Bus to the Lakes of Covadonga

On restricted-access days, the CO-4 road from Covadonga to the Lakes is closed to private cars for 24 hours and the climb is made by bus. This is the Lakes of Covadonga Access Plan: you park in Cangas de Onís or in one of the car parks on the way and go up by bus to lakes Enol and Ercina.

2026 dates

According to Turismo Asturias, in 2026 access is restricted from 28 to 31 March; from 1 to 12, on 18 and 19 and from 25 to 30 April; on 1 May and every weekend in May; from 1 June to 18 October, except 6 June (access on foot only), the afternoon of 24 July, 25 July and 8 September; on 24, 25 and 31 October; on 1 and 2 November, and from 1 to 8 December. Outside those dates you can drive up, although the National Park may close access if the road or car parks become saturated.

Car parks and stops

There are five car parks, all at €3 per vehicle per day: Cangas de Onís bus station (419 places), El Bosque (182), Muñigu (362), El Repelao (142) and El Peregrino, in Covadonga (135). On the busiest days you may wait up to an hour to find a space. Motorhomes and vehicles over 5 m cannot go up the CO-4 on those days, not even with a disability card.

Timetables and tickets

From 28 March to 30 September, the first bus leaves at 8:00, the last bus up is at 17:45 and the last bus down at 20:50. From 1 October to 8 December, the first bus is at 8:00, the last bus up at 16:00 and the last bus down at 19:05. The ticket costs €9 per adult and €3.50 for ages 4 to 11; under-3s don't pay. You buy it at buslagoscovadonga.es, and it is best to do so beforehand, because places are limited and at the car parks tickets are only sold if there are any left. You can change your ticket up to two hours before departure, subject to availability. For those doing multi-day crossings there is a down-only ticket, at €4.50, sold at the Buferrera hut if places remain.

Between Cangas de Onís and Covadonga there is also a shuttle every half hour, from 7:40 to 19:30, which stops at all the car parks. It is included in the Lakes ticket on the day of the visit; on its own it costs €1.55 and accepts the CTA card.

Other ways up

Bicycles are not affected by the restriction. Taxitur offers shared eight-seater taxis from Covadonga, at €12 per person, with no booking and until 19:00. If you have a booking at a mountain refuge, you can drive up by registering your number plate, except motorhomes and vehicles over 5 m; a restaurant booking doesn't count. Pets go up free in the boot, in the designated spaces, and in the park they may not run loose.

What to do at the top

The organisers recommend allowing about two and a half hours at the lakes. That is enough for the walk around the Lakes of Covadonga. On the way down, stop at the Covadonga Sanctuary; its opening hours are in the Sanctuary information listing.