Altamira Camping Park

We came at the end of the season, so I can’t say what the facilities are like at peak times, though I imagine summer can get busy. The nearby road other people mention didn’t bother us. You can get to beaches, mountains, and lovely villages easily by car or bike, and there are bus stops close by as well. The campsite is well maintained and near the charming old town of Santillana del Mar. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and some spoke enough English to make conversation easier. The facilities were clean, the showers had good hot water, and the kitchen area was nice. The washer and dryer were clean and smelled fresh, without that usual musty camping machine smell. One suggestion for the owners: the road signs to the entrance need improving. The large Altamira camping sign comes after the entrance, and we missed a clear arrow pointing to the gate. If you miss that turn, it’s a long drive before there’s room to turn around with a car and caravan or larger camper.

The views are lovely, though the campsite sits beside a fairly busy road. This is about camping, not the bungalows. The bar food had a strong stale frying smell. For two people, a small camper, and an electric hookup, €34 felt like poor value. The shared service block and toilets were quite dirty and constantly smelled bad. They’re shared with a nearby school summer camp, so they get heavy use. The motion sensor lights didn’t work properly and often left us in the dark. Hot water was switched off late at night and didn’t come back until 8AM!

March 23, a mature couple doing a winter motorhome trip. We paid 60€ for two nights with EHU, and had nice views from our reasonably level grass pitch. Reception was friendly. The shower block is modern, but the showers were cold at first, and it took about five minutes to get some heat. The block wasn’t cleaned during the two days we were there. Building work was underway on the day we arrived, and it looked like new bungalows were being installed.

We had such a lovely time here. It’s the only campsite where I’ve heard people having fun well past 10, right up until 12.30. I loved hearing the kids play, and my kids loved it too. Big pitch and lovely staff. The bar food wasn’t great, but it’s a great site.