Santa Cruz De Bezana: Coast, Trails and Cultural Heritage

Santa Cruz De Bezana can be explored through several clearly distinct themes: cliff-top trails, a viewpoint, architectural and industrial history, and events celebrating local horticulture. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether landscape, culture or a particular event is the main factor. The specific route descriptions and event programmes offer different points of reference.

Cliff-top trails

The municipal Playa de San Juan de la Canal–Arnía route follows a trail of about 2.7 kilometres along the cliffs from San Juan de la Canal to La Arnía. Along the way, it offers views of the Cantabrian Sea and the Tómbolo de Covachos, as well as opportunities to see the variety of birds on the cliffs. Trail conditions and access rules may change; check both before your visit.

The San Juan de la Canal–Virgen del Mar route uses a stone path, a wooden bridge and a cliff-top trail leading to Rostrío. If you are planning your visit with both the coastal scenery and the route in mind, these descriptions of the trail sections offer additional guidance.

Facilities at Playa de San Juan de la Canal include toilets, showers, foot-washing stations, bins, a cleaning service and a telephone. Facilities may be seasonal or subject to change. Check which ones are available when you visit.

Landscape and views

Santa Cruz De Bezana is one of the municipalities in the Costa Quebrada Geopark. Mediterranean and Atlantic plants grow along the Alto de la Gigüela route, including holm oaks, hazel trees, chestnut trees and oaks. The trail reaches a summit with a 360-degree panorama of Santander, its bay and virtually the entire municipality of Santa Cruz De Bezana. In clear weather, the view also extends to the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Picos de Europa.

On this route, nature along the trail and the view from the summit go hand in hand: you can appreciate the variety of plants along the way, while at the top the view opens out across the coastal and mountain landscapes mentioned above. Views of the more distant mountains depend on clear conditions.

Architectural and industrial history

The Iglesia de Santa Cruz de Bezana was built between 1905 and 1917 under the direction of Octavio Respuela; its tower was completed in 1923. Architectural details include a Neo-Gothic high altarpiece, nine vaults with round and pointed arches, and a rose window on the west façade. The high altarpiece, vaults and window reveal different aspects of the building that you can look out for when viewing the church.

In Sancibrián, structural remains of the Molino del Ronzón and a dam built of cut stone have survived. The mill already existed in 1496, remained in operation until 1920 and operated for approximately 500 years in total. The history of this mill site therefore spans several centuries. Check local access before visiting.

Events and travel planning

The recurring Festival del Tomate celebrates local horticulture and its produce. At the 2025 edition, visitors could browse stalls run by local producers and learn more about the history and distinctive features of the tomatoes. The programme for that edition also included a food and craft market, seed distribution and a communal meal. Dates and activities may vary from year to year, so check the programme for your travel dates.

The programme for the Hoguera de San Juan in June 2026 included a mass at the Ermita de San Juan, music, the theatrical performance “La llama que nos une” and fireworks over the sea. In June 2026, the municipality held the Hoguera de San Juan as a festival of regional tourist interest. If you would like to include a future edition in your travel plans, check the dates and the programme for that edition.

When looking for hotels in Santa Cruz De Bezana, base your choice on your specific plans: for a trail visit, the route description and local conditions are important; for a festival, check the dates and programme for the relevant edition. Check the features of individual hotels in their respective listings.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sancibrían, Soto De La Marina, Maoño, Mompia, Arredondo, Santibáñez, Valderredible, Campoo De Yuso.

For the main travel overview: Cantabria.