Ribadesella: Coast, Cliffs and Cave Art

At low tide, dinosaur footprints become accessible at the Acantilados de Tereñes. Ribadesella combines this extraordinary glimpse into prehistory with coastal landscapes, walking trails and a long town beach. When planning your hotel stay, you can start by considering whether beaches, nature, prehistoric art or local cuisine will be the focus of your visit.

Beach and Coastal Landscape

Playa de Santa Marina is Ribadesella’s main town beach and is 1,200 metres long. Several surf schools in the area offer lessons. Check availability for your travel dates; seasonal beach services may also vary.

The Entrepeñes y Playa de Vega Natural Monument includes a gorge and an unspoilt beach. At Playa de Vega, the protected area also includes a small, valuable dune system. A wooden boardwalk makes it possible to explore the area around the beach. As the structure may be undergoing maintenance, it is advisable to check its condition before using it.

At the Acantilados del Infiernu, a path runs along the cliff edge from the recreation area with tables and benches. Path conditions may change after weather events. The Acantilados del Infiernu route passes partly through the Natura 2000 ZEC and ZEPA Ría de Ribadesella – Ría de Tinamayor protected area. Here, specific walking routes meet protected natural areas along the coast.

Traces of Prehistory and Special Places

Visiting the dinosaur footprints at the Acantilados de Tereñes depends directly on the tides: the site is accessible only at low tide. Plan your visit around local conditions. The site features four parallel trackways made by ornithopods, one theropod trackway and a stegosaur track with hand and foot impressions.

The Cueva de Tito Bustillo is home to one of Europe’s most significant complexes of Palaeolithic cave art. The surviving images include horses and reindeer, dating from between 22,000 and 10,000 BC. The Centro de Arte Rupestre de Tito Bustillo provides an overview of Asturian prehistory. The Ermita de la Virgen de Guía also stands on Monte Corberu above Ribadesella.

The Cuevona de Cueves also combines a natural feature with a specific destination: the route to the village of Cueves passes through the cave. Inside the approximately 300-metre-long cave, you can see calcareous formations such as stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone. Check local vehicle regulations before setting out.

Trails and Routes

The Ribadesella–La Espasa section of the Camino de Santiago passes through the town, crosses the bridge over the Sella and then follows the left bank of the Ría to Playa de Santa Marina. The Nueva–Ribadesella section takes a different route: it passes through Cuerres and then reaches Ribadesella via El Portiello. Check current trail conditions before setting out. Another walking route, the Ascensión al Mofrechu, is 16.80 kilometres long; conditions there may also vary.

The Descenso en Piragua del Río Sella ends at a bridge in Ribadesella and takes place on the first Saturday in August each year. If the event fits your travel plans, check the date for your travel year.

Cider and Cuisine

The Folixa de la Sidra includes cider-pouring competitions and a public tasting of homemade cider. Dates for the recurring cultural programme vary, so it is worth checking the dates for each edition. Dishes highlighted in Ribadesella include Calderetas, prepared with rockfish such as Sargos, Rotbarben, Gobitos, Xulies or Durdos.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

Ribadesella can be reached via the A-8 motorway and the N-632 road. Check the current route and junctions before setting out. For planning your stay, the Oficina de Información Turística de Ribadesella provides promotional materials and detailed maps; check its opening hours before visiting.

When looking for a hotel in Ribadesella, you can prioritise what matters to you: perhaps the town beach and surf lessons, the coastal scenery and its trails, or cave art and prehistory.

Discover more destinations: Tereñes, El Carmen, Bajo Nalón, Villanueva De Oscos, Cangas De Onis, Parres, Salas, Piloña

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