Dunas de Liencres Natural Park

Dunas de Liencres and Costa Quebrada Natural Park is one of the most distinctive stretches of coastline in Cantabria, northern Spain, spanning the municipalities of Piélagos, Miengo and Santa Cruz de Bezana. Covering a total of 1,753 hectares, the protected area combines a dune system, pine forest, cliffs and the rugged coastal strip known as Costa Quebrada.

How did this area come to be protected?

The original Dunas de Liencres Natural Park was established by Decree 101/1986 on 9 December, covering the dune system and its adjoining forest. It wasn't until 2021, through Law 2/2021, that the protected area was expanded to incorporate the Costa Quebrada coastline, merging both into a single, unified natural park. This expansion reflects a growing recognition of the ecological and scenic value of the whole coastal strip, not just the original dune field.

What exactly makes up the dune core of the park?

The Liencres dune system itself covers around 195 hectares and is considered one of the largest and best-preserved dune complexes on Spain's northern coast. Of that area, roughly 140 hectares are covered by reforested maritime pine, while the remaining 33 hectares or so are genuine mobile dunes, reaching heights of up to 20 metres in the most developed sections. This contrast between dense pine forest and open, golden dunes creates a landscape rarely found elsewhere along the Bay of Biscay coastline.

Which beaches and coves lie within the park?

Two well-known beaches sit within the park's boundaries: Valdearenas and Canallave, framed by small coves of considerable scenic value. Altogether, the coastline stretches roughly 10 kilometres almost without interruption, taking in quartzite and limestone cliffs, a river estuary, marshland and beaches. This variety of landforms packed into a relatively compact area is what draws both casual beach walkers and visitors seeking the wilder, cliff-lined scenery of Costa Quebrada.

Why does this area matter ecologically?

The natural park represents one of the most important dune systems on the entire northern coast of Spain and supports a wealth of flora and fauna adapted to coastal conditions — from dune vegetation, through species tied to the pine woodland, to organisms linked to the cliffs and estuary. The combination of mobile dunes, hard rock formations (quartzite and limestone), a river mouth and salt marshland creates a mosaic of habitats that makes this a valuable site on Cantabria's natural map.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the park located? On the central coast of Cantabria, Spain, within the municipalities of Piélagos, Miengo and Santa Cruz de Bezana.

How large is the protected area overall? Following the 2021 expansion, the park covers 1,753 hectares, with the original Liencres dune core making up around 195 hectares of that total.

Which beaches are worth visiting inside the park? The best known are Valdearenas and Canallave, each set within its own scenic cove.

Since when has the area been protected? Protection of the dunes dates back to a 1986 decree, and the area was expanded to include Costa Quebrada in 2021.