El Fito is situated in Arriondas, a small town belonging to the council of Parres, bordering with Ribadesella, to the east of Asturias. To get there, you need to follow the road towards Colunga. Once you arrive at the mountain pass from which it takes its name, there is a space reserved for visitors. After leaving your car and going up a gentle slope and a few steps, you reach the top.

The first thing which impresses visitors who go to El Fito is the lookout point itself. Opened in 1927, it is like a kind of small UFO from which it seems aliens could have stepped out. Local people quickly christened it with the name cazu, because of its cup-like shape. It was built so that tourists visiting the area would be able to enjoy the views without the obstruction of the trees.

Between the sea and the Picos de Europa 

There is only enough room for a few people inside the lookout point so you have to wait your turn to go up the steps and discover a panoramic view that will take your breath away. The proximity of the coast, just five kilometres away, means that with a 360º view you can look down over the Bay of Biscay, admire the green grasslands of the valley and discover, in the distance, the imposing Picos de Europa. A few metres from the lookout point is the Fito refuge.

Another point of interest from the lookout point is the grey mass of the Sueve mountain range. Its highest point is the Pienzu peak, which can be reached from El Fito taking a route which is approximately a five hour walk. On the way, you pass by the fields and fountains of Bustacu and Merguelines, before the route takes you upwards along a zigzagging path and becomes harder. 

The reward is to enjoy another exceptional panoramic view over the region. If you are lucky, on the way back to El Fito, you may catch a glimpse of some of the few Asturcon, or Asturian Ponies to be found in the region. If you wish to partake in more outdoor activities, you might want to go for a ride on a quad bike or horseback.

Ribadesella and Cabrales, gastronomic excursions 

From Arriondas, you can plan a route  which will take you to some of the most interesting towns in Asturias. Following the course of the Sella River, you come to Ribadesella, famous for the mass canoe rides down the river and of course for its cider. Cabrales is also worth a visit, if only to buy one of its famous cheeses in situ.

Gastronomy is a very important matter in this region. In Arriondas, the restaurant Casa Marcial (Awarded 2 Soles by Repsol) (tel.: 985 840 991) offers you the chance to try typical dishes such as fabes con almejas  (beans with clams) or a tasty trout from the Sella River. At El Corral del Indianu (Awarded 1 Sol by Repsol), they serve both the star dish of Asturian cuisine, the fabada (bean stew), and imaginative delicacies such as the 'tembloroso' of foie gras and cooking apples.