# May long weekend from Lleida: getaways for 1 May, Labour Day Five getaways with a night away and two day trips from Lleida for 1 May, Labour Day: the Pyrenees with rivers swollen by the thaw, the Lakes Train already in season, the Sierra de Guara, the Añisclo canyon and the Matarraña in blossom. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/lleida/getaways/may-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Lleida - [A night in La Pobla de Segur: Tren dels Llacs one way and a ferrata or river the next day](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/la-pobla-de-segur/itineraries/one-night-with-train-and-ferrata-la-pobla-de-segur.md) (1 night, La Pobla de Segur): The Lakes Train opens its season in April and runs on spring Saturdays from Lleida. With the return ticket you can come back on a regular train of the line within six days: book the via ferrata first and then the train. - [A weekend in Alquézar: canyoning, walkways and Somontano wine](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/alquezar/itineraries/alquezar-canyoning-walkways-somontano-wine.md) (2 nights, Alquézar and the River Vero): In May the canyon season begins in Guara, with the Vero carrying the winter's water. The companies set the departure according to the flow: book it on the condition of being able to change day, and the walkways with a time. - [A weekend in Aínsa: Añisclo, a canyon descent and the square at dusk, an hour and a half from Huesca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ainsa-and-sobrarbe/itineraries/ainsa-anisclo-canyoning-weekend.md) (2 nights, Aínsa and the Sobrarbe): From April to June the Añisclo canyon runs with meltwater. The HU-631 is one-way in high season: check the year's dates. Go in in the morning, when the road is quiet, and book Sunday's canyon before leaving. - [A weekend in the Matarraña: Valderrobres, Beceite and the Puertos, under two hours from Zaragoza](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/matarranya-valderrobres-beceite-weekend.md) (2 nights, Valderrobres and the Matarraña): In May the Matarraña is green and the Parrizal river carries cold, clean water. The walkways ticket is bought beforehand with a time and on a long weekend it sells out; the 4x4 to the Ports, also booked. - [A night in the Montsec from Barcelona: the Parc Astronòmic, a Starlight masia and the Congost de Mont-rebei](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montsec-and-ager/itineraries/night-of-telescopes-from-barcelona-montsec.md) (1 night, Montsec and Àger): The La Masieta car park, the entrance to Mont-rebei on the Lleida side, opens on weekends and holidays, and in May the gorge is done without the heat. It is booked up to 23:59 the night before: do it after the Astronomical Park session. - [Prades: red town and Roca Foradada](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/prades/itineraries/prades-red-village-and-roca-foradada-from-tarragona.md) (Day itinerary, Prades): At a thousand metres, Prades has in May the oak woods with new leaves and the path to the Roca Foradada still cool. The walk is short and easy, for all ages, and the village inn fills on holidays. - [Penedès: a walk through the vines and an aperitif at the winery](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/penedes/itineraries/penedes-wine-walk-and-aperitif-from-barcelona.md) (Day itinerary, Penedès): In May the vines on the Camí del Vi have leaves and the family winery opens its terrace for the aperitif. The train from Lleida reaches Vilafranca with one change; booking is essential on a holiday. ## The Pyrenean rivers, at full flow 1 May, Labour Day, arrives when the Pyrenees are thawing. The rivers run with more water than at any other time of year, the waterfalls of Añisclo and Guara can be heard from afar and on the peaks there is still snow. From Lleida, which is the gateway to those mountains, the May long weekend is played in three directions: north, by the C-13, towards the Pallars; northwest, by the A-22, towards Barbastro, Alquézar and Aínsa; and south, towards Prades and the Matarraña. If the holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, you have three days: two nights in Aínsa or Alquézar. If it falls midweek, the single day is enough for the Roca Foradada at Prades, an hour away, or for the Penedès by train. ## The lakes train, newly launched The Lakes Train opens its season in April and the May long weekend is among its first full Saturdays. It leaves Lleida station in the morning, goes up beside the Sant Llorenç, Camarasa, Terradets and Sant Antoni reservoirs, and reaches La Pobla de Segur at midday. Sleeping there, Sunday is for the Roca Foradada via ferrata or the Collegats gorge, and the return on a regular train of the same line. ## Guara, Añisclo and the Matarraña On the other side of the Aragonese border, May is canyon month. In Alquézar, the Vero runs with cold water and the companies decide the departure on the day according to the flow; the walkways over the river are done without heat. In Aínsa, Añisclo is at its best, with the canyon full of water; the narrow road is done early. Further south, the Matarraña combines Valderrobres, Beceite and the Parrizal walkways. ## What sells out first First, guided places: canyon, via ferrata, 4x4. The companies have small groups and in May all of Catalonia and Aragon want the same weekend. Then the rooms in Alquézar and Aínsa, few and small. The Parrizal ticket and the La Masieta car park, for Mont-rebei, are booked by time slot; La Masieta's up to midnight the night before. ## Heat on the plain, cold in the water In Lleida, in May, there are already days of 25 degrees; in the Pyrenees, cold mornings and afternoon storms. Canyon water is very cold in May: the company supplies the wetsuit. In the Mont-rebei gorge, the walkway is in the sun: start early. ## Locomotives and walkways with children The Parrizal walkways are flat and under-sixes go free. The Roca Foradada at Prades is a short walk with a reward. The Lakes Train, with its locomotive, is a plan for them from start to finish. For canyons, each company sets the minimum age; some Guara companies have descents for families. ## Leaving by the A-22 or the C-13 Departures from Lleida towards the Pyrenees get heavy on the afternoon before the holiday: the C-13 towards Tremp and the A-22 towards Barbastro. The return on the last day enters Lleida in the afternoon; from the Matarraña, via the N-420 and Gandesa, it is calmer. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Does the Lakes Train run on the May long weekend? Yes: the season starts in April and it runs on Saturdays. Buy your ticket as soon as sales open. ### Can you do canyons in May? Yes, with a guide and according to the thaw flow, which the company decides on the day.