Three of us will be in northern Spain (arriving and departing Bilbao) for 5 nights in late August. We'd like to mix in some hiking, along with visiting towns/cities (Bilbao and San Sebastian?) and hitting a few Rioja-area wineries. We are considering the Garganta del Cares hike in Picos de Europa, which we could perhaps combine with a coastal hike or something else in the park. The other alternative would be to head to the Pyrenees and find a couple good day hikes. I'm concerned that the Garganta may be a little too crowded and/or overhyped, but I can't tell. On the other hand, I have found very little information on the Pyrenees. I'd appreciate any thoughts, including recommendations for towns to stay in, especially in the Pyrenees. (If it matters, we're in good shape and are reasonably experienced hikers, but on the other hand, we're fine with relaxed, easier hiking too).
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
2942 posts
Beeeeg your pardon??, you didn't find much info on the Pyrenees? Impossible! :)))
Firstly, I am sure you are aware that the Pyrenees run over 350 miles thru three different countries (France, Spain and Andorra) and within Spain, which is not a regular country as such but a set of semi-autonomous regions, the Pyrenees run thru three of those: Navarra, Aragon and Catalonia. Saying this because I can understand your frustration when searching for information as each one of the players above, including the semi-autonomous regions, handles it independently and very differently, and in some cases poorly I must say.
If you're interested in visiting the Eastern part of the Pyrenees, that in my homeland Catalonia, say for example the National Park of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici for example, or the Vall de Boí dotted with several Romanesque churches declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, I can give you a hand citing a number of useful sources of public info:
- Visiting the Catalan Pyrenees -tourism information site
- The Catalan Pyrenees: Hiking
- More hiking in Catalonia (not just the Pyrenees)
- Other active nature activities
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the churches mentioned above.
- Map of roads in Catalonia
- ... since you mention wines, know that Catalonia is also a land of very good wine producers
Also, if you're interested in hiking with local guides, this is a good company, albeit there are plenty more. Their website has a wealth of free information, over 160 detailed hiking routes, organised by difficulty, mostly in Catalonia but also some in Aragon and even Navarra. Note though you should use Google Translate because this info is not available if you switch to the English version of the website. You can download a free PDF on each route -albeit in Catalan only, the local language, sorry. PS: yeah, the website is a bit slow, have patience!
All these are just a taste :)
There are also plenty of books about hiking in the Pyrenees, we Catalans have, historically, been very much into hiking and mountaineering... yet many of those are only available in Catalan only :(.... A very good couple of books are: Els Pirineus de cap a cap and most especially the guide GR11-Pyrenean Trail. Also, a good source for maps and book guides, some in English too, is Editorial Alpina, the mother (and oldest) of all the publishing companies about hiking and mountaineering here in Catalonia.
Lastly to mention, that Catalan is another Romance language derived from Latin, much like French, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese therefore, if you have knowledge of any of them, it's likely you'll be able to grasp any of the other, including Catalan, due to their similarities. Just sayin'
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
2942 posts
On another matter, here in Catalonia, we have a large number of hiking and mountaineering clubs and one of the oldest and most important ones is Centre Excursionista de Catalunya (CEC) (Hiking Club of Catalonia) founded in 1877. Not only it has a wealth of information in their archives, including the largest collection of pictures on mountaineering, but also they're located in a unique old building, next to the remains of the Roman Temple d'August in the centre of Barcelona. Well worth a visit indeed. So if you happen to drop by the city and consider yourself a hiker, don't forget a visit.
http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/living/trekking-through-the-ages/
Posted by
OP
College Park, MD
2 posts
Thanks for the great response, Enric! Your explanation that Navarra, Aragon, and Catalonia each have their own Pyrenees information does explain a lot! Unfortunately, we have limited time and will probably have to stick to the western Pyrenees, closer to San Sebastian and Pamplona. I will try to do some specific research on hiking in Navarra. Although after seeing the pictures in your link to The Catalan Pyrenees: Hiking, I’m tempted to drop everything else and just hike one of those routes. Gorgeous.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
2942 posts
So you're sticking to the western Pyrenees, huh?.... well, your lost baby, LOL!
See if this help, it's the official Navarra Tourism Information Office:
http://www.turismo.navarra.es/eng/Productos/pirineos-navarra.htm
http://www.turismo.navarra.es/eng/NR/rdonlyres/D810A7BC-7968-4DAC-AC35-3F92F5052071/21503/20170308BOLETNACRCATEDEF.pdf
and also
http://www.rutaspirineos.org/rutas/navarra-montana
https://www.escapadarural.com/que-hacer/pirineo-navarro
http://turismo.navarra.com/destinos/los-pirineos/
http://www.pirineodenavarra.com/montana-navarra/es/guia-turistica/que-ver/
http://www.cuentatuviaje.net/pirineo_navarro.asp
You'll have to use Google Translate most of the time as a lot of the information in those areas, also in Aragon, is hardly ever in English.
Enjoy!