# Ordesa Valley

A glacial canyon with thousand-metre walls, beech forests and waterfalls at every turn. You can see it in a day, enjoy it in two and it begs a return in autumn.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## Can I drive in?

At Easter, in summer and on several long weekends and weekends in autumn, no. In 2026 the bus runs from 1 to 6 April, from 1 to 3 May, from 19 June to 20 September and on several dates from September to November. On those days you leave the car in the free car park at Torla and take the shuttle bus up to the Pradera. The rest of the year you can drive to the Pradera, and its car park fills up early at weekends.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Sobrarbe, Pyrenees, Unusual places to stay in Spain, Horse riding routes in Spain
- Cerca: Cirque de Gavarnie (a 6.8 km · France), Cauterets (a 27.1 km · France), Tena Valley (a 28.3 km), Aínsa and the Sobrarbe (a 30.4 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Cola de Caballo via the Gradas de Soaso** (5 h 30 · With some fitness · On your own · free): What it is
It is the classic route of the Ordesa valley: from La Pradera to the Cola de Caballo waterfall, at the head of the valley, at the foot of the glacial Soaso cirque. You cover the whole valley along its floor, from beech forest to high-mountain pasture, with the Monte Perdido massif ahead. The National Park gives it 2 h 30 to 3 h each way and 550 m of climb, and recommends returning the same way. Allow 5 or 6 hours in total, plus stops.
The route step by step
According to itinerary 3 of the official trail leaflet:

La Pradera – Estrecho waterfalls. The first stretch is that of the Estrecho waterfalls: you leave from the far end of the La Pradera car park along the Soaso path, among beeches and firs, pass the Arripas waterfall viewpoint and reach the Cueva and Estrecho falls.
From the forest to the mountain pine. Beyond the Estrecho waterfalls, the beech forest gives way to grassland and mountain pine forest. The path gains height gradually.
Gradas de Soaso. The river drops in successive steps, one waterfall after another. It is one of the prettiest stretches.
Soaso cirque. The path levels out across the meadow of the cirque, of glacial origin, with a good view of the Monte Perdido massif.
Cola de Caballo. At the end, at the head of the valley, the waterfall falls. From here, return the same way.

There are other ways out from Soaso, such as the climb to the Góriz refuge along the GR 11 or the Faja de Pelay, but the Park recommends going down the way you came.
When to go
From late spring to autumn. June brings more water to the Gradas de Soaso and the Cola de Caballo itself; in October the beech forest turns red and yellow. In summer, set out early: the last stretch, through the cirque, is in the sun. In winter and early spring there can be snow at Soaso; the Góriz refuge publishes the condition of the routes on its website.
How to get to La Pradera
On the days the Torla bus runs (Easter, the May long weekend, from 19 June to 20 September and several autumn weekends and long weekends in 2026), cars cannot go beyond Torla. You park for free next to the visitor centre and go up by bus: €6 return, free for under-10s, no booking. In 2026 the first left at 6:00 (at 7:00 from October) and the last down from La Pradera left between 20:00 and 22:00 depending on the period. The rest of the year you drive up.
With 5 or 6 hours of walking, catch one of the first buses: that way you reach Soaso before the heat and come back without watching the clock.
Water and food
Bring all the water and food for the day. At La Pradera there is a restaurant, which also sells the ticket for the bus down, cash only; on the path there are no other services. The Góriz refuge lies above Soaso, already off this route.
With children or a dog
Only with children used to walking several hours. If they are small, do only the stretch to the Estrecho waterfalls, one hour each way. Dogs may go, always on a lead throughout the National Park; if you come across loose livestock, keep your distance and don't let your dog approach.
If the weather changes
In summer afternoon storms are frequent in the Pyrenees. If you see towering clouds or hear thunder, don't stay in the open cirque: head down towards the forest. If it rains, the way back is the same as the way out, with no difficult passages. Don't cut it fine for the last bus down.
- **Estrecho and Arripas Waterfalls** (2 h · Families · On your own · free): What it is
It is the easiest walk in the Ordesa valley and the first one worth doing: from La Pradera to the Arripas, Cueva and Estrecho waterfalls, along the valley floor and among beeches and firs. The National Park gives it one hour each way and 100 m of climb. You can come back along the other bank of the Arazas river, so you get a circular walk of about two hours without repeating the path.
The route step by step
Itinerary 2 of the National Park's official trail leaflet describes it like this:

Start. At the far end of the La Pradera car park you take the wide Soaso path.
Through the beech forest. The path enters a forest of beeches and firs with a lot of box, crosses the Cotatuero ravine and passes several meadows, the "lañas".
Arripas waterfall. You reach the viewpoint of the Arripas waterfall. You continue along the track and take a branch off to the right.
La Cueva and El Estrecho. Before starting back, go to the two waterfalls on the left: La Cueva and El Estrecho, where the Arazas is squeezed into the rock.
Return along the other bank. You cross the Arazas on a bridge above the Arripas waterfall and go down the left bank of the river. You leave the Sarratieto bridge to one side and cross by the one on the Senda de los Cazadores to return to La Pradera.

It is a wide, well-marked path, with little slope. If you want more, the same path continues to the Cola de Caballo, past the Gradas de Soaso.
How to get to La Pradera
At Easter, the May long weekend, from 19 June to 20 September and on several autumn weekends and long weekends, cars cannot go beyond Torla: you go up on the Torla bus from the free car park next to the visitor centre. In 2026 the first left at 6:00, and at 7:00 for much of the autumn; every half hour from 6:00 to 8:00 and then every 15 or 20 minutes. The ticket costs €6 return, €5 for over-65s and is free for under-10s. It cannot be booked or bought online. If there are 1,800 people in the valley at the same time, the trips up are suspended.
The rest of the year you drive up to La Pradera, whose car park fills up at weekends. On foot from Torla, along the Turieto path, it is about 2 hours each way and 300 m of climb.
When to go
From spring to autumn. In June the waterfalls carry more water; in October the beech forest changes colour. In winter there can be snow and ice on the path: ask at the Torla visitor centre before going up.
Water, food and services
At La Pradera there is a restaurant, where the ticket for the bus down is also sold, cash only. On the path there is nothing: bring water and something to eat. The forest gives shade for almost the whole walk.
With children or a dog
It is the valley's route for going with children: short, with little climb and a waterfall at the end of each stretch. For the youngest, a baby carrier is better than a pushchair. Dogs may go, always on a lead: loose dogs are forbidden throughout the National Park. On the bus they travel in the hold, in a carrier, for €2 return, and can only board at the Torla car park.
If the weather changes
In a storm, don't go near the falls or the riverbanks: the Arazas rises fast and the stones are slippery. If it rains hard, go back the way you came, the wider path. Don't leave your return until the last bus.
- **Sorrosal Via Ferrata** (2 h 30 · From age 10 · Desde 55 € with a guide): A waterfall, a tunnel and a suspension bridge a stone's throw from Broto. A good way to try a via ferrata.
What it is and why it is worth doing
A via ferrata is a route up rock equipped with a safety cable, iron rungs and walkways, on which you move along always secured with a harness and two lanyards with an energy absorber. The Sorrosal route has about 600 metres of equipment and about 100 metres of ascent, right beside the Sorrosal waterfall, a 55-metre drop that falls just above Broto. It is short, but it has a bit of everything: a vertical wall beside the water, a hidden pool halfway up, a tunnel cut into the rock, a Tibetan bridge over the gorge and a finish on a balcony above the Ara valley.
It is graded K3, medium difficulty. It doesn't call for a climber's strength, but for arms that can pull on the rungs for a good while and a steady head on the exposed sections.
Who it is for
For people who go walking in the mountains regularly, don't have vertigo that would stop them and want to try their first via ferrata with a guide. With the guiding companies it is done from age 10 or 1.45 m in height, because below that size you can't reach comfortably from one rung to the next. If you have already done an easy via ferrata and have your own approved equipment, you can do it self-guided.
It is not for small children or anyone with a real fear of heights: the first section is the most vertical and once you are in it is not easy to turn back. For the youngest, in the same gorge there is the Duendes del Sorrosal ferrata, which is simpler and designed for families.
Getting there
Broto is on the A-135, a few minutes from Torla. The Sorrosal waterfall car park is next to the village and is free, except in summer and on the busiest bank-holiday weekends. From there, a signposted path leads in five minutes to the foot of the route. If you go with a guide, confirm when booking where you will meet: depending on the day, the company meets at the waterfall car park or next to Broto's health centre.
When to go
The companies run it from March to November. In spring the waterfall has more water and puts on more of a show, but also more spray; in summer there are more people and, if it is hot, you will fancy a swim in the pool halfway along. In autumn it is cooler for the effort. Arrive early: fitting the equipment and the safety talk take a while.
How much it costs
With a guide, from €55 per person, with a harness with energy absorbers and a rest lanyard, helmet, gloves, guide, insurance and the municipal fee of €3.50. Self-guided, you only pay that fee, which Broto Town Council collects in cash in summer and on bank-holiday weekends. If you have no equipment, go with a guide: the companies include it.
If it rains
Don't do it. The rock and rungs are slippery, the waterfall swells and in a storm the steel cable is the last thing you want to touch. If the day turns out bad, swap the plan for a walk around Torla and Broto or leave it for another day of your stay.
- **Faja de Pelay** (7 h · Fit and without fear of heights · On your own · free): What it is
The Faja de Pelay is a path hanging at mid-height on the ledges of the south side of the Ordesa valley, above the beech forest and facing the great northern walls. The National Park proposes it as a circuit from La Pradera: you go up by the Senda de los Cazadores, follow the faja to the Soaso cirque and come down along the valley floor. It is 7 hours round trip and 650 m of climb. It is the way to see Ordesa from above without technical passages, but it demands strong legs and no fear of heights on the climb.
The route step by step
According to itinerary 4 of the Park's official trail leaflet:

La Pradera – Senda de los Cazadores bridge. At the far end of La Pradera you take the path on the right and cross the Arazas river by the Senda de los Cazadores bridge.
Senda de los Cazadores. Here is almost all the effort: a winding, demanding path that gains height relentlessly up the slope.
Calcilarruego viewpoint. At the end of the climb you reach this viewpoint, with a broad view of the whole valley.
Faja de Pelay. From the viewpoint you join the faja, a gentle path that keeps the height gained, hanging above the valley. It is the long, comfortable stretch of the day.
Soaso cirque. The faja leaves you at the bottom of the cirque, near the Cola de Caballo.
Descent along the valley floor. You return along the Soaso path, past the Gradas de Soaso and the Estrecho waterfalls, to La Pradera.

Difficulty and who it is for
The climb up the Senda de los Cazadores is hard and steep; the faja, by contrast, is flat and easy, and the descent along the valley floor comfortable. You need good fitness, mountain footwear and no fear of heights: on the climb and on some stretches of the faja the valley is at your feet. It is not a route for small children; with teenagers used to the mountains, yes.
When to go
From late spring to autumn, in good weather. In October the beech forest, seen from above, turns red and yellow. The Senda de los Cazadores faces north and can hold snow or ice late: the Góriz refuge publishes the condition of this path and other valley routes on its website. In its update of 27 October 2026 it listed it as snow-free.
How to get to La Pradera
At Easter, the May long weekend, in summer and on several autumn weekends you go up on the Torla bus: free parking next to the visitor centre, €6 return, no booking. In 2026 the first bus left at 6:00 (at 7:00 from October). The rest of the year you drive to La Pradera.
With 7 hours of walking, catch one of the first buses. If you go in autumn with the 7:00 timetable, work out the daylight and the time of the last bus down carefully.
Water and food
Bring all your water and food. On the route there are no services; only the restaurant at La Pradera at the start and end, where the ticket for the bus down is sold in cash. Do the climb first thing: the Senda de los Cazadores is the hardest part and is best done before the heat.
With a dog and if the weather changes
Dogs may go, always on a lead, as throughout the Park. In a storm, the faja is an exposed place: if you see the weather turning before going up, change plan and do the Cola de Caballo along the valley floor. If it catches you up there, continue along the faja to Soaso and go down along the valley floor; do not return by the Senda de los Cazadores.
- **Ordesa Viewpoints by 4x4 from Broto** (4 h · 4.5 km · From age 6 and 1.20 m · Desde 49.5 € per person): What it is
It is a way of looking into the Ordesa canyon from above with a short walk. A 4x4 with a local guide leaves from Broto or Buesa and climbs by authorised tracks to Pico Estatón, at about 2,100 m. From there you walk about 4.5 km there and back, almost flat, to the Rey, Reina and Herradura viewpoints, hanging above the valley walls. If the group is keen and conditions allow, it can be extended to Punta Acuta.
It is run by Miradores de Ordesa, a company from Broto that runs 4x4 excursions around this area and towards Añisclo.
Why by 4x4 with a guide
The La Caña track, which climbs from Broto and Buesa, is not open to private tourist traffic, and you can't reach the viewpoints area in your own car either; the Torla and Nerín tracks are for authorised vehicles only. Even if you have your own 4x4, to go up here you have to go in the vehicle of an authorised excursion or walk up from below.
What the classic excursion is like
According to the company's information sheet:

Total route: about 32.5 km, of which about 28 are done in the 4x4.
Walking stretch: about 4.5 km there and back, with 55 m of ascent and 55 of descent. Low difficulty.
Duration: about 4 hours in total, with the 4x4, the walk and the return.
Includes: the 4x4 from Broto or Buesa, a local guide for the whole excursion, activity insurance, walking poles and booster seats for children who need them.

Price, age and season
The sheet gives €49.50 per person and the FAQ section, €50; confirm the price when booking. It is the same price for adults and children from age 6, who must be at least 1.20 m tall. There is no maximum age: fitness decides. If you go with a dog, one is allowed per booking, on a lead, with a €10 supplement.
It runs every day of the year if the weather permits; the best season, according to the company, is spring to autumn. Places are limited and in high season they sell out. You can also book a whole 4x4, up to 8 people, to go privately.
Meeting point and booking
You choose when booking whether you leave from Broto or Buesa; the company gives the location of both points on its website. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the time. You book online with secure payment or by phone, on +34 621 506 361; if you book by phone, you can pay the guide in cash on the day.
To sleep nearby, Broto and Oto have campsites and apartments; the Camping Oto campervan area is a few minutes away. If you come by car, the Broto petrol station is on the N-260.
What to bring
What the company asks for: comfortable mountain footwear, clothing suited to the forecast and a warm layer even in summer, because the walk is at about 2,100 m. Add water and sun protection.
If the weather changes
The company puts safety first: if conditions are not good, it may change the route, the date or cancel the outing. The cancellation conditions are in its terms and conditions.
- **Bujaruelo Valley** (50 min · 3.4 km · Self-guided · free): What it is
The Bujaruelo valley is the upper valley of the River Ara, north of Torla, next to the Ordesa valley but without a compulsory bus. Its centre is San Nicolás de Bujaruelo, at 1,338 m, where there is a Romanesque bridge over the Ara, the hermitage of San Nicolás and the Bujaruelo refuge, with a restaurant. From there a short circular walk of 3.4 km follows both banks of the river: about 50 minutes without stops and 55 m of cumulative ascent. It is an easy outing for families and for days when Ordesa is full.
Getting there by car
Leave Torla heading north on the A-135. After about 3 km you reach the Puente de los Navarros. Just after the bridge, leave the road, which carries on towards Ordesa, and take the track that climbs through the Bujaruelo valley. According to Rutas Pirineos:

2.5 km along the east bank, semi-paved at first, to the Abetos bridge (puente de los Abetos), where you cross the river.
1.3 km more, passing a campsite and a metal gate.
2.5 km to the refuge. In total, 6.3 km from the Puente de los Navarros.

In front of the refuge there is an open area for parking. Beyond it, a chain and a sign close the track to unauthorised vehicles. The Ordesa bus does not stop at the Puente de los Navarros on the way up, so you get to Bujaruelo by car or on foot.
The circular walk, step by step

Refuge (0:00). Take the path to the right of the refuge, which joins the track along the right bank of the Ara.
North along the track. You leave the Bujaruelo bridge on your right and carry on with the river on your right.
Otal junction (0:20, 1,368 m). The track on the left climbs to the Otal valley; you keep to the one on the right, signposted to the Oncins bridge and San Nicolás on the GR 11.
Oncins bridge (0:25, 1,363 m). You cross to the left bank and follow the GR 11 south-east.
Second junction, about 100 m later. Take the path on the right, the GR 11 towards San Nicolás; the one on the left climbs to the Ordiso valley and Panticosa.
Return through the forest and meadows. You follow the white and red waymarks, with the river on your right, cross the metal footbridge at Sandaruelo and a cattle fence with a gap for walkers.
Romanesque bridge (0:50). You cross the Ara by the San Nicolás bridge and return to the refuge.

Along the way there are panels from the Bujaruelo Ornithological Trail about the birds of the valley. The route can be done in either direction.
When to go
From spring to autumn, according to Rutas Pirineos. In summer, the valley is a good afternoon outing or a plan B when Ordesa reaches capacity. In November 2026, the refuge announced that its accommodation and restaurant were open until 3 January 2027; its campsite was closed.
Water, food and services
The refuge has a restaurant and rooms; it is the only service in the valley. Bring water if you plan to extend the walk. If you want to sleep closer to Ordesa, the Hotel Bujaruelo, despite its name, is at the entrance to Torla.
With children or a dog
It is a flat, short walk, suitable for children. With a dog, keep it on a lead: the path crosses a cattle fence. The valley is outside the National Park, but it is a protected area (ZEC Bujaruelo-Garganta de los Navarros): stay on the path.
If you want more
At the Otal junction, the track that zigzags up to the Otal valley lets you lengthen the walk. From the second junction, another path climbs to the Ordiso valley, towards Panticosa. And along the GR 11, passing the Puente de los Navarros and the Pradera de Ordesa, you reach the Góriz refuge: the refuge estimates 6 hours.
- **Climbing Monte Perdido** (With high-mountain experience or with a guide): What it is
Monte Perdido is the summit that gives the National Park its name and the highest limestone massif in Europe. The Góriz refuge gives its height as 3,355 m and calls it the third-highest peak in the Pyrenees; Spanish Wikipedia gives 3,348 m. Its north face holds one of the few glaciers left in the range, and it is retreating. The massif is part of the "Pyrenees – Monte Perdido" World Heritage Site, listed since 1997. The first documented ascent was in 1802, by Ramond de Carbonnières.
This is high mountain terrain. You climb it over two days from the Ordesa valley, sleeping at the Góriz refuge, and it calls for fitness, experience and, with snow, an ice axe and crampons.
The two-day plan
Day 1: Pradera de Ordesa to the Góriz refuge. You go up the valley floor on the path to the Cola de Caballo as far as the Soaso cirque, then follow the GR 11 to the refuge, at 2,200 m. The refuge estimates 4 hours. In winter it advises taking the Soaso pegs (clavijas) rather than the zigzag path (camino de las zetas), because of avalanche risk. Another option is to come in from Nerín over Cuello Arenas, also about 4 hours.
Day 2: Góriz, summit, valley. The normal route leaves from the refuge and climbs about 1,200 m to the top. According to Guías de Torla Ordesa, the ascent takes about four hours and the descent to the refuge about three. The normal route goes through the Escupidera gully, which Wikipedia cites as one of the Pyrenees' black spots for the number of accidents. After that you still have to go down from Góriz to the valley.
When to go
In summer and early autumn, when the approach is free of snow. Guías de Torla Ordesa runs the ascent from June to October. Even in season there can be snow or ice higher up: in its update of 27 October 2026, the Góriz refuge warned of possible snow and ice above 2,800 m on the route to Perdido and asked climbers to bring crampons and an ice axe. Check route conditions and the avalanche bulletin on the refuge's website before you go.
Sleeping at Góriz
The Góriz refuge is staffed every day of the year and has 80 places in shared dormitories, a camping area for 50 people, dinners at 19:30, breakfasts from 6:30, packed lunches to take away and crampons and ice axes to hire. Places can only be booked at alberguesyrefugios.com; for 2027, from 6 January. It fills up in season, so book early. Camping is allowed only in the Góriz area, by reservation; everywhere else in the Ordesa sector camping and bivouacking are forbidden.
With a guide
If you have no high-mountain experience, go with a guide. Guías de Torla Ordesa, with an office in Torla, offers the summer ascent from €125 per person, with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 people per guide. It includes the guide, insurance and VAT, but not the refuge, food, personal equipment or the bus. The guide meets you at Góriz or at the Nerín bus stop, and asks for a 40% deposit to book.
Getting to the Pradera
At Easter, over the May bank-holiday weekend, in summer and on several autumn weekends you take the Torla bus from the free car park at the visitor centre, €6 return. You cannot stay overnight in the Torla car park. The rest of the year you can drive up to the Pradera.
Equipment and safety
Mountain boots, warm clothing and a waterproof, sunglasses and sun protection, a head torch and water. With snow, an ice axe and crampons, which you can hire at Góriz, and you need to know how to use them. Leave Góriz very early so you are back before the afternoon storms. If the weather changes, or the Escupidera is icy and you have no equipment, turn back.
- **Cotefablo Pass** (45 min · 27 km · Motorbikes and cars · Self-guided · free): What it is
The Cotefablo pass is the mountain crossing on the N-260 road between Biescas, in the Tena valley, and Broto, in the Ara valley. It tops out at 1,423 m and goes through a narrow tunnel opened in 1935, about 680 m long (sources give between 680 and 683). Before the Petralba bypass, it was the N-260's route to Ordesa from the Tena valley. Today it is a mountain road to take without hurrying, by car, motorbike or bike.
Why it is a route and not just a crossing
Since 2012 there has been a faster alternative: the bypass through the Petralba tunnel, between Sabiñánigo and Fiscal, which avoids the pass, shortens the journey by more than 20 km and cuts the climb considerably. The pass remains for those who prefer the old road and its villages.
The route, from Biescas to Broto
According to Wikipedia, the road passes through these villages:

Biescas. You leave eastwards on the N-260.
Gavín and Yésero. The villages on the climb from Biescas.
Cotefablo pass and tunnel. At the top you enter the tunnel. It is narrow: go in with your lights on, don't overtake and watch for oncoming traffic.
Linás de Broto, Víu and Fragén. You descend the Ara valley side.
Broto. You arrive at the gateway to the Ordesa valley; Torla and the bus to the Pradera are a few kilometres away.

You can also do it the other way, from Broto to Biescas, through the same villages in reverse order.
When to go
From spring to autumn. In winter the pass can have snow or ice: check road conditions with the DGT (Spain's traffic authority) before setting off and carry chains or winter tyres. In bad weather, the Petralba bypass avoids the pass.
Stops and services
Fill up before climbing: on the Ordesa side you have the Broto petrol station, on the N-260, open every day from 8:00 to 21:00. To sleep at the end of the day, Torla has the Hotel Bujaruelo and the Camping Río Ara.
By motorbike or bike
On a bike, remember that you have to go through the tunnel at the top: bring front and rear lights and high-visibility clothing. On a motorbike, take the same precautions in the tunnel.
With a motorhome
The tunnel is narrow: if you are in a large vehicle, the Petralba bypass, shorter and with less climbing, is more comfortable. In the Broto area, the Camping Oto motorhome area is a good base for Ordesa.
- **Rafting on the Ara river between Torla and Broto** (3 h 30 · 10 km · From age 14 · Desde 50 € per person): The Ara runs down from Ordesa with no reservoirs, so it only has enough flow for rafting in spring and early summer. The stretch from Torla to Broto is continuous and technical: no experience is needed, but you must be happy to get wet.
What it is and why it is worth it
It is the river that leaves the Ordesa National Park and reaches Broto through a limestone canyon, with emerald-coloured pools and the Mallos de Broto in the background. As it has no dams to regulate the flow, the water it carries is the snowmelt from above: plenty in May and June, little from August on. That makes it a short-season rafting trip, with a lively, changing river, unlike the regulated Pyrenean rivers that can be run all summer.
In the raft there is always a qualified guide who steers it and gives the commands. You paddle when told to and hold on when the time comes. No previous technique is needed: you learn it in the briefing at the start.
Who it is for
For teenagers from age 14 and adults who feel at ease in the water and want a river with power. It is a medium-to-hard stretch: the rapids come almost one after another and there is little time to rest between them. If you are travelling with younger children, this is not your river; the same company also runs the Gállego and the Ésera, with different stretches and ages, and in the valley there are introductory canyons from age 12.
Getting to Torla
The meeting point is the car park in Torla, the same one the buses to the Ordesa valley leave from. From Zaragoza it is about two hours along the A-23 towards Sabiñánigo and then the N-260. From Pamplona, an hour and three quarters along the N-240 and the A-132. The car park is free, but in high season it fills up: arrive with time to spare. Getting there is up to you. Without a car, Torla has a regular bus from Sabiñánigo, with few departures: check the current timetable from the Government of Aragón before relying on it.
When to go
The season runs from April to July. May and June are the months with the most water and the biggest rapids. In April the water is very cold and in July the river is already running lower, although the weather is kinder.
What it costs in total
From €50 per person, with a 3 mm wetsuit, neoprene boots, life jacket, helmet, paddle, guide and accident insurance. You can also ask for a 5 mm neoprene jacket. The thermal T-shirt, river footwear and towel are not included, so add them if you don’t have them. Parking costs nothing.
If the day doesn’t cooperate
Rain matters little, because you are going to get wet anyway; what counts is the water flow. When you book, ask what happens if the river is not fit to run that day. If it doesn’t go ahead, in the valley you have the Sorrosal via ferrata in Broto, the Medio Forcos canyon in Bergua or, in good weather, the Estrecho waterfalls.
- **Medio Forcos canyon in Bergua** (3 h · From age 6 · Desde 52 € per person): What it is
The Medio Forcos canyon is an introductory canyoning descent on the last stretch of the Forcos gorge, beside Bergua, south of Broto. You go down through the water in a wetsuit and helmet, between rock walls, passing three pools with jumps of 1, 4 and 6 m and an introductory 10 m abseil. Everything is optional: the jumps can be skipped. That makes it a good first canyoning experience, including for families.
It is run by Guías de Torla Ordesa, a guiding company with an office on Calle A Ruata in Torla, which also offers rafting, via ferratas and high mountain activities in the valley.
What the activity is like
According to the company’s listing:

Difficulty: low.
Duration: about 3 hours in total, with a walk-in of about 40 minutes to the head of the canyon.
Jumps: of 1, 4 and 6 m, all optional.
Abseil: one introductory abseil of 10 m, also optional.
Group: a maximum of 8 people per guide.
Minimum age: from 6 years.

The same page also describes an intermediate stretch of the Forcos, level 2, with abseils of up to 25 m, slides and 4 or 5 hours of activity, from age 12 and with normal fitness. If you are travelling with young children, the company also recommends the Viandico canyon. Confirm when you book which stretch you will be doing.
Price and season
€52 for children and €55 for adults. It runs every day from March to November; the company recommends summer and early autumn.
It includes the organisation, a qualified guide, canyoning equipment (wetsuit and neoprene boots), helmet, full harness, and public liability and accident insurance. It does not include sports shoes, swimwear to wear under the wetsuit or the technical T-shirt they recommend wearing underneath.
Meeting point and getting there
You meet in the Torla-Ordesa car park, next to the visitor centre. From there the guides take you in the company’s vehicle to Bergua. In July and August access to the National Park is restricted and the Torla bus runs, but the canyon is outside the Ordesa valley: you don’t need it for this activity.
How to book
From the activity’s page on the Guías de Torla Ordesa website, using the booking button, or by WhatsApp and phone from their contact page. In summer it is best to book several days ahead.
What to bring
Trainers that grip and can get wet, swimwear and a technical T-shirt to wear under the wetsuit. A change of dry clothes and a towel for afterwards. Leave your phone and valuables in the car if you don’t have a dry bag.
If the weather changes
A canyon depends on water flow and storms. If heavy rain is forecast, talk to the company before you go and ask when you book what happens if the outing has to be changed or cancelled.
Combine it with
If you want another water activity, the same company runs rafting on the Ara river. To sleep near the meeting point, the Camping Río Ara is within walking distance of Torla.
- **Horse riding in the Broto valley from Sarvisé** (1 h · Desde 20 € per person): What it is
Horse rides through the Broto valley from Sarvisé, a village 3 km from Broto, along the valley’s old bridle paths. They are run by Caballos Casa Blas, a stable based on Calle La Iglesia in Sarvisé. No experience is needed, and the company presents its rides as relaxed outings for the family.
It is a good plan for a rest day between walks in Ordesa, or for an afternoon with children after the Estrecho waterfalls.
What rides there are
According to the Caballos Casa Blas website:

1-hour ride. The option for getting started.
2-hour ride. More time along the valley’s paths.
Half day. A longer outing, with lunch included.
Weekend or multi-day treks. For example, from Bujaruelo to Gavarnie, in France, or the route you ask for.

They also organise outings for groups, camps and celebrations, and combine the activity with other companies in the valley (archery, snowshoeing, rafting, paragliding, via ferrata or canoeing). On the farm they have farm animals, a vegetable garden and a team penning arena.
Price
The rate published on their website is:

1 hour: €20; under-12s, €15.
2 hours: €40; under-12s, €30.
Weekend: price on request.

The price is per horse and rider and includes VAT and compulsory insurance. The website does not say which year these rates are from: confirm them when you book. The half day and the treks are quoted separately.
Season and booking
They are open all year. Outside the season you need to book ahead by phone, on 974 486 041 or 639 685 565. The company states that its guides are qualified, that it holds the required assistance and public liability insurance and that it belongs to the Aragonese Equestrian Federation.
Getting there
Sarvisé is on the N-260, between Broto and Fiscal, 3 km from Broto. The stable is at Calle La Iglesia, 1. If you are driving, the Broto petrol station is on the way.
Age, weight and what to bring
The website does not publish a minimum age or weight limit: if you are going with young children or have any doubts, ask when you book. The website also gives no clothing advice: sensible choices are long trousers, closed shoes and, in summer, a cap and water.
With children or a dog
It is a good activity with children, with a reduced rate for under-12s. The website says nothing about dogs: if you are travelling with yours, ask when you book.
- **Guided snowshoeing in Ordesa and around** (3 h · Beginners · Families with children aged 7 or 8): When snow covers the valley, Guías de Torla Ordesa puts the rafting aside and brings out the snowshoes. The outings last about three hours and cover snowy forests, valleys and viewpoints in Ordesa National Park and its surroundings, with a qualified guide and at most six people per guide. You do not need to have set foot on snow before.
Three hours with the guide, step by step
You meet the company, which has its office on Calle A Ruata in Torla; when you book they tell you the time and the meeting point. The guide hands out snowshoes and poles, explains how to walk with them (the company sums it up: if you can walk, you can snowshoe) and sets off. The route is adapted to the group: there are family beginner routes and others at a higher level, and the guide chooses which according to age, fitness and the state of the snow.
Before each outing the guide assesses the risk. They only go out with a favourable forecast, and the company confirms the activity 48 hours ahead; if the weather does not cooperate, it does not go ahead.
What the company provides and what you bring
Included are the snowshoes, the poles, the guide's safety equipment, accident and mountain rescue insurance and the guide, qualified by the FEDA and with ongoing training in rescue.
You provide the clothing: waterproof mountain boots, warm layered clothing, gloves, a hat and sunglasses. If there is a lot of snow, gaiters.
With children: six years on the page, seven or eight in practice
The page advertises the activity from age 6, but in its frequently asked questions the company speaks of family routes from 7 or 8 years old. Tell them your children's age and how used they are to walking when you book and let them tell you which route is right.
When yes and when no
The good season runs from December to March. In November and April it depends on the snow that has fallen, and from May to October there are no snowshoes: the company offers hiking. The website does not publish the price; ask when you book, by phone on 974 486 422 or at the office.
On your own, without a guide, winter in Ordesa is another matter: before setting out, check the AEMET avalanche danger bulletin for the Aragonese Pyrenees.
To sleep near the departure point, Casa Frauca is in Sarvisé, about ten minutes from Torla, and in summer the same valley can be walked up to the Cola de Caballo. The company's page is Guías de Torla Ordesa.

## Dónde comer
- **Restaurante El Duende** (Restaurant, Torla, €€€). Qué pedir: the roast suckling ternasco lamb shoulder or the ox chop for two, and the house fritters for dessert
- **Restaurante Casa Frauca** (Restaurant, Sarvisé, €€€). Qué pedir: whatever is in season, and when available the suckling kid from the Casa Bergua farm in Viu de Linás

## By campervan: Easy, with one rule worth knowing
In the Torla car park you can leave the motorhome during the day, free of charge, but not spend the night. Sleep at a campsite in the valley and go up to the Pradera on the bus.
Presupuesto orientativo: 45–65 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir in a campervan
- **Camping Oto Motorhome Area** (Campervan area, desde 20 € / night): A budget area inside a large campsite
Camping Oto is in Oto, next to Broto, in the Broto valley (Sobrarbe), 10 km from Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. You get there on the N-260, taking the turn-off in Broto. It is a family campsite with 281 pitches of 60 to 100 m², with grass and plenty of tree shade, and it also has a separate area exclusively for motorhomes and campervans that the campsite itself calls "lowcost": you stay overnight at a lower price than on the pitches and with its own services.
For motorhome travellers it is a halfway point between a public aire and a campsite pitch: you sleep inside the grounds, with a motorhome service area and drinking water supply, and you can use the campsite's facilities.
Prices
The campsite does not take reservations: you turn up and ask. The website publishes the 2026 rates for the pitches, VAT included; high season is July and August, and low season is the rest of the year:

Adult: €5.60 in low season and €6.30 in high.
Child aged 2 to 14: €5.10 and €5.80.
Motorhome or camper: €8.40 and €9.30.
Electricity: €5.60 and €6.30.

With that table, two adults with a motorhome on a pitch, without electricity, pay €19.60 a night in low season and €21.90 in high. The website does not publish the specific rate for the lowcost area; it says only that it is cheaper than the pitches, so confirm it at reception.
Dogs are admitted at no charge, on a lead at all times and following the campsite rules; breeds classed as dangerous are not admitted.
What the campsite has
The main building has reception, a restaurant, a bar-café with a terrace, a supermarket and a first-aid room. There are toilet blocks with showers, sinks, washing-up and laundry areas and baby baths, chemical toilet emptying, swimming pools, a covered picnic area with barbecues, a playground and football, basketball and volleyball courts. At Casa Pueyo, the campsite also rents apartments.
Getting to Ordesa
From Oto you drive up to Torla, about 10 minutes away. On the days the bus runs, cars cannot go beyond Torla: you park for free and take the Torla bus up to the Pradera. To fill up, the Broto petrol station is on the N-260. Very close you have the Sorrosal via ferrata, in Broto, and rafting on the River Ara.
Telephone 974 486 075; email info@campingoto.com.
- **Camping Río Ara** (Campsite, desde 29 € / pitch): A family campsite at the foot of Torla, in woodland beside the river, with shaded and unshaded pitches and a grocery shop. It is open from 22 May to 16 October and admits dogs on a lead. ACSI gives an indicative price of about €29 a night for two adults with a pitch.
### Servicios
- **Torla Car Park and Bus**: Shuttle to the Pradera · €6 return · free car park
- **Broto Petrol Station**: Repsol on the N-260, km 478 · daily 8:00 to 20:00 · petrol, diesel, gas bottles and shop

## On foot: The valley as a gateway to the high mountains
Ordesa is the entrance to Góriz and Monte Perdido, and the GR 11 crosses the valley from Bujaruelo. With two staffed refuges you can link together several days in the mountains.
Presupuesto orientativo: 55–75 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're on foot
- **Góriz Refuge** (Mountain hut, desde 28.4 € / bed): A night at the base of Monte Perdido
Góriz is the high-mountain refuge of Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, at 2,200 m, in the municipality of Fanlo. It belongs to the Aragonese Mountaineering Federation, which runs it; construction began in 1961 and it is open and staffed every day of the year: in winter there are usually two wardens, and in summer up to nine people look after it. From here you set out before dawn for the summit of Monte Perdido by the normal route, and also for the Cilindro, the Marboré, the Taillón, the Brecha de Rolando or the Casteret ice cave. The GR 11 and the Vuelta al Perdido pass by the door.
You sleep in shared dormitories of several beds, 80 places in all, with a sleeping bag liner or sleeping bag compulsory. The refuge's page on the booking website lists heating, blankets and rest footwear, and there are toilets and hot showers and lockers. It is cold at night even in summer: the federation warns of this when you book. There is no mobile coverage; there is a public telephone, an emergency radio and a first-aid kit.
Eating, paying and when to book
The bar is open from 6:30 to 22:00. Breakfasts from 6:30 to 8:30; lunches from 12:30 to 15:30, with no booking. Dinner is served at 19:30, with a second sitting around 20:30 when needed, and you don't choose the sitting. It is a fixed menu of a starter, a main course with a side and a dessert, with bread and water; tell them when you book about intolerances or if you are ovo-lacto vegetarian, because they do not offer a vegan menu. They prepare packed lunches and have a small shop.
2026 rates for non-federated adults over 14: bed, €28.40; breakfast, €11.50; dinner, €23.50; packed lunch, €16.20. With a card from a federation with a refuge reciprocity agreement, the bed falls to €21.20 and dinner to €20. Under-14s, €14 for the bed. They hire out crampons and ice axes.
You book online only, on the Albergues y Refugios de Aragón website, paying a deposit; the rest is paid there, in cash or by card. Bookings for 2027 open on 6 January, and before that date they do not take requests by email or telephone. You must arrive before 19:00 to confirm your place. If you cancel more than six days ahead, the deposit is refunded minus costs; in the last five days it is lost. Beside the refuge there is a camping area for 50 people, the only one allowed in the Ordesa sector, which can be booked only when there is no room inside: €17.30 per person, with a shower and locker.
Getting there
On foot only. The usual route leaves the Pradera de Ordesa on the GR 11 and climbs by the Gradas de Soaso and the Cola de Caballo: about four hours. In summer, at Easter and over the Pilar bank-holiday weekend, you go up to the Pradera on the Torla bus. In winter the refuge recommends the Soaso pegs, because of the avalanche risk on the zigzag path. From Nerín, over Cuello Arenas, it is about four hours; from Bujaruelo, about six; from Pineta or through Añisclo, six to eight, and these are not recommended in winter.
- **Hotel Casa Frauca** (Small hotel, desde 80 € / night): Sarvisé is a small village on the Ordesa road, between Broto and Fiscal, and Casa Frauca is its hotel with a restaurant: a house with a climbing-plant-covered facade on avenida de Ordesa, with twelve rooms, a reception, a social lounge with a fireplace, a bar and a large garden terrace with views of the mountains surrounding the village.
Twelve rooms, some under the roof
All have a full bathroom and a different decor. Some are attic rooms, those with the most mountain feel according to the house, and there are rooms for three people. From the windows you can see the landscape of the valley.
What it costs each season
2026 prices per room and night, with breakfast and VAT included:

Double: €80 in low season, €84 in mid and €88 in high.
Attic or large double: €90, €94 and €98.
Triple attic: €125, €130 and €135.
Single: €64, €68 and €72.

High season is Easter, August and the long weekends (1 May, 24 June, 12 October, 1 November and 6 and 8 December); mid season is July, September and October; the rest of the year is low. Book with the form on the website or on 974 486 353 and 616 426 463.
Dining without taking the car
The house restaurant seats forty, with seasonal home cooking and the 2026 Repsol Guide recommendation. It closes Monday and Tuesday, except on long weekends and in summer, when it opens every day: if you arrive on a Monday in November, have dinner elsewhere or ask beforehand. The menu and prices are on the Casa Frauca restaurant listing.
Ten minutes to Torla
You arrive by car on the N-260; the hotel has parking. Torla is about ten minutes away. On bus days, the car is left at the Torla car park and you go up to the Pradera on the shuttle; the rest of the year you can drive up.
Without leaving the valley you have rafting on the Ara, the horse rides from Sarvisé and the Sorrosal ferrata in Broto. For day trips, the house suggests Aínsa, the Añisclo canyon, the Pineta valley, Benasque or the Tena valley.
The website does not say whether dogs are accepted: ask before you book.
- **Bujaruelo Refuge** (Mountain hut): A refuge at the end of the valley
The Bujaruelo refuge stands beside the Romanesque bridge at San Nicolás de Bujaruelo, at the end of the track that climbs from the Puente de los Navarros, in the Bujaruelo valley. It is a stopping point on the GR 11 and the Alta Ruta de los Perdidos, between the Ordesa, Panticosa and Gavarnie valleys. It is not inside the National Park, so you can drive to it every day of the year without relying on the Ordesa bus.
It works as a mountain refuge with rooms, a restaurant and a bar, and also has a campsite, which in November 2026 is closed. The accommodation and restaurant announced they were open until 3 January 2027.
The rooms
There is everything from private rooms to long shared bunks:

Double with a double bed, with private bathroom, sheets and towels included.
For two, with one bunk bed and private bathroom.
For four, with two bunk beds and a bathroom, shared.
For six, with bunk beds and a full bathroom, shared.
For fifteen, with a long bunk and a full bathroom: the cheapest way to sleep here.

In the rooms with bunk beds you need to bring a sleeping bag liner and towel; at reception they hire out a set of sheets and a duvet for €6. Guests have their own lounge. Room check-in is from 16:00, with online registration. It is best to book on their website, where they often post offers.
Eating
The restaurant works by reservation only. Lunches are in sittings at 13:30 and 15:00, and dinners at 20:00 or 21:00; the bar is open from 7:00 to 22:00. They cook with local produce: beef from the Broto valley, lamb from a Broto butcher's, longaniza sausage from Graus and cheese from the valley. The 2026 menu includes shepherd's migas with egg, grapes, chistorra and longaniza (€13.50), stewed beans with their accompanying cured meats, local lamb chops (€25), a 400 g sirloin of Broto valley beef (€25) and oxtail stew (€19), and spaghetti or a burger for children. They have dishes for people with allergies and intolerances.
Getting there and parking
From Torla, follow the road towards Ordesa to the Puente de los Navarros and take the forest track up the Bujaruelo valley: it is suitable for vehicles, but takes about 20 minutes. Halfway you pass a campsite; keep going to a large meadow, where the car park is. If you are going to spend several days in the mountains, leave the car in the designated area.
It is the base for the circular walk along both banks of the Ara and for continuing on the GR 11. For the Ordesa canyon, in season you have to take the Torla bus.
Telephone 974 48 64 12; email info@refugiodebujaruelo.com.
### Servicios
- **Torla Car Park and Bus**: Shuttle to the Pradera · €6 return · free car park

## By 4x4: One track for your car and another you can only climb with a guide
Here your 4x4 is of little use: the La Caña track, the one that climbs to the viewpoints over the canyon, is closed to private traffic, and you cannot drive to the Pradera on bus days. With your own car you can do the Bujaruelo track, which does not require a 4x4; you reach the viewpoints in the excursion's off-road vehicle from Broto.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–100 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're in a 4x4
- **Camping Río Ara** (Campsite, desde 29 € / pitch): A family campsite at the foot of Torla, in woodland beside the river, with shaded and unshaded pitches and a grocery shop. It is open from 22 May to 16 October and admits dogs on a lead. ACSI gives an indicative price of about €29 a night for two adults with a pitch.
- **Bujaruelo Refuge** (Mountain hut): A refuge at the end of the valley
The Bujaruelo refuge stands beside the Romanesque bridge at San Nicolás de Bujaruelo, at the end of the track that climbs from the Puente de los Navarros, in the Bujaruelo valley. It is a stopping point on the GR 11 and the Alta Ruta de los Perdidos, between the Ordesa, Panticosa and Gavarnie valleys. It is not inside the National Park, so you can drive to it every day of the year without relying on the Ordesa bus.
It works as a mountain refuge with rooms, a restaurant and a bar, and also has a campsite, which in November 2026 is closed. The accommodation and restaurant announced they were open until 3 January 2027.
The rooms
There is everything from private rooms to long shared bunks:

Double with a double bed, with private bathroom, sheets and towels included.
For two, with one bunk bed and private bathroom.
For four, with two bunk beds and a bathroom, shared.
For six, with bunk beds and a full bathroom, shared.
For fifteen, with a long bunk and a full bathroom: the cheapest way to sleep here.

In the rooms with bunk beds you need to bring a sleeping bag liner and towel; at reception they hire out a set of sheets and a duvet for €6. Guests have their own lounge. Room check-in is from 16:00, with online registration. It is best to book on their website, where they often post offers.
Eating
The restaurant works by reservation only. Lunches are in sittings at 13:30 and 15:00, and dinners at 20:00 or 21:00; the bar is open from 7:00 to 22:00. They cook with local produce: beef from the Broto valley, lamb from a Broto butcher's, longaniza sausage from Graus and cheese from the valley. The 2026 menu includes shepherd's migas with egg, grapes, chistorra and longaniza (€13.50), stewed beans with their accompanying cured meats, local lamb chops (€25), a 400 g sirloin of Broto valley beef (€25) and oxtail stew (€19), and spaghetti or a burger for children. They have dishes for people with allergies and intolerances.
Getting there and parking
From Torla, follow the road towards Ordesa to the Puente de los Navarros and take the forest track up the Bujaruelo valley: it is suitable for vehicles, but takes about 20 minutes. Halfway you pass a campsite; keep going to a large meadow, where the car park is. If you are going to spend several days in the mountains, leave the car in the designated area.
It is the base for the circular walk along both banks of the Ara and for continuing on the GR 11. For the Ordesa canyon, in season you have to take the Torla bus.
Telephone 974 48 64 12; email info@refugiodebujaruelo.com.
### Servicios
- **Broto Petrol Station**: Repsol on the N-260, km 478 · daily 8:00 to 20:00 · petrol, diesel, gas bottles and shop

## As a family: A valley for short legs

The valley floor is wide and with little climb up to the first waterfalls. With children of different ages, it works to go as far as the Estrecho and decide there whether to carry on.

### What works best
The Estrecho waterfalls: an hour each way and 100 m of ascent

The Bujaruelo circular walk: 3.4 km along both banks of the Ara

4x4 viewpoint tours, from age 6 and 1.20 m, to see the canyon from above

One-hour horse rides in Sarvisé, at €15 for under-12s

### Where to sleep
Camping Río Ara, at the foot of Torla and the bus

Motorhome area at Camping Oto, next to Broto

### Where to eat
Bring your own food for the walk; there is a restaurant at the Pradera

A grocery shop at Camping Río Ara

### Worth knowing
In season you go up by bus; under-10s don’t pay, with ID

Bring water for everyone

The Cola de Caballo is 2 h 30 to 3 h each way: only with children used to walking

### Qué hacer as a family
- Cola de Caballo via the Gradas de Soaso
- Estrecho and Arripas Waterfalls
- Ordesa Viewpoints by 4x4 from Broto
- Bujaruelo Valley
- Horse riding in the Broto valley from Sarvisé
- Guided snowshoeing in Ordesa and around

## With teenagers: Here there is a challenge

Ordesa gives a teenager the chance to get properly tired and come back with something to tell. The ferrata, the canyon and the long walks are the argument.

### What works best
The Sorrosal via ferrata, with a guide if it is the first time

The Medio Forcos canyon, from age 12, with jumps that can be skipped

The full Cola de Caballo: a whole day and the photo at the end

The Faja de Pelay, for those who are already fit and don’t have vertigo

### Where to sleep
Camping Río Ara, in Torla, by the river

Góriz refuge, for a night in the high mountains

### Where to eat
Packed sandwiches: on the trail they eat when they want

The restaurant at the Pradera de Ordesa, on the way back

### Worth knowing
The ferrata requires a minimum height and closed shoes

Early starts are part of the deal: the first bus leaves at 6:00 in summer

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Cola de Caballo via the Gradas de Soaso
- Sorrosal Via Ferrata
- Faja de Pelay
- Ordesa Viewpoints by 4x4 from Broto
- Rafting on the Ara river between Torla and Broto
- Medio Forcos canyon in Bergua
- Guided snowshoeing in Ordesa and around

## Consejos

### Take the first bus
From 6:00 to 8:00 one leaves every half hour; after that, every 15 or 20 minutes. The earlier you go up, the fewer people you meet on the path.

### Bring water and food
At the Pradera there is a restaurant, which also sells the return ticket, cash only. On the path, don't count on anything else.

### Return by the other bank
On the waterfalls route, cross the Arazas over the Arripas waterfall and return to the Pradera along the left bank of the river.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Can I go with children?
Yes. The Estrecho waterfalls route is one hour each way with 100 m of ascent. The Cola de Caballo is 2 h 30 to 3 h each way: only for children used to walking.

### Do I have to pay an entrance fee?
No. You only pay for the shuttle bus when it is compulsory: €6 return, free for under-10s.

### Can I go with a dog?
Yes, always on a lead: loose dogs are banned in the National Park. On the bus they travel in the hold and pay €2 return; potentially dangerous breeds must be muzzled and on a short lead.

### Do I need to book?
Accommodation in Torla, yes, in season. The Góriz refuge, well ahead and online only. The bus cannot be reserved.