# Cangas de Onís and Covadonga The Cangas de Onís bridge, the Sunday market, the Santa Cueva and basilica of Covadonga and the climb to the Lakes, an hour from Oviedo. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/cangas-de-onis · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Cangas de Onís is the town of the bridge over the Sella and the first capital of the kingdom of Asturias. Eight kilometres away, up the mountain, is Covadonga: the Santa Cueva (Holy Cave) hanging over a waterfall and the pink-stone basilica facing Monte Auseva. And higher still, about 12 km from the basilica, the Covadonga Lakes, in the Picos de Europa National Park. It is the gateway to the western massif of the Picos. ## How do I get there from Oviedo, Santander or León? By car. From Oviedo it is an hour on the A-8 to Arriondas and then the N-625. From Santander, an hour and forty on the A-8, exiting at Arriondas or via Llanes and Posada. From León it is a little over two hours, via Oviedo or via the Pontón pass and the Beyos gorge, slower but very beautiful. Ribadesella is half an hour away: they combine well in a weekend. ## Can you drive up to the Lakes? It depends on the day. On the restricted-access dates (in 2026, Easter, May weekends, 1 June to 18 October with some exceptions and some autumn long weekends) the road from Covadonga to the Lakes is closed to cars and you go up on the bus to the Lakes, which leaves from Cangas de Onís and from several car parks. The rest of the year you drive up, taking care in fog and, in winter, snow. Covadonga can always be reached by car. ## Where do I park? In Cangas, in the car parks on the edge of the town; on Sunday, with the market, arrive by mid-morning at the latest. The Mirador de la Reina, on the road to the Lakes, has its own car park; on restricted-access days, follow the access plan from Turismo Asturias. ## What is there for an adventurous afternoon? In Arriondas, 9 minutes away, the Parque Aventura Sella has zip lines and bridges among the trees on the river bank, from age 7, for €20 for children and €25 for adults, with a 16:00 session for families. When the river is running high, Cangas Aventura takes the upper Sella down by rafting, from age 14. If the day is rainy, caving goes ahead just the same underground. ## How long do I need? A day is enough for Cangas and Covadonga: the Sunday market and the Roman bridge in the morning, lunch and the afternoon at the sanctuary. With a night, go up to the Lakes first thing, stop at the Mirador de la Reina on the way back and, if you come with teenagers, add canyoning or caving with Cangas Aventura, or the Sella descent from Arriondas. ## When to go Covadonga can be visited all year: the basilica and the Santa Cueva open from 8:00 to 20:00 and are free. For the Lakes, the best months are May, June, September and October. In July and August the sanctuary and the town fill up, and in winter fog and snow can close off the view of the Lakes. On Sundays there is a market in Cangas, and the sanctuary has Masses at various times: check the hours on its website. ## Where do I eat and sleep? In the centre of Cangas, El Molín de la Pedrera, a cider house with Asturian cooking and half portions. For a special meal, El Corral del Indianu, in Arriondas, with a Michelin star and open on Sunday lunchtimes; for somewhere quiet among meadows, El Molín de Mingo, in Peruyes. To sleep, the Parador, in the monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva, beside the Sella, or the Hotel Nochendi, in the centre, within walking distance of the Lakes bus. ## Dónde está - Zonas: Picos de Europa, Horse riding routes in Spain, Cantabrian Coast, Camino del Norte - Cerca: Ribadesella (a 13.7 km), Cabrales (a 25.9 km), Villaviciosa and Tazones (a 28.7 km), Llanes (a 31.2 km) ## Qué hacer - **Covadonga Sanctuary: Santa Cueva and basilica** (1 h 30 · All audiences · Free): Eight kilometres from Cangas de Onís, the Royal Site of Covadonga brings together the Santa Cueva, hanging above the Mestas waterfall, where the Virgin is venerated and where, according to tradition, the kings Pelayo and Alfonso I rest; the collegiate church of San Fernando; and the neo-Romanesque pink-limestone basilica on the Cueto hill, facing Mount Auseva. Below the cave, the pool and the Siete Caños fountain, and beside the esplanade, the Covadonga museum, in the former Hotel Favila, and the Campanona. The Santa Cueva It is the first thing you find on arrival. The cave, in the foothills of Mount Auseva, holds the image of the Virgin of Covadonga, the Santina, and the remains of Pelayo, first king of the Asturian monarchy, and of his son-in-law Alfonso I. The monastic settlement is documented from the early 12th century. Below, in the rainy season or thaw, the jet of the River Mestas falls into the pool, where coins are thrown, and on its bank is the Siete Caños fountain: tradition says the young woman who drinks from it will marry within the year. To the right of the cave, the collegiate church of San Fernando, from the 16th century, is the oldest construction in the Royal Site. The basilica and the esplanade The basilica of Santa María la Mayor was built at the end of the 19th century to a design inspired by Roberto Frassinelli, "the German from Corao". Its pink colour, inside and out, and its site on top of a crag are striking. Alfonso XII fired the first blast of the crypt works in 1877. Inside, look at the paintings on either side of the altar, the choir stalls and the organ. Nearby are the museum, in the former Hotel Favila, and the Campanona, a bell of about 5,000 kilos cast in La Felguera, awarded a prize at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900 and donated to the sanctuary in the 1950s. At the foot of the cave and the basilica, the Parque del Príncipe has paths beside the River Covadonga. Opening times and visit The basilica and the Santa Cueva are open from 8:00 to 20:00 and are free. In summer there are no Masses in the Santa Cueva; service times are at santuariodecovadonga.es. Allow an hour and a half to see everything at an easy pace. At the entrance, in El Repelao, an obelisk marks the place where, according to some chroniclers, Pelayo was proclaimed king. From here the road to the Lakes leaves, with the Mirador de la Reina about 8 km away; on restricted-access days you go up on the bus to the Lakes. For practical information on the sanctuary, see the entry for Covadonga Sanctuary information. - **Roman bridge and Santa Cruz chapel in Cangas de Onís** (45 min · All audiences · Free): The so-called Roman bridge over the Sella is the image of Cangas de Onís: from its central arch hangs a replica of the Cross of Victory. At the other end of the town, the Santa Cruz chapel stands on a dolmen, the oldest remnant of this place that was the first capital of the kingdom of Asturias. The two are joined in a short walk through the centre, beside the river. The Roman bridge It is called Roman by tradition; what you see is a stone bridge with several arches, three of them pointed according to Turespaña, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931. Turismo Asturias calls it a symbol of the town and one of the most photographed monuments in Asturias. The cross hanging from the central arch is a reproduction of the Cross of Victory, the wooden cross that, according to tradition, Pelayo raised in the battle of Covadonga. You cross it on foot and it is free; for the photo with the cross, find a spot on the bank from which the whole central arch can be seen. The Santa Cruz chapel According to Turismo Asturias, in the year 737 King Favila built a chapel over a primitive dolmen to keep Pelayo's wooden cross, and it is believed to have been the first Christian church built in Asturias after the Reconquista. The dolmen is formed by five large stone slabs and two smaller ones that form a rectangle; their inner faces have engravings, paintings and pecked marks. The chamber was once covered by a great mound of pebbles and stones. The present chapel is a recent construction, with a rectangular plan with a chapel and porch, a Tuscan column and a bell gable. Inside, a stone tablet recalls Favila's old inscription, and from the centre you can see the dolmen. It is at Avenida Constantino González, 7; to find out whether it is open, the official sheet gives the information phone number 985 848 005. The walk Allow about 45 minutes at an easy pace. The chapel has an access stair in the porch. If it is Sunday, combine it with the Sunday market, beside the Palaciu Pintu. For eating in the town there is El Molín de la Pedrera, and for sleeping by the river, the Hotel Nochendi. Eight kilometres away is the Covadonga Sanctuary, where the story that the cross and the chapel tell begins. - **Sunday market in Cangas de Onís** (1 h · All audiences · Free entry): Cangas de Onís keeps its Sunday market, with garden produce and local cheeses. According to Turismo Asturias it is the most emblematic and popular market in the Picos de Europa area, and it has been held for more than 200 years on the same site: around the Palaciu Pintu, next to the parish church of Santa María. It is the plan for starting Sunday before going up to Covadonga, and the easiest way to take a cheese home. What you will find The main thing is the area's artisan cheeses: Cabrales, Gamonéu and Beyos. Alongside, butter, honey, home-produced eggs and whatever the garden yields in each season. It is not all food: the official agenda also mentions traditional basketry, wooden farm tools, hides, ceramics, decoration, clothing and flowers. The list of stalls changes from week to week and with the time of year, so do not always expect the same. If you are looking for a particular cheese, go round several stalls before deciding, and if you are going to continue sightseeing all day, think about where you will keep it. Hours and atmosphere The Turismo Asturias agenda announces it every Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00. More than a place to sell, it is a meeting point: as the agenda itself says, in Cangas Sundays are for "mercaú y vermut" (market and vermouth), a custom that brings together locals and visitors. If you want to eat afterwards, El Molín de la Pedrera is in the centre of the town. Getting there and parking The market is right in the centre, a few minutes' walk from the Roman bridge and the Santa Cruz chapel. Arrive mid-morning: with the people heading up to the sanctuary, the car parks in the centre fill up early on Sundays. Entry is free. Afterwards you can continue to the Covadonga Sanctuary, 8 km away. On days with restricted access to the Lakes, the bus to the Lakes leaves from Cangas de Onís bus station. - **Mirador de la Reina, on the road to the Lakes** (20 min · All audiences · Free): On the road from Covadonga to the Lakes, about 8 km from the basilica, the Mirador de la Reina has parking and an open view over the valleys and mountains of Covadonga. It is at the roadside, at 910 m altitude, and is one of the most popular viewpoints in the Picos de Europa: a stop of about twenty minutes on the way up to the Lakes. What you see Turismo Asturias describes it as a balcony from the Picos de Europa to the rest of the world. With the Picos at your back, the view takes in the northern ranges of the massif, the plain of the River Güeña, Mount Sueve, the Sierra del Cuera and the councils of Onís, Cangas de Onís, Parres and Cabrales, as far as the Cantabrian coast at Ribadesella and Llanes. It owes its name to Queen Victoria Eugenia, wife of Alfonso XIII, who visited Covadonga and its surroundings. The best times are first thing in the morning or at the end of the afternoon, in low light. Other viewpoints on the climb Before it, about 2 km from the Santa Cueva and on the left, is the Canónigos one, from where the canons of Covadonga used to look out over the Royal Site; it has a view of the sanctuary. Further up, already at the Lakes, the Entrelagos one, at 1,134 m, between Enol and La Ercina, and the Rey one, at the end of the Enol meadow track, above the Pome beech wood. For the route around the lakes, see the entry for the Covadonga Lakes. Access On days of restricted access to the Lakes (Holy Week, summer and some long weekends) the road can only be climbed by bus from Cangas de Onís: see the bus to the Lakes. The rest of the year you drive up and park at the viewpoint itself. The parking is not entirely accessible: you have to walk a couple of metres up the small promontory it sits on. It is in the Picos de Europa National Park, so do not leave the paths and keep your dog on a lead. Below, the Covadonga Sanctuary completes the morning. - **Canyoning in the rivers of eastern Asturias** (4 h · Level I from age 6; level II from 12; level III from 16 · Desde 55 € per person): Cangas Aventura descends five canyons in eastern Asturias, in the upper reaches of the Sella and the Cares, at three levels of difficulty. It is a half-day outing leaving at 9:30 from its base in Arriondas, and the 5 mm wetsuit and boots are included, along with photos of the descent. What it is Canyoning is descending a gorge on foot, along the riverbed, secured with the right equipment and with guides. Depending on the section, you swim, scramble down, jump into pools or slide down natural rock chutes. No experience is needed: a minimum level of fitness and being able to swim, or at least not being afraid of water, is enough. The company insists that being able to swim is essential. The levels and the canyons Level I, family canyon, from age 6: gentle obstacles for beginners. It is the Rubó one. Level II, accessible canyon, from age 12: more excitement and somewhat more technical obstacles, for those who have already tried. These are Vallegón, Carangas and La Molina. Level III, medium-to-hard difficulty, from age 16: difficult obstacles, for those with previous experience. It is the Viboli one. When booking online, level II is booked by default, and the guide may change the canyon depending on the flow, the time of year and their judgement. With families with small children, ask about level I before booking. Price and what is included Level II costs €55 and level III €65; there are discounts on the website when booking online. It includes the full 5 mm wetsuit (jacket and long john), neoprene boots with non-slip soles, anchor lanyards, shared equipment such as ropes, and public liability and accident insurance. They take photos during the descent and give them to you free at the end. The transfer from their premises to the canyon is free. The website announced the activity as available from March. Book online, on 985 849 261 or at info@cangasaventura.com. Getting there The base is at the La Dehesa estate, on the banks of the Sella in Arriondas, about ten minutes from Cangas de Onís, with free parking, changing rooms, toilets and a picnic area. Bring swimwear or sports underwear to wear under the wetsuit, a towel and dry clothes to change into. If one canyon is not enough for you, the same company runs caving and the Sella descent. - **Caving in a cave in eastern Asturias** (4 h · From age 12, no claustrophobia · Desde 35 € per person): Half a day underground with a specialist guide from Cangas Aventura, in natural caves in the Picos de Europa without any tourist adaptation: no walkways and no lighting, only what you carry on your helmet. It is the other face of eastern Asturias, and a good plan for a rainy day, because inside you cannot tell. What you do The caves are in Carboniferous limestone and are explored along their galleries: you climb, crawl and duck through the narrowest passages. On the way you see geological formations, stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over thousands of years from the minerals in the water slowly seeping through the ceiling. The guide explains how caves form and their most unusual features. Inside you lose your sense of time and space, but you are never alone. On leaving, the team takes you back to their premises, where you can have a picnic lunch in the picnic area and talk over the experience. The information sheet does not say which specific cave is visited; ask when you book. Price, schedule and ages Price: €35 per person. Schedule: half a day, leaving at 9:30 or 15:30. Minimum age: 12. If you are over 16 but a minor, you must bring an authorisation signed by your legal guardian, which can be downloaded from their website. Includes: overalls, helmet and individual lighting system, with public liability and accident insurance. Wear footwear with a strong sole, such as hiking boots, and clothes you do not mind getting dirty under the overalls. If you are claustrophobic, this is not your activity: there are passages where you crawl. Booking and getting there For caving, availability and bookings are requested by phone, on 985 849 261, or by email at info@cangasaventura.com. The Cangas Aventura base is at the La Dehesa estate, on the banks of the Sella in Arriondas, about ten minutes from Cangas de Onís, with free parking, changing rooms and toilets. If you are left wanting water, the same company runs canyoning in the rivers of the east and the Sella descent. For a relaxed meal, El Corral del Indianu is in Arriondas. - **Sella Adventure Park, a circuit among the trees in Arriondas** (2 h · From age 7 and 1.20 m; under-15s with an adult who also does it · Desde 20 € ages 7 to 14 (from 15, €25)): In a poplar grove beside the Sella, in Arriondas, 9 minutes from Cangas de Onís, Cangas Aventura has had a tree adventure park since 2005: a route with obstacles of different heights and difficulties done in a harness, with no experience or special fitness needed. It is the afternoon plan with children once you have done the Sella or climbed up to Covadonga. The route Monkey bridges, zip lines, Tarzan lianas, flying trapezes and Tibetan bridges, among the trees on the riverbank. Everyone chooses the circuit according to their level and sets their own challenges, with the instructors watching over safety. It takes about two hours. Slots, price and ages The morning slot starts at 10:00. In the afternoon there are two: at 15:30 for adults without children and at 16:00 for adults with children, so that each group goes at its own pace. It costs €20 for ages 7 to 14 and €25 from age 15. The minimum age is 7 and the height 1.20 m. Under-15s must go with an adult who does the route at the same time; 16- and 17-year-olds, with signed permission from their parents. There are group discounts, free parking and a picnic area next door. What to bring Sports clothes and footwear. They recommend gloves, which are welcome on the zip lines and cables. For the full day, the Sella canoe descent leaves from the same area of Arriondas, and the horse ride beside the Sella is from the same company. - **Rafting on the upper Sella, departing from Arriondas** (2 h · From age 14): The Sella canoe descent is a river outing; rafting is the other face of the same river, higher up and wilder. Cangas Aventura runs the upper stretches of the Sella in eight-seat inflatable rafts, with a guide who steers the craft and tells you when to paddle. It is done only when the river carries the necessary flow. What it is like You set off from the company's premises in Arriondas and they take you free to the starting point. Before boarding there are safety instructions. Each crew member carries a single-blade paddle and the guide, or rafter, steers the raft through the most suitable areas. There are stretches of white water and others of calm water where you stop, swim and catch your breath. It takes about two hours, in a timetable from 10:00 to 15:00. Jaire Aventura, another active-tourism company in Arriondas, also advertises rapids rafting in rafts with an instructor, although its website does not detail the stretch or the price. Requirements and booking From age 14. A minimum of four people is needed; if there are fewer of you, the company fills the groups. The website does not publish the price: check availability and rate on 985 849 261. Bring sports clothes that can get wet and a towel; at the end there are showers, changing rooms and a picnic area at its premises. When It depends on the water. Ask when you book whether the river has flow on those days: with the river low, the alternative is the canoe. If you want river thrills without depending on the flow, the canyoning from the same company is done in canyons in the east. - **Horse Ride along the Royal Road to Isongu and Corao** (1 h · 2 h ride from age 8 and over 1.20 m): El Dorado leaves from Soto de Cangas, a few minutes from Cangas de Onís, and according to its website has been running horse rides around the area for more than 25 years. A guide always accompanies you and the ride begins with instructions on how to handle and ride the horse. The two routes The 1-hour ride goes from the stables to the village of Isongu along the old royal road and back. It leaves every hour in daylight, from 16:00. The 2-hour ride also passes through Isongu and Santu Mederu, goes down to Corao along the riverbank, crosses it and makes a stop halfway with cider and soft drinks. It returns via Celorio, crosses the river again and ends at the stables. It is suitable for children from age 8 who are over 1.20 m tall. The company also offers long-distance rides around the Picos de Europa and the climb to the Lakes of Covadonga, which are requested through the form on the website. Price and booking The website does not publish prices: ask for them through the booking form or by phone (629 875 061). It is at Soto de Cangas, 40, 33589 Soto de Cangas. It operates practically every day of the year. When to go Spring and autumn, when the meadows are green and there are fewer people. In summer, the afternoon ride avoids the hottest hours. In the rain, confirm by phone whether there is a ride. What to bring Long trousers, closed shoes, a light jacket and water. The website does not make clear whether the cider at the stop is included: ask when booking. To combine with Nearby you have the Covadonga Sanctuary and, closer to Arriondas, the horse ride beside the Sella if you prefer another stretch of the river. ## Dónde comer - **El Molín de la Pedrera** (Cider house, Cangas de Onís, €€€). Qué pedir: crunchy Cabrales with hazelnuts, a tapa of fabada and oven-roast shoulder of kid; half portions to try more - **El Molín de Mingo** (Restaurant, Peruyes, €€). Qué pedir: home-style Asturian cooking; ask about the day's stews - **El Corral del Indianu** (Restaurant, Arriondas, €€€€). Qué pedir: the Sensaciones or the Degustación menu; if it is not on the menu, order the fabada as an extra ## By car: By car, with a seasonal rule Cangas de Onís and Covadonga are done by car, except the road to the Lakes on restricted-access days, which is climbed by bus from Cangas. Covadonga is 8 km from the town. Presupuesto orientativo: 65–130 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Parador de Cangas de Onís** (Hotel): The pantheon of the first kings, beside the Sella The Parador occupies the former Benedictine monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva, on the banks of the Sella and two kilometres from Cangas de Onís. According to Paradores, the monastery was built in the mid-8th century on the orders of Alfonso I, third king of Asturias, in memory of his predecessor Favila, son of Pelayo, and came to hold one of the first royal pantheons of the Asturian crown. It has been a National Monument since 1907 and forms an ensemble with the Romanesque church, which still stands alongside. Inside, you can feel the building: stone and wood rooms, a cloister lounge that was a library and a garden that runs down to the river. Four types of room Turismo Asturias lists it with 64 rooms and 138 beds, in the four-star category. Paradores offers standard double, superior double, accessible room and junior suite. You book on three board options: room only, bed and breakfast, and half board. Turismo Asturias gives €100 to €270 a night as a guide; the real price appears in the website calendar for your dates. High season runs from March to October. Monastic cooking and cheeses The restaurant serves Asturian cooking, with nods to the monasteries' cuisine: pulses, regional cheeses and Cantabrian fish with cider. There is also a Cheese Bar with a selection of Asturian cheeses and dishes to share, useful if you arrive late or do not want a long dinner. Spa, bike and electric car The Parador has a spa, with conditions and prices to be checked separately, and an electric-car charging point. Paradores notes it is equipped for cycle tourism. Turismo Asturias lists parking, garden, fireplace, children's play area, air conditioning, room service and laundry. With a dog or cat Pets are accepted for a supplement: one animal per room, dogs up to 25 kg and cats. Medium to large dogs need the hotel's approval, and potentially dangerous breeds are not accepted. The animal cannot be left alone in the room or enter the common areas. You must say so when you book and bring the vaccination record and insurance. They provide a food and water bowl if you ask, but not a bed or blanket. Getting there and what is nearby From the A-8 take the N-634 towards Arriondas or towards Cangas de Onís; at Arriondas take the N-625, with signs to Villanueva de Cangas. From here, the Covadonga sanctuary and the climb to the Lakes are by car, and the Roman bridge in Cangas is two kilometres away. In Arriondas you can eat at a Michelin-starred table at El Corral del Indianu and the Sella descent starts. - **Hotel Nochendi** (Small hotel, desde 65 € / night): In the centre, looking onto the river Nochendi is a three-star hotel in a new building at Calle Constantino González, 4, right in the centre of Cangas de Onís and very close to the bus station. According to its website it has 12 rooms, with interior design by Paz Ardines, and most look onto the river and the Sierra del Sueve, with views towards the Santa Cruz dolmen, the Contranquil plain and the Los Azules oak wood. Turismo Asturias lists it with 11 rooms and 21 beds, so if you need a particular room, confirm when you book. Rooms and services All rooms have free wifi, telephone, television, individual heating and a bathroom. One is adapted for people with reduced mobility and another is a family room, for four people. The hotel offers laundry service, a safe and information on the area; Turismo Asturias adds air conditioning, a lounge with television and reception service. As well as the hotel, the house rents the Nochendi Tourist Apartment. The website says nothing about parking or pets: ask when you book, especially in summer, when parking in the centre of Cangas is difficult. Prices and season Turismo Asturias gives indicative prices of €64.80 to €118.80 a night, and the hotel's website advertises weekend offers from €65. It closes from 20 December to 3 February, according to the official sheet. Book on its website or on 985 849 513. The house restaurant The hotel's restaurant is El Molín de la Pedrera, a cider house with traditional Asturian cooking, which also prepares takeaway food. Its booking phone number is 985 849 109. Why sleep here If you are going to the Covadonga lakes in season, the bus to the lakes leaves from Cangas bus station, so sleeping in the centre saves you the car and an early start. And in the evening you can walk to dinner, cross the Roman bridge and, if it is Sunday, stroll through the market. The hotel's website gives these distances: Arriondas 7 km, Covadonga 12 km, the Lakes 23 km, Ribadesella 24 km, Arenas de Cabrales 40 km, Llanes 48 km and Oviedo 72 km. It is a good base for combining the Covadonga sanctuary, the Sella descent and a beach day in Ribadesella. Without a car, you can get there from Oviedo by Alsa bus. ## As a family: A holy cave, a pink basilica and the Sunday market With children, Covadonga is short and eye-catching: the cave above the waterfall, the coin into the pool and the basilica. Cangas adds the bridge and the Sunday market. If there is energy left, the Lakes are up above. ### What works best The Santa Cueva and the pool, where you throw a coin The Roman bridge in Cangas, with the cross hanging The Sunday market Level I canyoning with Cangas Aventura, from age 6 ### Sleep Hotel Nochendi, in the centre Parador de Cangas de Onís, in Villanueva ### Eat El Molín de la Pedrera, with half portions El Molín de Mingo, a restaurant with a garden ### Bear in mind In season, you can only go up to the Lakes by bus The Santa Cueva has steps: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair ### Qué hacer as a family - Covadonga Sanctuary: Santa Cueva and basilica - Roman bridge and Santa Cruz chapel in Cangas de Onís - Sunday market in Cangas de Onís - Mirador de la Reina, on the road to the Lakes - Canyoning in the rivers of eastern Asturias - Sella Adventure Park, a circuit among the trees in Arriondas - Horse Ride along the Royal Road to Isongu and Corao ## With friends: Canyons, Rafting and Cider in Eastern Asturias Eastern Asturias brings together in a small space what a group of friends wants for an adventure weekend: a big river, canyons, caves and a cider house where everyone can dine at one table. Cangas de Onís and Arriondas are the base, and the Sella is the thread running through it all. A long weekend is easy to organise: Saturday on the river (canoe or rafting, depending on the water), Sunday a canyon or a cave, and in between, cider and an unhurried dinner. Cangas Aventura organises canyoning, caving and rafting, so it is worth asking about a group price and combining several activities in a single booking. ### What works best The Sella canoe descent, the classic group plan, starting from the Arriondas area Rafting on the Sella: eight-person rafts with a guide, from age 14, two hours; only with enough water flow and with a minimum group of four, so it is best if you all go together Canyoning in the rivers of the east, level I to III, half a day and from €55 Caving in a cave in the east, half a day, from age 12 and €35 The Parque Aventura Sella, two hours of ziplines and Tibetan bridges beside the river, for those who prefer air to water Buggy routes around Cangas de Onís, if the group wants an engine ### Where to sleep The Hotel Nochendi, small, in the centre of Cangas, with twelve rooms, almost all facing the river: ideal if the whole group fits and wants to go out on foot For a calmer plan, the Parador de Cangas de Onís, in the monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva, on the banks of the Sella ### Where to eat El Molín de la Pedrera, a cider house in the centre with Asturian cooking and half portions, made for sharing El Molín de Mingo, an eating house in an old mill in Peruyes, among meadows and woodland, with regional cooking ### Keep in mind Rafting depends on the water flow: ask when booking and keep the canoe or the canyon as an alternative Canyons and the canoe require being able to swim and clothes that can get wet In August the Descent of the Sella fills the area: book in good time and don't count on parking easily ### Qué hacer with friends - Canyoning in the rivers of eastern Asturias - Caving in a cave in eastern Asturias - Sella Adventure Park, a circuit among the trees in Arriondas - Rafting on the upper Sella, departing from Arriondas ## Consejos ### Covadonga early or at the end of the day Coaches arrive mid-morning; at 8:00 or after 18:00, the sanctuary is quiet. ### Lakes by bus, no stress In season, buy your ticket in advance at buslagoscovadonga.es. ### The market is on Sunday If you are looking for cheese to take home, plan the day to be in Cangas on Sunday morning. ### Warm clothes for up top At the Lakes, at over a thousand metres, it is colder than in Cangas. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How much does it cost to visit Covadonga? Nothing. The basilica and the Santa Cueva are free and open from 8:00 to 20:00. ### Can you drive up to the Covadonga Lakes? Outside the restricted-access dates, yes. At Easter, in summer and on some long weekends, only by bus from Cangas de Onís. ### How long does it take from Oviedo? An hour by car to Cangas de Onís; Covadonga, ten minutes more. ### Which day is the market in Cangas de Onís? Sundays, with garden produce and cheeses. ### What can you do with teenagers? Canyoning from €55 or caving for €35 with Cangas Aventura, and the Sella descent by canoe. ### Can you combine it with Ribadesella? Yes, they are half an hour apart. Both fit into a weekend.