Picos de Europa: Trekking Anillo Vindio

After having arrived by Public Transport (not included) or Private taxi (optional service) at the Lagos de Covadonga, you start your 5 day mountain trek at the National Park’s visitors centre in Bufarrera. Get used to your rugsack while you walk up past Lago Enol, through beech woods and bucolic ‘alms’ to reach the Vegarredonda refuge. Here you can leave the bulk of your luggage and walk further up to the Ordiales viewpoint, a fabulous natural balcony also burial place of the Marques de Vega de Sella; founder of the National Park Picos de Europa. 

Challenge: 8.6 km / 5.3 mi, 500 m ascent, 80 m descent, 3 hours. With extension Ordiales: +5.9 km / 3.6 mi, 300 m ascent and descent, 2.5 hours

An early start is highly recommended as today’s route is the longest route of this 5-day mountain trek. You’ll traverse high alpine areas between huge geological depression typical of limestone mountains, the so called dolines  (or “jous” in asturiano). The terrain is very irregular and stony and there is hardly any shade before you descent to the idyllic Vegabaño refuge surrounded by an impressive beech forest. In this welcoming family-run hut you will enjoy a tasty and well-deserved dinner in good company.

Challenge: 14.8 km / 9 mi, 980 m ascent, 1150 m descent, 8 hours.

After yesterday's effort, today's route is more relaxed and penetrates into dense beech and oak forests populated by deer, foxes, wild boar, wolves and even some (very shy) bears (Oso Cantábrico). Probably you will not see any 4-footers, but serval types of warblers, buntings and woodpeckers will provide the soundtrack. Once you arrive at the valley of Valdeón, you’ll cross several villages where you can stop for a drink or a lunch, before finishing the last track to your hotel, located in the small village of Cordiñanes.

Challenge: 13.4 km / 8.3 mi, 300 m ascent, 800 m descent, 6.5 hours.

If the weather is bad or you do not feel up to this last strenuous ascent, you can follow the ‘escape’ route to Poncebos; at the end of the 12km spectacular Cares gorge, and take a bus to Arenas de Cabrales where you’ll find several hotels.

IMPORTANT: In this (unforseen) case, you skip the overnight stay in the mountain hut and will not receive a refund, UNLESS you have already indicated at the time of booking that you want to do the alternative route through the Cares gorge. In that case we will book a hotel for you in Arenas de Cabrales instead of the mountain hut; including dinner and breakfast, but WITHOUT packed lunch. You will also have to take the bus yourself (from Poncebos to Arenas on day 4) and from Arenas back to Cangas on day 5)

Challenge: 17.5 km / 10.8 mi, 475 m ascent, 875 m descent, 6.5 hours.

After having enjoyed again a beautiful sunrise from the refuge, you will do a short but nevertheless beautiful walk, mainly downhill and past Lake Ercina, back to the bus stop where you started your walk 5 days ago. There you will take the bus back to Cangas de Onís.

Challenge: 7.9 km / 4.9 mi , 100 m ascent, 650 m descent, 3 hours.