With this guide to visit the Covadonga Lakes in Asturias we want to help you organise your getaway to one of the most famous places in the autonomous community, which is also undoubtedly one of the most beautiful landscapes in Spain.
Bear in mind that once you are at the lakes you can choose to go on different hiking routes around the area or stay directly at the Enol and Ercina Lakes, go up to one of the viewpoints and even have a picnic in the surrounding area, which we are sure is one of the experiences you are sure you will never forget.
In addition to the lakes, we recommend a stop on the way back at the Basilica of Covadonga, which is another of the must-see places in Asturias and the perfect complement to this visit.
Covadonga Lakes
Located in the council of Cangas de Onís, in the Picos de Europa National Park, this group of lakes is formed by the Enol and Ercina lakes, both of glacial origin, as well as the Bricial lake, which only has water during the thawing season, but also forms part of the group known as the Covadonga Lakes.
To visit the Lagos de Covadonga, if your starting point is Cangas de Onís, you must follow a 22.2 kilometre road, passing through Covadonga and the Basilica of Covandonga, until you reach Lake Enol, which is the first lake you come across on the road and where the first of the car parks is located. From here, following the road for 1.5 kilometres, you will reach Lake Ercina, where the second car park is located.
This stretch between the lakes can also be done on foot, which is the most recommendable, so that you can also enjoy the incredible views from the Entrelagos viewpoint, which are spectacular. That is why our recommendation for visiting the Covandonga Lakes is to leave the car at Lake Enol and from there visit the lakes or do the circular route, which we will talk about later.
Covadonga Lakes in Asturias
How to get to the Covadonga Lakes
Something very important to bear in mind when visiting the Covadonga Lakes, is that due to the massive influx of tourists, and in order to protect the Picos de Europa National Park, which is a Biosphere Reserve, access by car has been limited in high season and access by public transport has been designed for certain times of the day.
Restricted periods:
Easter: the road is closed to traffic between 8:30am and 21pm.
Summer: 1 June to 16 October inclusive. The road is closed to traffic between 8:30am and 9pm.
All Saints' Day Bridge: The road is closed to traffic between 8:30am and 7pm.
Constitution Bridge: The road is closed to traffic between 8:30am and 19pm.
Please note that outside these hours you can access with your private vehicle and park in the car parks located next to the Ercina and Enol lakes. It is also important to know that the road is only closed in the uphill direction during the restricted season. This means that you will have to enter within the timetable, but you can go down at any time without time restrictions.
When the access is closed due to restrictions, the only way you will be able to get to the Covadonga Lakes is by public transport (bus or tourist taxis).
Outside these dates, there are no restrictions on access by car.
Covadonga Lakes
Another important thing to bear in mind is that the checkpoint for the restrictions is in the area of the Basilica of Covadonga, so you must be there before 8:30am if you want to get there in your car to visit the Covadonga Lakes.
Unfortunately this is not the only requirement to be able to access by car, because from what we saw after our route through the Covadonga Lakes, even if you arrive before 8:30am at the checkpoint (Basilica of Covadonga), if the car parks of the lakes are already full, they will not let you access and you will have to leave the car there and take the bus.
To avoid this, we recommend you start going up (if you leave from Cangas de Onís) around 7-7:30am to make sure you are one of the first cars to arrive at the Covadonga Lakes so that you can park.
If the access is already closed when you arrive, you can always leave your car in one of the car parks signposted in the area, bearing in mind that if you park in Covadonga, you will not be able to buy tickets for the bus that takes you to the lakes, and you will have to go back to the previous car park, where you can buy tickets.
Road to visit the Covadonga Lakes
Parking
Before arriving at the Covadonga Lakes you have four signposted car parks, with more than 1600 spaces, from where you can take the buses to the lakes and also buy tickets for the transport. Remember that the entrance to the Covadonga Lakes is free, you only have to pay for the tourist bus or taxi.
Cangas Centre P1
El Bosque P2
Muñigo P3
Repelao P4
Map of accesses and car parks to visit the Covadonga Lakes. Photo Turismo Asturias
Bus to visit the Covadonga Lakes
In case you are going to visit the Covadonga Lakes during restricted hours in high season or if you do not have a car, you can choose to go to the lakes area by bus or tourist taxi.
The dates when the bus is in operation are as follows:
13 April to 5 May inclusive.
From 1 June to 16 October, both included.
On 8 June (Cyclotourist), 25 July (Shepherd's Day) and 8 September (Asturias Day) there will be special regulations.
From 1 November to 3 November, both included.
From 6 December to 9 December, both included.
The first bus ride up to the lakes is at 9am and the last bus ride down to the lakes is at 19:30pm (17:30pm in November and December), while the last bus ride down from the lakes is at 20:30pm (18:30pm in November and December).
Bus and taxi fares
Private car parking in the designated parking lots (valid for the whole day): 2 euros/car.
Adult bus ticket (valid all day. You can get on and off as many times as you want at all the stops, including the one at the Basilica of Covadonga): 9 Euros
Bus ticket for children under 12 years old (valid all day): 3,50 euros.
Bus ticket for children under 3 years old (valid all day): free of charge
Bus ticket Cangas de Onís-Covadonga (one way): 1,55 Euros
The price of tourist taxis is:
With Taxitur: One way adult: 11 euros and child: 5 euros (phone 689143881)
With Taxi Huera: One way and return adult: 10 euros (phone 619628817 and 659488823)
Visit the Covadonga Lakes
Circular route in the Lakes of Covadonga
This is undoubtedly one of the most famous routes in Asturias, as it is one of the most beautiful and one of the easiest, which you can do with a minimum of physical fitness, as well as being one of the must-do's on any
route around Asturias by car. The route is 6.5 kilometres long and the journey time is around 3 hours, depending on the stops you make, although we recommend you take it easy, arrive early in the morning, have breakfast at Lake Enol and then start the route.
Entrelagos viewpoint in the Covadonga Lakes
Please note that the route is circular, so it can be done in either direction, being the most advisable to follow the clockwise direction in order to start at the Visitor Centre and the Entrelagos Viewpoint. Remember that if you come by car to visit the Covadonga Lakes you must leave your car in the first car park, at Lake Enol, to follow this circular route.
The whole route is marked with the PR-PNPE-2 signs and although it is quite well marked, it is a good idea to take an offline GPS such as Maps.me, which is the one we used and is great, as the whole route is very well marked.
Circular route in the Covadonga Lakes
Tips for visiting the Covadonga Lakes in Asturias
We leave you some tips that we believe, can be very useful to visit the Covadonga Lakes.
If you have several days in the area on your route through Asturias, it is advisable to check the weather to decide which day to go, as the weather in the Covadonga Lakes is very changeable. However, it is also important to bear in mind that the lakes are at an altitude of 1100 metres, so there are many times when it is raining in Cangas de Onís and not in the lakes, and vice versa.
In this case it may be advisable to check the webcams that are online, although we found that on the days we looked at them, we saw that it was pouring and when we arrived it was incredibly sunny. It turned out that they were broken that day and we could see an old image...
Visiting the Covadonga Lakes in Asturias
Depending on the time of year you visit the Covadonga Lakes it is advisable to bring warm clothes, a mackintosh and suitable footwear, especially if you are going to do some walking. Don't rely on the weather, since, as we have already mentioned, it is very changeable.
Although there are several places in the area where you can buy drinks or food, we recommend you take your breakfast, water or snacks with you to enjoy them in the area. Don't forget to pick up after yourself and don't leave any rubbish behind.
In the area of Enol and Ercina lakes there are lots of cows. We understand that you want to take photos, but please, try not to disturb them and much less to get close to take a photo with them, as they get nervous and we believe that it is not necessary to cause them stress just to take a photo. Let's encourage responsible tourism.
After our experience, we advise you to get up early and arrive at the Covadonga Lakes area around 7-7:30am, as this is the time when there are fewer people and you will be able to enjoy the place practically alone.
Another important thing to remember is that on the road up is the Mirador de la Reina, about 8 kilometres from the Basilica of Covadonga, from where you can enjoy unique views, which in early morning fog, are really impressive. This is another reason to get up early, as you can stop here at your leisure, without the rush to get to the car park at the Covadonga Lakes.
La Reina viewpoint
Another important thing when visiting the Covadonga Lakes is that due to its proximity, it is highly recommended to visit the Basilica of Covadonga, another of the most recommended places in Asturias. In this case we recommend you do it on the way down, as if you have got up early you will also be able to see it without too many people.
Basilica of Covadonga
And last but not least, we believe that without a doubt, as we have said on several occasions, the best time to enjoy the landscapes of the Covadonga Lakes is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. If you get up early, you will surely appreciate it.
Where to stay
Although you can stay in many places in the area, we recommend you to stay in Cangas de Onís, one of the most beautiful villages in Asturias, in the Hotel Santa Cruz, located 5 minutes walking from the Roman Bridge and with free parking a few meters away, or in the Hotel Los Lagos Nature, located in a beautiful historic building in the centre and with an excellent quality/price ratio.
You can follow this list of places to see in Cangas de Onís to make sure you don't miss anything in this historic town in Asturias.
Cangas de Onís, the perfect location to stay and visit the Covadonga Lakes
In addition to visiting the Covadonga Lakes in Asturias, we recommend you to check the following articles to extend your route through one of the most incredible areas of the world:
10 must-see places to visit in Asturias
The 10 most beautiful villages in Asturias
The 10 best beaches in Asturias
Route through Asturias by car in 7 days
10 essential tips for travelling to Asturias
Guide to Asturias: all the information for your trip