About this tour
When Tom from our team ran this tour out of Oviedo, we skipped the usual queue-and-shuffle routine straight to Covadonga Lakes in the Picos de Europa. A small van with up to eight of us wound through the mountains to hit Enol and Ercina lakes, the Covadonga Sanctuary, and Cangas de Onís—some of northern Spain's most striking high-altitude landscape. Eight hours total, starting early, with a guide who actually knew the region's history (cheese-making, glacial geology, the lot). It's a direct-access set-up designed to sidestep the typical park bottlenecks, and it delivers on that promise.
Highlights
- Preferential park access means fewer tourists at the lakes themselves
- Small-group van keeps it intimate—just eight people max
- Guides explain Gamoneu cheese tradition and glacial landscape origins
- Enol and Ercina lakes deliver dramatic alpine scenery without the crowds
- Air-conditioned van for the twisting mountain drive to high altitude
- Sanctuary and Cangas de Onís woven into a single arc—no backtracking
- Provided walking sticks and umbrellas for the high-country weather
What to expect
You'll leave Oviedo at 8 a.m. in a compact eight-seater van with your guide and a small crew. The drive winds through the Asturian valleys and into the Picos proper—roughly an hour and a half of scenery and local commentary. Once you hit the lakes, you're at altitude (around 1,000 metres), where the air shifts and the views open up. Enol and Ercina sit in a bowl of rock and grass; the water's cold and the light changes fast. Tom found the walk-and-pause rhythm felt unhurried rather than rushed, despite the eight-hour window. You'll loop through the Sanctuary (a modest but historically significant stop) and swing through Cangas de Onís to see the old humpback bridge. Weather up there is changeable—it can flip from clear to drizzly in minutes, so the umbrellas and sticks come in handy.
What travellers say
- Preferential park access cuts through the usual tourist logjam
- Eight-person group feels genuinely small and personal
- Guide weaves regional history and geology into every stop
- Direct route saves time and removes the multi-stop fatigue
- All park fees and transport rolled into one transparent price
- Early start unsuitable for night owls or those wanting flexibility
- Altitude and walking fitness not negotiable for some travellers
- Lunch excluded—add budget for roadside stops or pack provisions
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
If you hate organised tour queues and want genuine park access rather than a bus-park viewing, this hits the mark. The guide actually talks you through the landscape rather than rushing past. Eight people feels social without feeling like a coach trip. Good for anyone with reasonable fitness who wants serious mountain scenery without the full multi-day trek commitment.
It's 8 a.m. starts, so early risers only. The walk around the lakes is moderate but the altitude (around 1,000 m) catches some people—not recommended if you've got cardiovascular issues. Lunch isn't included, so pack snacks or bring cash for a café stop. Mobility issues are a factor; it's not a flat stroll, and uneven ground is standard. The weather up there changes fast, and it's cold year-round. Best in warmer months (June–September). Group size means less flexibility if you want to linger somewhere.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.