Guías de Torla Ordesa

Guías de Torla Ordesa, which also presents itself as Compañía Guías de Torla-Ordesa, is a mountain guide company with an office on Calle A Ruata in Torla, the gateway to the Ordesa and Bujaruelo valleys. It was founded in 2000 by Alain Andrés, a senior sports technician in high mountain with UIAGM qualification. It began with canyoning and hiking and has added activities until it covers almost everything done in the Huesca Pyrenees, in summer and in winter.

What it does and where

In summer it guides canyons around Ordesa and the Sobrarbe, such as Viandico in Nerín, Gloces in Fanlo, Forcos in Bergua or the Furco in Broto, and more technical ones in Bujaruelo; vias ferratas, hiking and treks, rock climbing, 4x4 routes to the Ordesa viewpoints, and on the water rafting on the Ara, Ésera and Gállego, hydrospeed, canoraft and open kayak. In winter, snowshoeing in the national park. For experienced mountaineers it offers summer and winter ascents, couloirs, north faces, ice climbing and an expedition to the Alps. It has courses in canyoning, climbing, mountaineering, ski mountaineering, freeride, kayaking and winter mountain skills, bivouac and rope workshops, school outings and activities for companies. It also rents mountain and canyoning equipment.

Guides, safety and equipment

All its guides hold qualifications from the Spanish Mountain Sports and Climbing Federation, approved by the Ministry of Education, with specialities in high and mid mountain, white water and canyons, and ongoing training in rescue and first aid. The company is entered in the Aragon tourism register under number TA-HU 21, says it holds a tourism quality seal and uses CE-approved equipment. It works in small groups: in canyons, at most six people per guide, with a prior risk assessment and departure only with a favourable forecast. It has three 4x4 support vehicles. For canyons it includes a full wetsuit, helmet, harness, descent equipment, rucksack, waterproof barrel and accident insurance.

Ages and season

Beginner canyons, such as Viandico or Medio Forcos, admit children from age 6; intermediate ones, from 10 or 12 depending on the canyon; technical ones require abseiling experience. The best season for canyons is June to September; in May and October it depends on the flow, and the company confirms the outing 48 hours before.

How to book and cancel

You book on its website, by email at [email protected], by WhatsApp or on 974 486 422. The office is open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 20:00, and in high season also outside those hours; they reply in under 24 hours. Most activities are confirmed 48 hours ahead; for high mountain and courses it is best to book earlier. Depending on the activity, you pay all of it or a deposit to secure the place. If you cancel more than 48 hours ahead, they refund the full amount; high mountain and expeditions have their own terms. The website does not say in which languages they guide. Torla is 90 km from Huesca along the A-2205, and there is parking in the village.