Pozo de los Altares

Pozo de los Altares is a high-mountain glacial lake in the municipality of Vega de Liébana, in Cantabria, tucked into a glacial cirque at the foot of the Peña Prieta massif. It is one of the most remote and striking bodies of water in the Cantabrian Mountains, sitting right on the border between Cantabria and Castilla y León, near a point known as Tres Provincias.

Where it is and how to get there

The lake sits above 2,200 metres of altitude, making it one of the highest lakes anywhere in the Cantabrian Mountains. There is no road access — the only way in is on foot, following mountain trails that climb out of the Liébana valley through beech and oak woodland before crossing rocky ridgelines toward the Peña Prieta massif. This is a route for hikers ready for a long day in high-mountain terrain, with no facilities once you leave the valley.

What the lake is actually like

Pozo de los Altares is really a small cluster of pools and tarns within a single glacial cirque, the largest of which measures roughly a hundred metres by sixty. Steep limestone walls and ridgelines enclose the basin, a landscape shaped by glacial erosion that is typical of this stretch of the Cantabrian range. On the far side of Peña Prieta lies a second, similar cirque, Majada de Campollo, which makes the whole area one of the region's most scenic corners for anyone willing to hike into it.

The landscape and surroundings

The lower part of the approach runs through beech and oak forest, characteristic of Liébana's damp mountain climate. Higher up, the terrain turns bare and rocky — grassy slopes give way to cliffs and open ridgelines leading toward the Peña Prieta summit. The lake is fed mainly by snowmelt and rainfall, so its water level and appearance shift noticeably with the season.

Who this trip suits

This is a destination for experienced mountain hikers comfortable with long approaches and navigating terrain without marked infrastructure. There are no cafés, no parking near the lake itself, and no equipment rental nearby — it is a wild, high-altitude corner of Cantabria valued above all by trekkers and landscape photographers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pozo de los Altares? It is a high-mountain glacial lake — more precisely a small group of pools — inside a glacial cirque at the base of Peña Prieta, in the municipality of Vega de Liébana, Cantabria.

How high up is the lake? It sits above 2,200 metres of altitude, ranking among the highest lakes in the entire Cantabrian Mountains.

Can you drive there? No. Access is on foot only, via mountain trails through forest and rocky ridges leading toward Peña Prieta.

Is there anything else to see nearby? Yes — on the other side of the Peña Prieta massif lies a second glacial cirque, Majada de Campollo, with a similarly wild character.