Do you love hiking? There are so many beautiful spots you can explore which are hidden in the Pyrenees. And right in the central area, a marvelous treasure: the Catalonia National Park, Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes.
Located in the heart of the Pyreness (in the comarques of Pallars Sobirà and Alta Ribagorça), Aiguestortes is the only national park in Catalonia and was created in 1955. Parc Nacional d’Aiguestortes comprises a core area of 141 km2 and it contains nearly 200 lakes, many of them from glacial origin. Its majestic landscapes and views will leave you breathless: lakes, beautiful paths, genuine mountains… It also hides a highly varied fauna, since it is the habitat of the wild goat, the capercailie the marmot and the legendary bearded vulture.
So if you are thinking of trips to national parks near Barcelona, Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes is a great option. Here we share our personal experience in the Catalonia National Park.
Hike in Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
ESTANY DE SANT MAURICI – CASCADA DE RATERA – ESTANY DE RATERA – ESTANY DE SANT MAURICI LOOKOUT
The Aigüestortes National Park has multiple entrances, we decided to explore it from the east side, from a beautiful little village called Espot. From there to the park, we got tickets for a ride with jeep taxis to get to the entrance of Aigüestortes (10 euros per person). One we arrived there, we decided to do a 3h hiking and discover the area.
1st stop: Estany de Sant Maurici
Estany de Sant Maurici is the most iconic spot of the Catalonia national park. From this spot you can see the majestic twin peaks of the Encantats. Sant Maurici it is all about calm, peace and beauty. Make sure to stop by and enjoy the views for a while!
2nd stop: Cascada de Ratera
After this first stop in Estany de Sant Maurici, a beautiful path will lead us to Cascada de Ratera. This waterfall is sourced by a creek fed from the lake Estany de Ratera (the third stop), and emptied into the Estany de Sant Maurici. It is approximately 50m tall, and it has a small lookout from where you can take some pictures.
3rd stop: Estany de Ratera
Estany de Ratera was our third spot, a beautiful lake surrounded by a majestic landscape. The perfect atmosphere to have lunch and enjoy the views!
4th stop: Estany de Sant Maurici Lookout
And finally our last stop: Mirador de Sant Maurici. It takes only 15 minutes from Estany de Ratera, and the views are amazing. You can see Estany de Sant Maurici at your feet, surrounded by its majestic mountains.
Aigüestortes National Park: additional information about
How to get to the Catalonia National Park?
By car: You can get there also by car, it takes 3h from Barcelona to Espot approximately. You can leave the car in the parking of Espot village, and from there take the jeep taxis to get to the entrance of the park (Estany de Sant Maurici).
Also, by public transport: The transport company Alsa offers direct rides from Barcelona to Esterri d’Àneu (the closest village to Espot). You can buy the tickets online on their website www.alsa.es. Estimated journey time: 5h.
Refuges in the Catalonia national park
Also, if you want to do some trekking and spend a couple of nights in Aigüestortes national park, there are refuges available. Here we share the list of refuges in Aigüestortes, which are open from the end of spring and during summer (it’s necessary to book them in advance).
Amitges – Colomer – Colomina – Ernest Mallafré – Estany Llong – Josep Maria Blanch – Pla de la Font – Restanca – Saboredo – Ventosa i Calvell
So if you were wondering if there were beautiful national parks near Barcelona… We hope this post would help you find the answer ;)
