El Capricho, Comillas, Santillana, and the redwood forest

Ten hours in Cantabria that pair a Gaudí house with the largest sequoia forest in Spain, two things nobody expects to find on the same day. The sequoia forest First stop, in Cabezón de la Sal. You walk for about an hour along its trails among trees up to 40 meters tall and 2 meters in diameter. The light filtering down between those trunks explains why it is one of the most photographed landscapes in the region. El Capricho Back on the bus, heading for Comillas. The visit starts at El Capricho, originally named Villa Quijano, which belongs to Gaudí's Orientalist phase. Inside there are artificial grottoes, intricately decorated rooms and gardens surrounding the house. Comillas Without leaving town, a half-hour guided walk through the historic center, with the sculpture of the Exterminating Angel and the Tres Caños fountain. After that you have three free hours to carry on at your own pace and have lunch at one of the town's restaurants. Santillana del Mar An hour's stroll through the old town, taking in the Velarde Palace, the Merino Tower, the Don Borja Tower and the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana. The return is to the starting point. Where it departs from When you book, you choose between two departures. From Santander, at 8:30, at the bus stop opposite the Maritime Station, on Calle Antonio López. From Santillana del Mar, at 9:00, at the bus terminal at Avenida de Dorat, 32. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.