The Aigüestortes and Lago de San Mauricio National Park is located in the province of Lleida, in the heart of the Pyrenees , and its name “tortuous waters” refers to the characteristic meanders that draw eses in the landscape. With its high peaks that exceed 3,000 meters, its waterfalls, its forests and its more than 200 mountain lakes or ponds , the park offers many attractions for nature lovers.
In the lower areas, the crops and meadows alternate with forests of beech, hazelnut, oak and ash, while in the higher elevations the forests of fir and black pine follow each other until reaching 2,000 meters, where the meadows full of high mountain flora. It is noteworthy that a very high percentage of the park’s plant species are Pyrenean endemisms , which means that they are only found here. As for the fauna, there are numerous birds of interest such as the bearded vulture, the black woodpecker, the ptarmigan and the golden eagle.
In the park there are 25 well-marked hiking trails , with different routes to suit all types of visitors and to visit the most characteristic points of Aigüestortes . In addition, the ‘Pedals de Foc’ route offers a circular itinerary to be carried out by bicycle between 4 and 6 days that runs around the entire perimeter of the park. Another similar route, but on foot, is the ‘Carros de Foc’ or Refuge Route, planned in 9 stages. The most comfortable can enjoy beautiful views of the area by going up by cable car from Lake Sallente to Estany Gento.
To complete the trip to Aigüestortes with a cultural getaway, you can visit the Boí Valley, which houses a monumental set of Romanesque art declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Practical data:
The park covers the regions of Alta Ribagorça, Pallars Sobirà, Val d’Aran and Pallars Jussà. The two most common accesses are from Boí, through the western sector or from Aigüestortes , and from Espot, which enters the San Mauricio area.
There are many shelters to stay overnight, but it is advisable to book in advance, especially in summer.
The most important information centers are the Casa del Parc Nacional d’Espot and the Casa del Parc Nacional de Boí. There you can get maps and plans of the area and find out about the routes, guided tours and other activities in the park.
