Lakes and Covadonga tour from Cangas: Guided sanctuary visit

The Basilica built from Covadonga's own stone, and the two lakes that frame it

A guided tour from Cangas de Onís through the Picos de Europa National Park to Lake Ercina and Lake Enol, then to the Basilica of Covadonga and the Cave of the Virgin. An official guide in Spanish or English leads the full day, with entry to the lakes and sanctuary included. The tour returns to Cangas de Onís by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Lakes and Covadonga Basilica

• Depart at 10:00 from meeting point
• Enjoy views of Lake Ercina and Lake Enol
• Explore Picos de Europa National Park
• Visit Basilica of Covadonga
• Learn history from guide at Basilica
• See Cave of the Virgin of Covadonga
• Return to Cangas de Onís

The experience

The tour departs at 10:00 from Cangas de Onís and climbs into the Picos de Europa National Park, where the first stop frames the scale of the landscape: Lake Ercina and Lake Enol sit in a high valley ringed by steep green slopes. The guide explains what you're looking at (the geology, the history written into the mountains), and the air-conditioned vehicle handles the winding ascent so you can watch the views without driving.

From the lakes, the route continues to the Basilica of Covadonga, a stone structure built from rock quarried out of the mountains around it. The guide walks you through the building's history and its place in Asturian identity, then to the Cave of the Virgin, the Cuevona, where a carved figure of La Santina, the patron saint of Asturias, sits inside the mountain. The sanctuary itself carries five centuries of pilgrimage and political meaning. The guide's commentary is what makes that visible rather than just impressive.

The return to Cangas de Onís closes the loop through a small town with its own character. The whole outing runs about five hours, built around what the mountains and the sanctuary actually demand to see properly, not rushed through a checklist.

What’s included

• Guided tour of the Basilica of Covadonga and the Cave of the Virgin.
• entry to Lake Ercina and Lake Enol.
• an official guide fluent in Spanish and English.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• a guided walk through Cangas de Onís at the end of the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour in Spanish10:00

English tour10:00

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 49

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Buendía

Is this one for you?Choose the English tour if you want the history and context explained in your language. The Spanish option suits Spanish speakers and keeps the group together. Either way, the five-hour pace gives you time to absorb each stop rather than moving between them quickly.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are Lake Ercina and Lake Enol like when you get there?

Both lakes sit high in the Picos de Europa, ringed by steep green mountainsides. The guide stops at viewpoints where you can see across the water to the surrounding peaks. The landscape is the main event at this part of the tour.

Is the Basilica of Covadonga the same as the cave with the Virgin's carving?

No. The Basilica is a stone building in front of the mountain. The Cave of the Virgin, called the Cuevona, is inside the rock face nearby. The tour visits both as part of the sanctuary complex.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

You walk at each stop to see the lakes and to enter the Basilica and cave, but the tour is not a hiking trip. Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The terrain is uneven and there are some slopes, but the pace is set by the guide and the group.

Does the tour include lunch or drinks?

The tour includes entry to the lakes and the sanctuary, the guide, and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. Drinks are not included. You can bring your own or purchase them in Cangas de Onís before departure or after you return.