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Saga Hosted Hotels
Juan de la Cosa - by Ferry
Santoña, Costa de Cantabria, Spain
If you prefer not to fly, our 9 and 16-night cruise departures offer another alternative. Departing from Plymouth, you can look forward to a relaxing overnight cruise in a comfortable cabin to Santander aboard Brittany Ferries. Then, following your 7 or 14-night stay at your hotel, you can cruise back from Santander to Plymouth overnight. Please note - Only 9-night durations are bookable online, please call to book 16-night duration - Porterage is not included when embarking and disembarking your ferry in Santander - Meals are not included. - Ferry times - Outbound: Depart Plymouth at 15:45. Arriving in Santander at 13:15 the following day. Expect a warm welcome from the Santillana-Astuy family at this family-run hotel on the rugged Cantabrian coast. Food is a huge focus here: enjoy lunches of tapas at the bar; fresh fish for dinner at the sea-view restaurant; and sip regional wines hand-selected by Felipe as you watch the hotel’s chef demonstrate how to prepare a few Cantabrian specialities. Scenic walking trails lead practically from the hotel’s front door, while the centre of town is an easy five-minute bus ride away. Finish the day relaxing in the heated indoor swimming pool.Expect a warm welcome from the Santillana-Astuy family at this family-run hotel on the rugged Cantabrian coast. Food is a huge focus here: enjoy lunches of tapas at the bar; fresh fish for dinner at the sea-view restaurant; and sip regional wines hand-selected by Felipe as you watch the hotel’s chef demonstrate how to prepare a few Cantabrian specialities. Scenic walking trails lead practically from the hotel’s front door, while the centre of town is an easy five-minute bus ride away. Finish the day relaxing in the heated indoor swimming pool.
Nationwide shared chauffeur service– included on all departures from April 1, 2026
A nationwide return shared chauffeur service from your home to your UK departure point
Your holiday includes
All inclusive: All meals at the hotel only. Tapas/snack lunches and waiter served table d’hôte dinners
Wine list at meal times including Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines
Afternoon tea
Free bar open 12 hours a day serving a wide range of spirits
Weekly shuttle to Santander
Return ferry from Plymouth to Santander
Return transfers direct to your hotel
Minimum 20kg checked luggage, per person
Exceptional value every time
Saga Host
Our trained hosts will welcome you and ensure you enjoy your holiday. We also offer 24/7 support if needed.
Travel insurance and additional cancellation cover included §
A price reduction is available if you choose not to take the included insurance and additional cancellation cover.
Please note
Outbound: Depart Plymouth at 15:45. Arriving in Santander at 13:15 the following day.
Inbound: Depart Santander at 15:45. Arriving in Plymouth at 10:45 the following day.
Location
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Santoña is a traditional fishing town that’s famous for its delicious anchovies – you’ll find them on the menu in almost every tapas bar. A three-kilometre ribbon of white sand runs along the front of the hotel, while inland there are wildlife-rich marshes and lush hills criss-crossed with hiking trails. The hotel borders a beach and a nature reserve – it’s an ideal location for birdwatchers and walkers, as well as those looking for a laid-back beach break with plenty of good food and wine.
Hotel details
Television
Telephone
Hairdryer
Safe
Tea coffee making facilities
Fridge
Enjoy delicious home cooked dishes typical of the region: savour buffet-style breakfasts, tasty tapas or snack lunches at the bar or on its terrace and waiter-served dinners in their locally acclaimed à la carte restaurant where seafood is a speciality. Dinners are pre-ordered the day before and are eaten at set times, ensuring your food is freshly cooked. Complimentary tea and cake is also available at 4pm daily in the bar. A delicious demonstration The hotel prides itself on its food, and during your stay you’ll be able to enjoy an included cookery demonstration – a great way to take a taste of Spain back to your own kitchen. As the chef cooks up a storm, you’ll be able to taste a selection of wine from the area, each carefully selected by the hotel’s owner, Felipe.
Restaurant
Bar
Heated indoor pool
Lounge
Wi-Fi
Sauna
Live entertainment
Table tennis
Darts
Special interest departures for this hotel
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Optional excursions
Lierganes
1 / 5
This morning we’ll visit the medieval village of Liérganes, considered one of northern Spain’s most beautiful settings. It’s a chance to delve into Cantabrian culture as we weave around the cobbled streets and cross the 16th century stone bridge - Puente Mayor – that straddles the Tormes River at Salamanca. We’ll also visit the Renaissance style Church of San Pedro Advíncula and learn about the legend of El Hombre Pez – the Fish Man of Lierganes. It’s a lovely place to spend the morning with several tapas bars tempting you in for fried calamari, tortilla or chocolate con churros before we head back to the hotel.
Castro Urdiales
1 / 5
Today’s excursion takes us to the seaside town of Castro Urdiales for a historical half day overlooking the Bay of Biscay. It’s here we’ll learn more about the medieval legends of the Knights Templars as well as unearthing ecclesiastical etchings within the Church of Santa María de la Asunción. We’ll also experience the uniquely eclectic architecture of the Ocharan Palace and spend time in the gardens and admiring the multi-coloured tiled fresco designed by the 19th century ceramicist, Daniel Zuloaga. And where better to complete today’s excursion other than with an ice cream and a paddle on Playa Ostende.dle ages.
Bilbao and the Guggenheim
1 / 5
You’ll be whisked to Bilbao to explore with an expert guide today. The capital of the Vizkaya province stands on the estuary of the River Nervión and became a centre for shipbuilding and manufacturing during the mid-19th century. Its old town is a labyrinth of narrow pedestrian streets branching out from the Plaza Nueva. It’s one of the culinary capitals of Spain, whether you’re looking for a Michelin-starred restaurant or want to feast on tapas from the numerous bars. The most dramatic addition to Bilbao’s cityscape in recent years is the Guggenheim Museum, a branch of the famous museum in New York which opened in 1997, and which you’ll also visit. Designed by the North American architect Frank Gehry, the building is a contortion of shapes, with limestone blocks contrasting with curtains of glass and curved, bent forms draped in titanium. Its collection of modern art is no less fascinating, with work from the Guggenheim in New York and local acquisitions to admire.
Picos de Europa
1 / 5
We’ll experience a whole day in Europe’s largest national park, the Picos de Europa, where Cantabria’s highest mountain range creates natural habitat for deer, chamois, pine martens and wild boar. It’s the perfect excursion for lovers of the great outdoors with forested trails, narrow ravines and the green valley slopes of the river Deva providing ample opportunities to enjoy the cooler climate. We’ll also visit the mountain village of Potes and admire its natural amphitheatre surrounded by glacial limestone peaks. There will also be plenty of free time to soak up the scenery and stroll around the old stone houses before we head onwards and upwards on the Teleférico de Fuente Dé cable car as it rises to an elevation of 1823 metres (5980 feet). The views from the café at the top are simply breathtaking.
Santillana del Mar
1 / 5
Drive across Cantabria to the beautifully preserved medieval village of Santillana del Mar. Stroll past 15th to 18th-century mansions to the Romanesque collegiate church, built to house the relics of St Juliana. While preserved and protected as a Spanish national monument since 1889 Santillana del Mar is still a living, working village. It's also said to be three times a lie, as it is not holy (santo), nor flat (llano) or by the sea (de mar)!