Bears, Wolves and Lynxes at Aran Park, in Bossòst

Aran Park is a mountain wildlife park on the road that climbs from Bossòst to the Col du Portilhon, at 1,200 metres and a step from the French border. It covers about twenty hectares of forest with some 150 animals of about fifteen species in semi-freedom: brown bears, wolves, lynxes, otters, marmots, vultures, deer, ibex, chamois and mouflon, among others. It is the plan with children in the lower part of the valley, and it also works for anyone who wants to see Pyrenean wildlife up close without spending the day looking for it.

A concrete path between the enclosures

The visit is on foot and takes between an hour and a half and two hours. The path is concrete and has no steps, so it is fine with a baby pushchair; if anyone in the group has reduced mobility, the park asks you to call beforehand. There are toilets at the start and halfway round, with a changing table. Bring binoculars if you have them: the enclosures are large and some animals can be seen from afar.

The park advises arriving early, when it is cooler and the animals move more. Feeding them is forbidden: the keepers do it according to each one's diet. Photos are allowed.

The park's museum occupies a former Guardia Civil barracks and teaches you to recognise sounds, coats and antlers, with games for children. There is also a shop.

The Canadian wolves, with a keeper

The wolf observatory is a €5 extra on top of the ticket: a keeper presents the pack of Canadian wolves and, with a safety device, you can feed them. It lasts 15 or 20 minutes, in groups of 20 at most, and is booked at the entrance at least a quarter of an hour beforehand. In May, June, September and October there is a session at weekends at 11:30; from 12 July and in August, every day at 10:30 and 16:30.

To go further, In the Skin of a Keeper is two and a half hours feeding wolves, lynxes and mustelids, entering the bear enclosures and visiting the dwarf goat farm. It costs €75 for adults, €60 for ages 3 to 12 or €240 for a family of two adults and two children, with admission included, and is booked at least 24 hours ahead. In July and August it is Monday and Thursday from 16:00 to 18:30; in April, May, June, September and October, on Saturday from 10:00 to 12:30. The night visits, of two hours and from April to October, are for groups of 15 people at least.

Opening hours, tickets and food

It opens every day, including Sundays and public holidays, from 20 March to 7 November 2027: from 9:30 to 18:00 with the ticket office until 16:30, and from 9:30 to 19:00 with the ticket office until 17:30 in the months with more daylight. Admission costs €17 from age 12 and €13 for children; under-3s don't appear in the rates. The season pass, from April to the end of October, is €33 for adults, €25 for children or €106 for a family of two adults and two children. Tickets are bought at the ticket office or online, undated, valid for the whole season; payment is by card or cash.

Halfway round there is a snack bar and a shaded picnic area. The bar opens every day from 19 June to 6 September, from 9:30 to 18:00; the rest of the season, only at weekends, public holidays and school holidays, until 17:00, and it is closed on Tuesdays in March and April.

Dogs and other pets cannot enter, for veterinary and safety reasons, nor bicycles, scooters or skates.

Bossòst and the rest of the day

From Bossòst, on the N-230 between Vielha and France, the Portilhon road climbs to the park. At Artiga de Lin, above Es Bòrdes, the walk to the Uelhs deth Joèu is an easy hour with children; at Les, the Caviar Nacarii fish farm can be visited in summer. For dinner in Bossòst, Er Occitan, on Carrer Major, with a reservation.