Berellín beach, also known as Barnejo, is in Prellezo (Val de San Vicente), about 66 km and 50 minutes from Santander. It's a karst cove reached on foot, with a natural viewpoint and parking next to the village, and a much calmer atmosphere than in August — one of the most recommended beaches in Cantabria in September.
Some Cantabrian beaches come close to overflowing in August, while others, even though they're just over an hour from Santander, almost always escape the crowds. Berellín belongs to the second group: it requires a short walk, has no direct car access, and that's enough to filter out most of the parasol-and-cooler crowd.
In September, with families back at school and temperatures still around 20-25 degrees, this cove in Val de San Vicente hits its best moment of the year: sand for everyone, clean water, and that karst landscape — rock, sea and greenery — that has made it one of the most talked-about beaches on Cantabria's western coast.
How to get to Berellín beach from Bareyo
Berellín is in the municipality of Val de San Vicente, at the western end of the Cantabrian coast, near San Vicente de la Barquera. According to the official Cantabria Tourism listing, from Santander the route is to take the A-8 to exit 264 and continue along the CA-843 and N-634 toward Prellezo; the trip is about 66 km and just under an hour. From Bareyo you need to add the leg to Santander, so it's worth allowing a good hour and a half of travel and using the return trip to stop in San Vicente de la Barquera or Comillas.
A viewpoint and a walk before you reach the sand
Car access reaches a parking area about 300 metres before the beach, already within the village of Prellezo; from there the path is on foot only. The trail is well maintained, and just before you drop down to the sand, a natural viewpoint opens up with views over the coastline and the cliffs that frame the cove — one of those spots worth stopping at for even just a minute.
Overnight stays in Berellín: the exception to camping-free Cantabria
Camping on Cantabrian beaches is generally banned, but Berellín is one of the few exceptions because the land is privately owned: you can stay overnight for a fee of around 10 euros per 24 hours, with separate areas for cars and for camper vans or motorhomes. At the entrance there's a bin, a shower and a fountain, plus a small beach bar next to the viewpoint in season. Even so, conditions can change from year to year, so it's worth confirming them on site before settling in for the night.
Why September is the best month to visit Berellín
Berellín's appeal — its character as a hidden cove without mass access — is exactly what makes it uncomfortable in the middle of August, when the parking fills up and the trail turns into a line of parasols carried over shoulders. In September that equation changes: parking stops charging outside July and August, the beach gets its well-kept-secret feel back, and the karst landscape — those eroded rocks reaching into the sea — can be enjoyed at a calm pace, with no need to arrive at dawn to grab a spot.
What you need to know
Wear comfortable shoes for the walk from the parking area, bring water and your own shade, since services are minimal outside peak season. There's no confirmed permanent lifeguard outside the core summer months, so take extra care when swimming, especially with swell or low tide, when the rocks are more exposed and the current can catch out even strong swimmers. If you're driving, note that the final stretch to the car park runs straight through the village of Prellezo: drive slowly and be respectful of residents. Check the tide forecast before you go too, since at high tide the strip of dry sand shrinks considerably.
Berellín can't be seen from the road: you have to leave the car, walk to the viewpoint, and then, all at once, the whole cove appears among the rocks.
Beaches like this are the reason it's worth extending the trip beyond the coves near Bareyo and exploring the best beaches on Cantabria's western coast, especially in a month like September, when the weather still holds and summer's rush has already passed. Staying at Bareyo Residences puts the eastern coast right on your doorstep and, with just over an hour's drive, escapes like this within reach of a day trip; the Camino and Monte villas will open their bookings for September 2027 with travellers who enjoy this kind of getaway in mind.
