• Approach: It takes about 3 hours to get to the refuge from the Pan de Carmen car park (Lagos de Covadonga).
  • It takes about 4 hours to reach the summit from the Refugio de Vega Redonda.
  • Another 4 hours for the descent and another 2 hours to reach the Pan de Carmen car park.
• Climbing length: Approximately 300 metres of climbing
• Difficulty: IVº Maximum
• Duration of the entire activity: 2 days in combination with trekking to the refuge.
  • Day 1: 3 hours
  • Day 2: between 9 and 11 hours from the summit to the car park at Pan de Carmen.
• Descent: On foot on short rope with some unclimbing and 4 rappels of 30 metres during the descent from the summit to the base of the Canal Estrecha, then walking back to the shelter.

To do this activity, the participants must be used to do high mountain routes of 1000 metres of positive difference in altitude and of more than 8 hours of duration, it is advisable to have previously done routes and ascents in Picos de Europa, for example: Palanca, Peña Vieja, Horcados Rojos, etc….

Depending on the time of year and weather conditions, this information may vary in number and type of clothing and footwear. (The guide will inform upon reservation)

• Long sleeve thermal T-shirt.
• Short sleeve thermal T-shirt. (× days of activity)
• Technical elastic long trousers for mountaineering.
• Shorts.
• Spare change of underwear (x days of activity)
• Fleece, soft sell or primaloft type jacket.
• Goretex type jacket.
• Lightweight hiking boots or trekking shoes (technical).
• High protection sun cream.
• Approved sunglasses.
• Sun hat.
• Cap.
• Medium or light gloves.
• Backpack 40L minimum.
• Water bottle 1.5L minimum.
• Food: energy bars, dried fruit, sandwiches, etc…
• Trekking pole.
• Headlamp with batteries (important).
• Replacement batteries for headlamp.
• Lightweight sleeping bag for shelters.
• Mat (if sleeping in a tent or bivouac).
• Small toiletries: toothbrush, towel, personal medication etc…)
• Mobile phone with battery.
• Mobile phone charger.
• Cash for shelter or cable car expenses (approx. €150).
• Membership card if you have one.
• Personal and essential medicines.
• Spare underwear.
• Earplugs for sleeping inside the shelter.

The meeting point and time will be communicated by the guide when booking the activity.

There are two options for this activity, which can be consulted when making the reservation with the guide.

From Pan de Carmen via the Vega Redonda shelter

Day 1:

Normally the meeting with the guide is at the Vega Redonda shelter at around 7pm. The guide will let you know in advance if he/she can arrive at that time or later depending on the work he/she may have to do that day.

We must take into account that the dinners at the shelter are at 20:00h, it is important to plan the trip well and take into account the timetables so as not to arrive late at the shelter and to be able to go with peace of mind.

To get to the refuge, take the road from Cangas de Onís to the lakes of Covadonga. When you reach the first lake, take the turning to the right along a track until you reach the end, where you will find the Pan de Carmen car park.

Once here we will have to take the beautiful path that will take us progressively upwards to the Vega Redonda refuge. This path passes successively through the meadows of La Piedra, Canraso and La Rondiella, before reaching the Gamonal pass and then the sheltered refuge of Vega Redonda. (Approximately 3 hours to the refuge from the car park).

Once at the shelter, the guide will give the necessary explanations about the activity, the necessary equipment, timetables and clarify any doubts that may arise.

Day 2:

The meeting time for breakfast will be around 4:00 AM in the morning. We will leave around 4:30 AM from the shelter by the path in the direction of Porru Bolu, but before reaching it, we will turn off and take the path to the left that will take us to the Fragua pass, situated between the Altiquera and the Torres de los Argaos.

Once on the pass the path is quite easy without having to climb very steeply through the Barrastrosas, we reach the Jou de los Asturianos from where we pass to the Boca del Jou Santo, at this point it is possible to see the north face of La Peña Santa.

Once at the Jou Santo we will reach the bivouacs that lead to the base of the Canal Estrecha, here we will equip ourselves with harness, helmet and rope to undertake the ascent of the Canal Estrecha. (From the shelter to this point about 2 to 3 hours).

The normal or Canal Estrecha route starts in the great depression that Peña Santa has in the north: the Jou Santo. The route passes the marked crevasse on the westernmost part of the north face in its entirety. The greatest difficulty is right at the entrance to the channel; it is a short upward traverse to the left to then return to the right (IIIº) and enter the bottom of the channel again, which is not abandoned until you come out onto the western ridge. This leads to the north gap, the pass that overlooks Vega Huerta.

From here we must continue to the left looking for the best path (II/IIº+) until we reach below the ridge and continue along it or parallel to it – but always on the side of the Jou Santo – until we reach the summit. (Approximately 2 hours to the summit from the bivouacs).

Once at the summit, we will be able to enjoy the views for a few minutes, have a snack and take some photographs before starting the descent, which will follow the same route as the ascent.

After several rappels and descents, we will reach the base where we will take off our equipment and walk back to the shelter along the same path we took on the way up. (Approximately 4 hours from the summit to the shelter).

The guide, once the reservation has been made, will inform the participant of the meeting time and place, which will depend on the timetable of the Fuente De cable car and the time of the year.