Hotel Áliva

Amazing place and room with a view on the surrounding mountains. No cell reception and very slow WiFi makes for a perfect offline experience 😃 Very helpful staff and overall a very pleasant stay at Hotel Aliva on a 3-day hike around Picos de Europa.

Stayed here for one night. I had walked from the cable car at Fuente Dé up to Torre de los Horcados Rojos but had then baulked at the prospect of continuing to the Refugio near Picu Urriellu (although not technically difficult, the descent looked unpleasant). So I decided to retrace my steps and head for the Hotel Aliva, knowing that I would have to continue down to Espinama if it was fully booked. But it wasn't and I was offered a room, with breakfast, for 43 euros. The hotel is very clean and well presented but what makes it special is its stunning and peaceful location, 1600 m up in the Picos de Europa. [It can only be reached on foot (downhiill from the cable car or - much harder - uphill from Fuente Dé or Espinama) or (if you really, really must... but what's wrong with you?) by four-wheel drive vehicle.] Breakfast and dinner were both very good, with the latter not as expensive (given the remote location) as I might have feared. One extra bonus of my stay was the "Astronomy Workshop", consisting of a 2-hr illustrated lecture (in Spanish!) before dinner, followed by a 3-hr viewing through a telescope afterwards, finishing at 1.30 am. My appreciation of this unexpected event was greatly enhanced by the efforts of the two receptionists and the astronomer's girlfriend to translate for me.

Over the last twenty years, my wife and I must have walked past the Aliva Refuge/Hotel scores of times. It is on the route for some of the most popular walks from the upper cable car station at Fuente De ( e.g to Espinama or Mogrovejo). A couple of weeks ago we booked a night there just to see what it was like. We had a small but perfectly adequate twin room with a bathroom which was clean and comfortable. We also found the restaurant good. We had an excellent fixed price menu including wine ( about 17 euros each). From the hotel it is possible to explore the high Picos or walk to Sotres/Espinama/Mogrovejo etc. We would recommend it to people who like walking, like to stay in interesting places and want a bit of comfort and some reasonable food.

Decent room with ensuit, including a bath. Good bar and restaurant, friendly Staff who assisted with some food due to my wife's food allergies. And fantastic mountain views.

ONLY ACCESSIBLE VIA 4x4 TRACK AND WALKING. We had a great stay at Hotel Áliva. The staff (Belen mostly!) were super friendly and helpful, beds were comfy, shower was GREAT. Breakfast was pretty good, a delicious freshly made fried dough thing was the star. Best of all is the scenery.

The spot is amazing, everything you need to leave bad thoughts behind. (no wifi :-)) You are here for the environment and walking, nothing else. Don'tknow many hotels at spots like this.||Rooms are very simple, ok, bed a bit hard.||Minus is there is a lot of noise when people are walking down the hall, evening and in te morning. (heavy boot on wooden floors and stairs)||The only bad thing is the restaurant where you have to eat. Breakfast is ok, dinner is quite tasteless and dreary.

As our introduction to the Picos, the Hotel Aliva and it's star personnel, in particular, Itzia, could not be faulted. Our first glitch, turning up a day early, with the hotel almost full, she sorted out quickly and with good humour. A bit embarassing for us, being the first kiwis in her 5 years there, being less than organised - blame jet lag. Warm comfy rooms, good restaurant & bar. It was a shame we had to leave and confront the hard yards hiking on into the mountains. A great start to a continued terrific trip through the Picos.

Basic accommodations, simple but delicious food, great staff, 2nd to none views. Serious work getting to the place, but well worth the effort. Currently No wifi or cell service at all... Truly and wonderfully isolated.