Weekend getaways in the Pyrenees: nature, refuges and great views

There are places that need no introduction. The Pyrenees are one of them. A mountain range that seems infinite, where the valleys change language, vegetation and character in just one bend in the road. If you like walking, photography, or just getting lost for a while without looking at the clock, here's good news, the Pyrenees are full of short, intense and surprisingly accessible getaways. In a weekend you can look out over glacial peaks, sleep by a mountain lake or watch the sunrise from a refuge that only those who decide they deserve it can reach. In this mini-guide I propose 5 of them mountain weekend getaways with circular routes of 4 to 6 hours, charming refuges and landscapes that will accompany you for weeks. 

1. Ordesa, the classic that never fails (and always surprises).

Ordesa is a magnet. Even if you've visited it a thousand times, you get the same tingling sensation when you enter the valley and look up. The vertical walls, the beech forests, the sound of the Estrecho waterfall... If you're looking for a weekend that feels epic without complicating your life, Ordesa is the answer.

The best route for a short getaway is the circular route. Meadow - Circo de Soaso - Cola de Caballo - Senda de los Cazadores (Path of the Hunters), A walk of approximately 6 hours that encapsulates everything that makes this valley great. The path winds gently through forest and waterfalls until it opens up to the great glacial cirque of Soaso, one of the most photogenic landscapes in the whole of the Pyrenees. The return along the Faja de Pelay adds height, views and the sensation of walking literally hanging over Ordesa.

For those who want to give the weekend an extra special touch, sleep at Góriz Hut is still one of the must-see places in the Pyrenees mountains. Watching the sunset over Monte Perdido from its terrace changes the whole weekend. The Refugio de Góriz is in very high demand during the season. It is essential to book months in advance, especially at weekends, and if you don't want to bother with reservations, the Torla and Broto area offers great accommodation and good gastronomy to complete the experience.

2. Aigüestortes, the kingdom of water and granite valleys

If Ordesa is the valley of the verticals, Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici Lake is the kingdom of water. Hundreds of lakes -estanys- are distributed among glacial valleys, waterfalls and black pine forests. It is one of the most convenient parks for a quick getaway, with well-marked accesses, circular routes and strategic refuges.

For a weekend break, a perfect option is the route Llong Lake - Redó Lake - Portarró Viewpoint - Sant Maurici Lake, A 6-hour journey without technical complications and with a catalogue of postcards that seems infinite. The ascent to Portarró is one of the highlights of the trip, from the top, the Encantats rise like a double spire that dominates the whole valley.

Sleeping in Estany Llong Refuge is a good choice for those who are looking for quiet refuges without overcrowding. If you prefer something more comfortable, Boí or Espot offer charming accommodation, mountain restaurants and a perfect atmosphere for a weekend in slow mode.

Aigüestortes is also one of the best sceneries in the Pyrenees for those looking for holidays in the mountains of leisurely pace, combining short routes with bathing in rivers, photographic walks or even cultural visits to the Romanesque churches of the Vall de Boí.

3. Tena Valley, lakes, gentle ridges and one of the best viewpoints in the Pyrenees.

The Tena Valley is a gift for those who want high mountains, it is well connected, has beautiful villages and offers one of the most accessible collections of ibones in the western Pyrenees. Ideal for an impromptu getaway.

The most popular route for a weekend is the circular route of the Ibones de Anayet from the Anayet or Portalet car park. In about 4 hours you will reach one of the most iconic landscapes of the mountain range, the ibones (lakes) reflecting the silhouette of the Midi d'Ossau, The volcanic mountain that looks like it has been taken from another planet.

The area also allows you to extend your getaway a little further if your body calls for adventure. Vertice Anayet offers an easy ascent with one of the best 360º panoramic views of the whole valley.

To round off the weekend, sleep in Sallent de Gállego o Panticosa is a great plan. Good gastronomy, mountain atmosphere, local shops and quiet places to rest after the route.

4. Selva de Irati, a green, wet and magical weekend

If the high mountains appeal to you but you're coming off a busy week and you're looking for something more gentle, the Irati Forest is the perfect plan. It is one of the most extensive forests in Europe, a combination of beech and spruce that in autumn becomes a chromatic spectacle difficult to compare. But in spring and summer it is just as special, a place for a leisurely walk.

The circular route that takes us to the Mirador de Akerreria offers a 3 to 4 hour walk that takes us into this humid corner of Navarre. A simple route without technical difficulty and suitable for families. In Irati, the experience is not about reaching a lake or a summit, it is about getting lost in the forest, feeling the humidity, listening to the birds and lowering your pulse.

To complete the getaway, stay at Ochagavía o Orbaitzeta is the perfect combination. Small, quiet and photogenic villages, with taverns where time passes slower than usual. If you come from alpine trekking and need a mental reset, Irati works like a reset button.

5. Benasque, glacial lakes, great peaks and a short route that has it all

Entering Benasque is like entering a high mountain capsule. Here you will find the most emblematic three mountain peaks in the Pyrenees -Aneto, Posets, Maladeta-, as well as some of the most popular routes for quick getaways.

The Route to Ibonet de Literola is one of those jewels that unjustly go unnoticed. In about 6 hours, and 950 m of altitude difference, you enter into the depths of the glaciers and granite. The atmosphere is pure Pyrenees, without artifice. Ideal if you are looking for a very photogenic route without compromising the whole weekend. 

Another equally recommendable option is the ascent to the Ibones de Batisielles, A Benasque classic that is suitable for all levels. The initial forest is a spectacle, and the glacial cirque in the background feels further away than it really is.

Benasque is also one of the best places to enjoy comfortable accommodation with a mountain atmosphere. From family-run hotels to refuges such as These o La Renclusa, The offer is wide and varied.