Holidays to Arinsal

• Distance: 8.5km (4.25km each way)
• Ascent/descent: 163m elevation

Venturing beyond Arinsal and into Ordino, we really enjoy the Ruta del Ferro for an easy walk with maximum cultural content. This is a fantastic walk to warm up your legs and immerse yourself in Andorran culture. The walk follows the Ordino valley, beginning in Llorts. 

• Grade: Easy
• Distance: 5 kilometres

With views for miles and incredible flora up close, this is a circular walk which is well signposted. The route starts at the information hut, at the entrance to the national park, you'll pass by rivers and botanic gardens on this lovely route.

Spa’s don’t get much better than the Caldea Spa. It’s one of the largest thermal spas in Southern Europe and just a 30-minute bus ride from Arinsal. Its iconic 80 metre high tower is the highest tower in Andorra. Head inside to marvel at the architecture and of course, enjoy the extensive facilities that were built to make use of the local hot springs. Mineral-rich water flows from the earth at 70ºC or you might want to try the ice pools if it's a warm summer day. The different areas and pools are plentiful with hydro massage jets, whirlpools, waterfalls and treatments available to book.

Possible to reach with pre-booked car hire

The Tibetan Bridge and Roc del Quer viewpoint are two stunning sites in the Canillo valley. You can head to the Col d’Ordino first to the car park near the view point, it's then a short walk down the ridge to take you to the Roc del Quer viewpoint. It juts out of the landscape on an impressive platform, with some sections of the floor made from glass so you get views from all angles. The scenery here is fantastic and you even have a birds eye view of the towns of Soldeu, Canillo and Encamp.
The Tibetan bridge at Canillo is popular attraction in this area. To get to the bridge it's an easy 15 minute walk up from the carpark. Once you reach it you'll see a structure that stretches 603 metres long across the valley at a height of up to 158 metres above the Vall del Riu. Even if you’re not feeling brave enough to cross, the sight of the bridge and the surrounding views are still seriously impressive.

Right on Arinsal’s doorstep is the Comapedrosa Valley National Park that's just beautiful in the summer. It's home to Andorras highest peak, Pic del Comapedrosa, which sits at 2,942 metres. The area is highly protected with a range of wildlife and nature spots including lakes, waterfalls and forests. There are a number of hiking routes to explore in the summer and three mountain refuges within the park, one of which offers light refreshments.

If retail therapy is on your agenda then the lower tax rates here will be very welcome. Andorra la Vella (around 30 minutes by bus from Arinsal) has 'The Shopping Mile', which is partially pedestrianised. It begins in Avinguda Meritxell and passes all the way to Vivand. You'll find plenty of shops to browse with clothing, perfumery, sports equipment as well as electronics available to buy. The area also offers cafés and restaurants, so you can take a well-earned break from carrying the shopping bags.

The hiking paths are really well marked in Arinsal, you’ll find information on the difficulty of trails and accessibility – great for families wanting to carefully plan out their routes. You’re also right on the doorstep of the Comapedrosa National Park where you’ll find forests, lakes and waterfalls – children can keep their eyes peeled for local wildlife such as lizards, deer and marmots (just be sure to keep a safe distance and leave nature undisturbed).

There also family friendly routes, some of which cover easy trails detailing fictional stories with clues and educational information on route.

Not too far from Arinsal you'll find the Pal Arinsal Mountain park (open during selected months and some activities have age restrictions). It offers a number of activities for children including a mini pedal car circuit, electric train, archery, zip lines, rope parks and more.

Arinsal is a great destination for families that love being out and about in nature, with plenty of walking trails to suit different abilities as well as local attractions to explore. The mountain park in La Massana is great fun with a miniature train, zip lines, bungee jumping, tubing and plenty more, it'll keep the kids entertained for hours (open during selected summer months and you may wish to purchase tickets in advance).

Possible to reach with pre-booked car hire

Tristaina Lakes and Solar Viewpoint are bucket-list items for a summer holiday in Arinsal. The solar viewpoint mimics a sundial but, perched on a suspension platform at 25 metres wide and 2,700 metres high on the Andorra/French border, its seriously impressive. You can reach this engineering marvel via a gondola (with optional glass floor) before taking a chairlift further up to the ridge. Stop for a picture with one foot in France and the other in Andorra before walking a further 20 minutes to reach the viewpoint.
Once you’ve had your dose of exceptional views across three countries in the Pyrenees, why not take the time to explore the beautiful Tristania Lakes. The three lakes reflect the mountains and are linked by a cascading stream. The first lake is a 45-mins to 1-hour easy round-trip walk and it'll take about 1.5-2 hours to get to the third lake (see our walking tab for our useful information & guidelines when walking in Andorra and always plan and prepare when walking)
Please note: at the start and end of season the gondola may not be open so you'll have to drive to La Coma.