Kampaoh Somo Playa

It's very much worth taking the ferry (15 minutes) across to Santander – probably several times, as there's plenty to see and do over there. In the city centre, the Maritime Museum, cathedral and Centro Botín contemporary art museum are among the top places to visit. After that, take a walk out on the peninsula to the grand Magdalena Palace before heading back to pick up food from at Mercado de la Esperanza or finding a harbourside restaurant serving up some of the seafood that Santander's known for. If you'd prefer your walks to have rural scenery, plot of course for Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno (25 minutes' drive), where animals from around the globe roam around a 750-hectare former open-pit mining area. The Alto de Fuente Las Varas hike (half an hour) is another scenic choice, or you may like to see the underground views at Cave of El Castillo or Cueva El Pendo (both half an hour). More beach time instead? Playa de Langre, Playa de Galizano and Playa de Antuerta are among your sandy options within a 20-minute drive.