Covadonga Lakes, Cangas de Onís and Lastres Day Trip from Gijón

The Lakes of Covadonga, Enol and Ercina

The Lakes of Covadonga are two glacial lakes set at about 1,000 to 1,100 metres in the western massif of the Picos de Europa. Lake Enol is the larger and deeper, with dark blue water reflecting the peaks, while Lake Ercina is shallower and surrounded by open meadows where cows, horses and sheep graze in summer. Between them stand the remains of old iron mines and the Entrelagos viewpoint, which looks over both lakes at once.

On this Covadonga Lakes tour from Gijón you have around two and a half hours here, enough for an easy walk around Lake Ercina, photos from the viewpoints and a picnic if you bring one. The road up is narrow and winding and is closed to private cars on the busiest days, which makes a guided coach trip a simple way to reach the lakes. In winter snow and ice can close access; on those days the guide follows an alternative plan.

Picos de Europa National Park

The Picos de Europa are a range of sharp limestone mountains that rise just a few kilometres from the Cantabrian Sea and are shared by Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León. In 1918 the area around Covadonga became Spain's first national park, and it was later expanded to cover the three massifs. Its gorges, beech forests and high pastures shelter chamois and vultures, and traditional shepherds who still make cheese in mountain huts.

On the drive from Gijón your guide explains the history and geography of the park and why it matters so much to Asturians. Many travellers ask whether a Picos de Europa day trip from Gijón is worth it: if you have only one day, this route gives you the most iconic views of the park together with its main sanctuary, without the need to drive mountain roads yourself.

Covadonga, the Basilica and the Holy Cave

Covadonga is the spiritual heart of Asturias. Tradition places here the battle of Covadonga in the 8th century, seen as the beginning of the Kingdom of Asturias. Set into a cliff above a small pool is the Holy Cave, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Covadonga, known affectionately as La Santina. Below it a waterfall drops into a pool fed by the Fountain of the Seven Spouts, and local tradition says that whoever drinks from it will marry within the year.

A short walk away stands the Basilica of Covadonga, a neo-Romanesque church built between 1877 and 1901 from pink limestone quarried in the surrounding mountains, with two slim spires framed by green slopes. Your guide leads a walk of the sanctuary and leaves free time, about one hour in total, to visit the cave, the basilica and the esplanade. Modest dress is appreciated inside the chapel.

Cangas de Onís and the bridge over the Sella

Cangas de Onís was the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias and today is the gateway town of the Picos de Europa. Its symbol is the tall humpbacked stone bridge over the Sella River, usually called the Roman bridge although it was built in the Middle Ages; a copy of the Victory Cross, the emblem of Asturias, hangs under its central arch. In town you can also see the bell tower of the Church of Santa María and the small Chapel of Santa Cruz.

The guided walk and free time here last about two hours, and this is where you have lunch. Cangas de Onís is known for hearty Asturian food: fabada, the bean stew of the region, local beef, and strong mountain cheeses such as Cabrales, followed by rice pudding. Wander the cobbled streets, browse the shops of local products and take photos of the river from the bridge.

Lastres and the Asturian coast

On the way back the coach leaves the main road to follow the Cantabrian coast, passing the sandy beaches of La Espasa, La Isla and La Griega, where green hills meet the sea. The final stop is Lastres, a fishing village in the municipality of Colunga whose houses tumble down a steep hillside to a small harbour. It belongs to the association of the most beautiful villages in Spain.

Your guide takes you up to the viewpoint above the village, where the view takes in the harbour, the coast and, on clear days, the peaks of the Picos de Europa behind. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, perfect for photos and a short stroll through the narrow lanes before returning to Gijón in the evening. The best time to visit Lastres and the lakes is from late spring to early autumn, when the mountain roads are clear and the days are long.