Private Oviedo tour: Covadonga, lakes & coastal villages

One company runs all these stops in a single day: the Roman bridge, both lakes, the mines, Covadonga, and the coast.

A private guided tour from Oviedo covering the highest mountains and most valued sailor villages of eastern Asturias in a single seven-hour journey. The car holds up to three passengers plus driver, with preferential access to the national park and an air-conditioned vehicle included. Lunch is arranged separately; pickup from your Oviedo or Gijón hotel is part of the booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour from Oviedo to Covadonga and villages

• Pick up at hotel in Oviedo or Gijon
• Visit Roman Bridge in Cangas de Onis
• Visit Enol and Ercina lakes
• Walk to Entrelagos viewpoint
• Have coffee at Picos de Europa restaurant
• Visit Buferrera mines
• Visit Holy Cave of Covadonga and church
• Lunch and walk around Lastres harbor
• Return to Oviedo or Gijon

The Experience

The day starts with pickup at your hotel in Oviedo or Gijón, then heads to Cangas de Onís to see the Roman bridge that crosses the Sella River. From there the route climbs into Picos de Europa, where you'll spend more than an hour at Enol and Ercina lakes—high mountain water surrounded by limestone peaks. A short walk reaches the Entrelagos viewpoint between them, and there's time for coffee at the restaurant at the top before a brief stop at the Buferrera mines, where you can see the old workings that once fed the region's economy.

Covadonga takes about two hours: the Holy Cave carved into the mountainside, the basilica built above it, and the lake below. This is where the Reconquista began in the 8th century, and the site holds both religious and historical weight. After that comes lunch (you arrange this separately), then the drive down to Lastres, a working fishing village on the northern coast where you walk around the harbor and see how the town still operates as a port. The return to Oviedo or Gijón happens around 6 p.m., completing the loop through mountain and sea in one arc.

The driver has fifteen years running this exact route, which is why nothing gets rushed and every stop fits into the seven hours without feeling compressed. The car is air-conditioned and holds three passengers maximum, so there's no crowd inside. You get a bottle of water or cola included, and the preferential access to the national park means you skip certain queues that slow down larger tour groups.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned private car for up to three passengers.
• professional driver with fifteen years of experience on this route.
• preferential access to Picos de Europa National Park.
• bottle of water or cola per person.
• hotel pickup in Oviedo or Gijón.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Tour privado Norte España y asturias

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the mountain lakes, the cave, and the fishing village without splitting the day across multiple bookings or joining a larger group—the driver's experience and the small car size mean you move through all five stops without the usual tour-group delays.

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Top questions

What's the Roman bridge in Cangas de Onís and why is it worth a stop?

The Roman bridge is a medieval stone arch crossing the Sella River in Cangas de Onís, one of the oldest and most recognizable landmarks in Asturias. It's the first stop after leaving Oviedo, marking the gateway into the mountain region.

How much time do you actually spend at Enol and Ercina lakes?

You have more than an hour at the two lakes combined, which includes a walk to the Entrelagos viewpoint between them, coffee at the restaurant at the top, and a short visit to the Buferrera mines nearby.

What exactly is inside the Holy Cave at Covadonga?

The Holy Cave is a natural grotto in the mountainside where a chapel and altar sit inside the rock itself. Above it stands a basilica, and below is a lake. The site is the legendary birthplace of the Christian Reconquista and remains a major pilgrimage destination.

Can I book just the lakes and Covadonga without the coastal village?

Yes—the tour comes in two lengths. The five-hour option covers Covadonga and the lakes only; the eight-hour option adds Lastres and the coastal stretch. Both depart from Oviedo or Gijón.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included and is arranged separately. The tour stops in Lastres after Covadonga, where you can eat at local restaurants before the return drive.

Does the driver speak English, or only Spanish?

The guide speaks Spanish. If you need interpretation or have questions about language, confirm this with the operator when you book.