11 unforgettable dips in Asturias

The time has come to soak in the water, or to enjoy watching others do it, or to suddenly think "Ummm... what a fantastic place to take a dip, to swim for a while, to sail, to let yourself be carried away by the magic of the surroundings, floating on the water or simply dreaming of the sound of a waterfall, a river, the waves of the sea, the noise of the bathers, the exclamations of the children at their baptism in fresh or salt water... These are situations that are more typical of the summer season, ways of enjoying the summer cooling off in the middle of nature, in fairytale-like settings. For this reason, from Asturias we suggest eleven places and eleven situations for eleven dips or whatever it may be that you will find unforgettable, so that when autumn arrives you will say: What a dip that day in Asturias!

Let's start the tour of these eleven unforgettable dips in Asturias. Are you ready?

Under the Roman Bridge in Cangas de Onís

Can you imagine swimming under a Roman bridge? Well, that's possible in Cangues D'Onís/Cangas de Onís, in a river with crystal-clear waters and limestone sediments that shine like gold in the sun... A salmon river if ever there was one, with a sporting tradition famous the world over for canoeing, and with a history so closely linked to the Asturian Monarchy and the kingdom of Asturias that, when you are swimming, if you raise your eyes to the sky, you will find the Victoria Cross itself suspended in the air as if it were an ethereal illusion.

You will swim like a salmon, with reminiscences of history and at the foot of the mythical Picos de Europa... A dip to remember for a lifetime!

At the Olla de San Vicente in Amieva

If you continue your journey through Cangas de Onís, a beautiful and easy route to do is the Olla de San Vicente in the Dobra River. It is very close to Cangues D'Onís/Cangas de Onís, taking the direction towards the Pontón pass, and you will be amazed. The climb up to the Olla is not complicated at all and the continuous walk next to the Dobra River, with its rapids and waterfalls, is a real delight. When you finish the short walk, the gift before your eyes is indescribable: a large pool of turquoise waters, crystal clear, fresh, with a setting like a fairy tale from Asturian mythology awaits you. If you swim, you won't forget it, and if you don't, you won't forget it either. But if I were you, I would try to immerse myself in the sacred waters of the Dobra, even if it was only for a few seconds...

Although very close to Cangas D'Onís/Cangas de Onís, the Olla de San Vicente belongs to the council of Amieva.

In one of the many ravines of Asturias

If what you like is not a dip in the water, and you prefer to let your adrenaline run wild, then an Asturian canyon is for you. Immerse yourself in these deep gorges, full of waterfalls and siphons, lichens, powerful rocks, slides and incredible pools. There is no doubt that a canyoning immersion in Asturias will make you come out wet, soaked, impressed and wanting to repeat. It is another way of getting in touch with nature, of enjoying and getting to know the landscape, of vibrating with new sensations, but always under water.

Let yourself be seduced by the enchantment of the ravines! And perhaps a xana will come out to meet you, as in these spots of the Vallegón River, in Amieva, or the Frío River, in Boal.

On a charming river beach

In Asturias you don't need to be on the coast to go to the beach. The infinite charm of its river basins will lead you to discover a multitude of spots where you can spend a pleasant moment, in the shade or in the sun, with the murmur of the flowing river as the most natural background music.

One of these places of unlimited peace and quiet is located in Aballe, one of the most charming villages on the banks of the Sella, where there is a river beach of incredible beauty right next to the village church.

A luxury within your reach!

In the saltwater pool of Tapia

Imagine that you are looking at a panoramic view of the western coast of Asturias, with its imposing cliffs, its "brañas" that overlook the sea, its breeze that tastes like blessed glory, and that you are also in a saltwater pool, doing thalassotherapy in the open air with a Designation of Origin, that of Tapia, which is a guarantee of quality with total certainty.

And after taking a bath, drying out in the open air, sheltered from the wind and with the sun as a witness, it is a healthy experience that you cannot miss!

In the Illano swimming pool

If you decide to travel inland from the coast to the west of Asturias, a more than pleasant place to bathe and relax, and to definitively forget the hustle and bustle, is the swimming pool in the Folgueirou recreational area, in Illano. There, in silence, in the middle of nature, you will miss nothing more than having more time to stop the clock.

The charm of the Tierras del Navia-Pocía region will captivate you forever!

Paddle surfing along the eastern coast of Asturias

Have you ever surfed standing up on a board? Well, it would be interesting if you did. In the last few years, SUP or Stand Up Paddle has been all the rage in Asturias. What is it? Well, it's a sport derived in some way from surfing, which allows you to ride in calm waters, cross the sea when you already have a little experience, and even catch waves. A real pleasure that is another way of travelling and getting to know the landscapes...

You even have another possibility, of which we are the inventors and pioneers in Asturias, which is the caving-paddle... What does it consist of? It consists of exploring coastal caves and grottoes that will transport you to another dimension of time and space... A perfect place for this exploration is the eastern coast of Asturias, especially around Llanes.

And between walks, a dip in the sea, at any time of day, will invigorate your body and mind to continue the endless journey along the Asturian coast.

At a waterfall in the west of Asturias

Waterfalls were probably prehistoric showers. In the midst of exuberant Asturian nature and as a pleasant stop on the way, waterfalls appear to inject us with life, as pure as the water they spill. In Asturias, water is plentiful in abundance and so are waterfalls, so another way to refresh yourself is to take advantage of a waterfall... like the Seimeira in Santa Eulalia de Oscos .

Another of these paradisiacal showers can be found at the Cioyo waterfall in Castropol...

Without a doubt the most natural showers!

In the river Trubia

The Trubia River, as it passes through the town of the same name, and when it is about to merge with the Nalón, leaves us with places of unusual beauty in which we can imagine that childish and youthful dip in the river.

Trubia, with its historic factory, its park, its bridges, its atmosphere of authenticity and its river face, makes up a whole that invites us to enjoy the river life, so rich in Asturias.

In the Villaviciosa estuary

The Villaviciosa estuary offers endless options for bathing. You can do so on a beach, in a channel, on an island in the middle of this impressive flow, or in a port such as Puntal. The spectacular natural landscapes, its biodiversity and the villages that surround it make up a unique whole.

As if this were not enough, its history is extremely rich, and it is closely linked to resounding episodes such as the first landing of the former emperor Charles V, when he was still a young prince of Ghent, aged just 17, and set foot on Spanish soil for the first time in Asturias, more than 500 years ago.

So in the river of Villaviciosa you can take a real imperial bath!

In the Niembru estuary in Llanes

The Niembru estuary, in Llanes, offers very different views, depending on the tides. At full tide, it becomes a sort of saltwater lake where you swim in the midst of the boats and amidst the murmur of the green landscape. At low tide, you discover a wide sandy area, where you walk along the harbour channel to the sea, which approaches salty.

Both at sunrise and sunset, the image of the Niembru estuary, with its church and cemetery, projected on the water, has an immensely romantic tinge...

Another memorable dip awaits you in the Niembru estuary!