Hotel
Hotel Bujaruelo
Why we like it: A hotel on the Ordesa road, at the entrance to Torla and close to the car park for the valley bus. Some rooms have a balcony with mountain views. It has its own car park, subject…
Duration2 nights
From Huesca1 h 20 by car
Best timeJune · September · October
Budget€170–260 pp
DifficultyMedium
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving on Friday evening and sleeping two nights in Torla or Broto. On compulsory-bus days, Saturday starts at six in the morning at the Torla car park; the rest of the year you drive up to the Pradera.
Friday
- 119:00Arrival in Torla
Huesca to Torla in an hour and twenty. Dinner at El Duende, a stone house from 1831 on Calle de la Iglesia, booking by phone. Buy the bus ticket if it is the season and get your rucksack ready: water, food and a waterproof. If you arrive earlier, the Cotefablo pass, on the old road from Biescas, is the slow and beautiful way into the valley.
Saturday
- 106:30First bus to the Pradera
The earlier you go up, the fewer people. From the Pradera, the path climbs through the forest beside the Arazas river.
- 207:00Estrecho waterfalls and the Cola de Caballo
The first waterfalls, Arripas, La Cueva and El Estrecho, are an hour away. If you are with children or haven't the legs for more, cross the river above Arripas and come back along the other bank. If you carry on, the Gradas de Soaso take you to the Cola de Caballo in two and a half to three hours from the Pradera. Eat up there what you carry.
- 316:00Bus back and an afternoon in Torla
You go back down to the Pradera the same way. At the Pradera there is a restaurant that sells the return ticket, cash only.
Sunday
- 109:004x4 viewpoints from Broto
With Miradores de Ordesa you go up by off-road vehicle from Broto or Buesa to Pico Estatón and walk 4.5 km along the Rey, Reina and Herradura viewpoints, above the canyon. About four hours, from €49.50 per person, with a guide. Book on their website; from age 6.
- 214:00Lunch in Sarvisé and a walk round Bujaruelo
Coming down from the viewpoints, Casa Frauca, in Sarvisé, serves seasonal homestyle cooking and kid from the valley; it is open on Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. Then go up from Torla to San Nicolás de Bujaruelo: a Romanesque bridge, the refuge with a restaurant and a circular walk of 3.4 km along both banks of the Ara, with no ascent. After that, back to Huesca via Fiscal and Petralba.
From Huesca, the Ordesa valley is an hour and twenty away: the A-23 to Sabiñánigo, the Petralba tunnel to Fiscal and the Ara valley to Torla. It is close enough to do in a day, but the valley is better enjoyed over two. This plan splits the weekend between the classic route to the Cola de Caballo, the canyon seen from above in a 4x4 and a quiet stroll round Bujaruelo before heading back. From Zaragoza it is two hours; from Pamplona, two and a quarter.
When to go and how do you get in?
June brings the waterfalls with the most water and in October the beech wood turns red. At Easter, from 19 June to 20 September and on several long weekends and weekends in autumn, cars can't go beyond Torla: you park free next to the visitor centre and take the shuttle bus up to the Pradera, €6 return and free for under-10s. You can't book. The first leaves at 6:00, at 7:00 in October, and if there are 1,800 people in the valley at once, the ascents are suspended. The rest of the year you can drive to the Pradera, and its car park fills early.
| Route | Time | Ascent | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estrecho and Arripas waterfalls | 2 h there and back | 100 m | With children, the first day |
| Cola de Caballo via the Gradas de Soaso | 5 h 30 there and back | 550 m | Regular walkers |
| Faja de Pelay | 7 h circular | 650 m | Fit and without vertigo |
| Bujaruelo valley | 50 min | Flat | For the last day |
Where to sleep?
Torla is the base for catching the first bus: everything is within walking distance. Broto and Oto, ten minutes away, have apartments and a campsite for families. At Bujaruelo, outside the park, the Hotel Bujaruelo and the refuge are the most isolated option, at the end of a track. For motorhomes, the camper area at the Oto campsite admits dogs. At Camping Río Ara, beside the river in Torla, pitches start from €29 a night.
If you like adventure
With teenagers, swap Sunday's viewpoints for the Sorrosal via ferrata, in Broto: two and a half hours inside a waterfall with Guías de Torla Ordesa, from €55 with equipment and from age 10. From April to July, rafting on the Ara between Torla and Broto is the other option, from age 14.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Ordesa Valley, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Ordesa Valley
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
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.
45–65 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepingCamping Oto motorhome area, from…
- Getting aroundPark in Torla and go…
- EatingGrocery shop at Camping Río…
- ServicesWater and emptying at the…
Sleeping
- Camping Oto motorhome area, from about €20 for two adults, no reservation
- Camping Río Ara, in Torla, from 22 May to 16 October
Getting around
- Park in Torla and go up by bus on the days it runs
- Bujaruelo: dirt track from the Puente de los Navarros
Eating
- Grocery shop at Camping Río Ara
- Restaurant in the Pradera de Ordesa
Services
- Water and emptying at the Camping Oto area, according to users
- Repsol petrol station in Broto, from 8:00 to 21:00
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.
55–75 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepingGóriz refuge, at 2,200 m…
- Getting aroundFrom the Pradera to Góriz…
- EatingAt Góriz, breakfast from 6:30…
- SafetyMonte Perdido is high mountain…
Sleeping
- Góriz refuge, at 2,200 m, open all year; booking online only
- Bujaruelo refuge, on the GR 11, with shared rooms
Getting around
- From the Pradera to Góriz, about 4 hours on the GR 11
- Bus from Torla to the Pradera in season, €6 return
Eating
- At Góriz, breakfast from 6:30 to 8:30, dinner at 19:30 and packed lunches to take away
- Lunch with no booking at Góriz, from 12:30 to 15:30
Safety
- Monte Perdido is high mountain terrain: without experience, go with a guide
- In winter and spring, check the avalanche danger bulletin before setting out
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.
70–100 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepingRefugio de Bujaruelo, at the…
- TracksBujaruelo: 6.3 km, half paved…
- RulesIn Aragón it is forbidden…
- EatingRestaurant at the Refugio de…
- SafetyThe Bujaruelo track is narrow…
Sleeping
- Refugio de Bujaruelo, at the end of the track, with an open area to park in front; open until 3 January 2027
- Camping Río Ara, in Torla, about 3 km from the Puente de los Navarros; from 22 May to 16 October
Tracks
- Bujaruelo: 6.3 km, half paved, from the Puente de los Navarros; an ordinary car is enough
- Beyond the refuge, a chain: authorised vehicles only
- La Caña, from Broto or Buesa to the Estatón peak: about 28 km, only with Miradores de Ordesa, from €49.50
- The excursion runs all year if the weather allows; best from spring to autumn
Rules
- In Aragón it is forbidden to drive off paths and tracks
- Tracks open to traffic: up to 30 km/h and in groups of five vehicles at most
- Those not open require permission from the landowner or the authorities
- In bus season, you can only go up to the Pradera on the shuttle from Torla
Eating
- Restaurant at the Refugio de Bujaruelo
- Grocery shop at Camping Río Ara
Safety
- The Bujaruelo track is narrow, with blind bends and few passing places: in summer, go up early
- Fill up at the Broto petrol station, open from 8:00 to 21:00
- Check the forecast: in summer there are storms and flash floods; take water
- Tell someone which track you are doing and when you will be back; emergencies, 112
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights2
Where to stay
Where to stay in a campervanif you're on footif you're in a 4x4
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Camping Oto Motorhome Area
Why we like it: 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…
From €20
View details
Campsite
Camping Río Ara
Why we like it: 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…
From €29
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Góriz Refuge
Why we like it: A staffed refuge at 2,200 m in Ordesa, open all year: 80 places in shared dormitories, set-menu dinner and camping only when it is full.
From €28
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Hotel Casa Frauca
Why we like it: A twelve-room hotel in Sarvisé, ten minutes from Torla, with its own restaurant, a lounge with a fireplace and a garden terrace. Breakfast included, from €80 for a double.
From €80
View details
Bujaruelo Refuge
Why we like it: 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…
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Torla | Take the first bus, walk to everything | |
| Broto and Oto | Families, apartments, campsite | |
| Fiscal and Aínsa | More choice, 30–45 min by car |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Ordesa Valley
Restaurante El Duende
What to order: the roast suckling ternasco lamb shoulder or the ox chop for two, and the house fritters for dessert
Restaurante Casa Frauca
What to order: whatever is in season, and when available the suckling kid from the Casa Bergua farm in Viu de Linás
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Sleep in Torla the night before Saturday. Catching the first bus is the difference between an empty valley and a pilgrimage.
We'd skip it
The Pilar long weekend and August, if you want peace. They are the busiest days on the path and there are queues for the bus in mid-morning.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Huesca?
An hour and twenty by car to Torla, via the A-23, the Petralba tunnel and Fiscal. From Zaragoza, about two hours.
Can it be done in a day?
Yes, but you would have to leave Huesca at five to catch the first bus. With a night in Torla, the day goes twice as far.
Do I have to pay to enter the park?
No. Only for the shuttle bus when it is compulsory: €6 return, free for under-10s.
Can I bring a dog?
Yes, always on a lead. On the bus it travels in the hold and pays €2 return. On the 4x4 excursion one is admitted per booking, with a €10 supplement.
Which route should I do with children?
The Estrecho waterfalls: an hour each way with 100 metres of ascent. The Cola de Caballo only with children used to walking.