from Santillana del mar to join Frances

Just keep walking through the twon to the outskirts and you will find the tourist office tucked away near the road. I am sure they will be able to tell you when and where buses etc go. You will have to go out to there anyway as there are none of those kind of vehicles allowed in the town (just local service vehicles). That is also the way to the caves. It is an easy and pleasant walk out to them (there is a path all the way, from memory, and there is a place where you can leave your pack in the building. You will find that it is well worth going to pay a visit there. The caves you visit though are replicas of the orignals - but the whole set up is quite fascinating.

Buen Camino, Janet

Every Blessing Sabina!
You are probably right in going down to the Frances! You should be able to get a bus to Leon (or Burgos if you have the time and energy to walk the Frances from there). Janet is right - ask the Oficina de Tourismo in Santillana. I have been down the caves at Altamira twice in past years. There is a poster from there framed and on the wall of our dining area here in our house in the U.K. I gather the reproduction there is impressive, so enjoy!

Buen Camino
Terry

Lovely albergue in Santillana, in the grounds of the museum showing the work of Jose Otero, a 20C scupltor, which I really liked! Don't miss it, or the amazing capitals etc in the church and cloisters. You get millenia of art at Santillana!