different experiences: you can focus your stay on activities by the sea, a road trip or cultural discoveries, without combining all the themes into a single tour.
Find a Hotel to Match Your Travel Plans
Next, check the location listed for each offer and compare it with your own plans for each day. Colunga’s combination of the sea, Earth’s history, culture and mountain landscapes offers several possible focuses for your trip.
Discover more destinations: Luces, Colunga, Lastres, LibardĂłn, Pivierda, Sales
Return to the main travel overview: Asturias.
More destinations
More places in the same destination:
