As Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is one of my favorite hiking destinations in Spain, I thought I’d share some tips and my favorite trails following my recent weekend getaway in the Spanish Pyrenees. Personally, I found the official information only partially helpful – and if I were a first-time visitor, I think I would’ve found it quite confusing. So, here’s everything you need to know to enjoy Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park like a pro.
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Hiking Guide to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in Spain
Where Is Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park?
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park – often referred to simply as Ordesa National Park is one of the most breathtaking national parks in Spain (and in all of Europe). It’s located in the Spanish Pyrenees, a mountain range that forms a natural border between Spain and France. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is part of the autonomous community of Aragon.
The park is home to four beautiful valleys: Ordesa, Añisclo, Escuaín, and Pineta. Its most iconic landmark is Monte Perdido (meaning “Lost Mountain”), the highest limestone massif in Europe and a breathtaking backdrop for hikers and nature lovers alike.
How to Get to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
The best way to visit Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is by planning a road trip through the Spanish Pyrenees. You can also reach the park by car from major cities like Madrid or Barcelona, making it a great addition to a longer Spain itinerary.
The closest major city with an international airport is Zaragoza, and I recommend renting a car there and driving to Torla-Ordesa – the small village located right at the entrance to the national park. I usually use DiscoverCars, which is one of the largest comparison sites for both local and international car rental providers.
How Long to Stay in Ordesa National Park
I recommend spending at least a long weekend in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. This will give you enough time to try a few local hikes and get the first impression of the area. That said, exploring all the trails in the park could take years – I return to the Pyrenees every year myself, and there’s always something new to discover.
As I’ve mentioned before, the park is divided into several hiking areas: Ordesa, Añisclo, Escuaín, and Pineta. Keep in mind that driving between these sectors can take up to 2 hours. Most first-time visitors focus on the Ordesa Valley or combine it with Añisclo (as I did on one of my earlier Pyrenees road trips). Escuaín and Pineta are often explored together, as they’re located on the opposite side of the park from the Ordesa area.
In this post, I’ll be sharing details from my most recent long weekend in Torla-Ordesa, including the exact hikes I completed in the Ordesa Valley. For more trail ideas across the Pyrenees, feel free to explore my other posts under the hashtag #Pyrenees.
Where to stay in Ordesa National Park
If it’s your first time visiting Ordesa National Park, it’s best to focus on the Ordesa Valley, which is the most accessible and popular area of the park. For this part of the park, the most convenient place to stay is the village of Torla-Ordesa, located right at the entrance to the national park.
If you’re visiting during the summer, keep in mind that private vehicles are not allowed inside the park. Instead, visitors are required to take a shuttle bus to the La Pradera parking area, where the most famous hikes begin – including the trail to the Cola de Caballo waterfall. The bus costs €6 for a return ticket, with the first departure as early as 6:00 AM during peak season. In August, queues can form later in the morning, so catching an early bus is highly recommended.
Staying in Torla-Ordesa makes this much easier. On my last visit, I stayed at Hotel Edelweiss, which was perfectly located for catching the first bus of the day. This hotel is fairly modest, but it offers beautiful views and an unbeatable location right next to the park. That said, my favorite hotel in the area is probably Barceló Monasterio de Boltaña, which I stayed at on a previous trip. It’s a wonderful place, though it does require a drive to reach the main hiking trails. You can explore the best hotel and apartment deals in Ordesa using the map below.
Best Hikes in Ordesa National Park + Maps
Choosing the best hikes in Ordesa National Park is quite subjective, but on the map below, you’ll find the official trails along with my personal favorite – usually listed as number 5: Pradera de Ordesa – Senda de los Cazadores – Faja de Pelay – Circo de Soaso. This route also includes the park’s most famous waterfall, Cola de Caballo (although, for some reason, that isn’t clearly mentioned in the official trail description). You can find it on Wikiloc here.
However, the most popular route of the in Ordesa National Park, where about 90% of visitors go, is number 3: Pradera de Ordesa – Soaso – Cola de Caballo. This trail is widely recommended because it’s relatively flat and suitable for most people and families. You can find it on Wikiloc here.
While my favorite route number 5 is absolutely stunning, it’s more challenging. The first part climbs high into the mountains and requires a good level of fitness. The trail can be rocky and narrow, so I wouldn’t recommend it for young children. Speaking of kids, many families do take the Cola de Caballo trail with children, but during my last visit to the Pyrenees with mine, I chose a different hike called Cascada y Circo Cotatuero. It’s only about a 3-hour walk, whereas the Cola de Caballo route takes at least 6 hours, which I find too long for smaller kids.
Tips for Parking near Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
Right next to the Visitor Center in Torla-Ordesa, where the shuttle bus departs, there’s a large parking area. However, during my visit in August – the peak season – it was almost always full.
If you find the main lot full, just continue driving along the same road. After passing through the small tunnel and going past the hotels and restaurants on the left, you’ll see an additional parking area on the right. Even in August, I was able to find spots there. Just keep in mind that parking in this area means you’ll need to walk back to the Visitor Center and bus departure point – so allow a bit of extra time.
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park: My 3-day Itinerary
Day 1 – Ordesa por Senda Peatonal
On the first day of my long weekend in Ordesa National Park, I arrived in Torla-Ordesa in the afternoon, so I decided to explore some shorter trails nearby – without taking the shuttle bus into the park. There are a couple of scenic hikes you can start directly from the village itself.
The two main options are:
- Ruta de la Ermita de Santa Ana (Check it out on Wikiloc here)
- Ordesa por Senda Peatonal, starting from Puente de Glera and leading to the ancient Puente de los Navarros (Check it out on Wikiloc here)
Personally, I recommend the second option. It’s an easy, scenic walk that takes around 2 hours and overlaps with two longer trails in the area:
- San Nicolás de Bujaruelo & Puente de Santa Elena : marked as trail #1 on the map above (Check it out on Wikiloc here)
- La Pradera de Ordesa via the Turieto Bajo path: marked as trail #2 on the map above (Check it out on Wikiloc here)
So, this short hike is a great way to get familiar with the area and see where some of the longer trails begin – perfect for planning the next days of your trip. You can check out the video and more details from this walk on my Instagram stories here.
Day 2 – Senda de los Cazadores and Cola de Caballo waterfall
On the second day of my long weekend in Ordesa National Park, I caught the first shuttle bus at around 6 AM. Since my trip was in August – the peak season for the park – the bus was nearly full, even that early. You can see in my Instagram Stories and TikTok videos that there were already quite a few people on board. I had purchased my bus ticket the day before, but to my surprise, the ticket office was already open that morning – so a few people who hadn’t bought tickets in advance were still able to get them just before boarding.
If you’re not visiting in August, however, there’s no need to wake up quite so early. I’ve also visited in June and had no problem catching the same bus around 9 or 10 AM. But in August, due to high visitor numbers and restrictions set by local authorities, early mornings are your best bet – otherwise, you might have to wait in line for up to an hour. I recommend visiting the Visitor Center the day before your hike to check the current bus schedule, as it can vary depending on the season.
The shuttle ride itself takes about 20 minutes. When we arrived at the Pradera parking (where the trails start), it was still dark, so I highly recommend bringing a headlamp or flashlight if you’re taking the early bus. I used the time before sunrise to have a quick sandwich before hike.
That morning, I took trail number 5 – Senda de los Cazadores – a more challenging circular route that starts with a steep, rocky ascent. It’s essential to have proper lighting in the early hours, as the first part of the trail can be dangerous without visibility. Most of the other hikers on the bus opted for trail number 3, the Pradera de Ordesa to Cola de Caballo hike, which is the most popular and significantly easier. It’s a linear trail – wide, relatively flat, and family-friendly.
Both trails end at the same stunning waterfall Cola de Caballo, but the experiences are very different. Trail 5 is more demanding and offers breathtaking panoramic views along the way (you can find it on Wikiloc here), while trail 3 is easier, but busier (you can find it on Wikiloc here).
You can find the complete guide to this hike in the full article.
Day 3 – San Nicolás de Bujaruelo
On my third day in Torla-Ordesa, it rained heavily, so I decided not to take the shuttle bus into the park. While the bad weather likely meant fewer people, I honestly didn’t feel like standing in line in the rain.
If you’re planning a trip to the Pyrenees, it’s important to be prepared for changing weather. With all that lush greenery, occasional rain is to be expected. Waterproof hiking boots and a good raincoat are essential. In my experience, storms in the Pyrenees are usually brief. Even on cloudy days, it often rains for an hour or so, then clears up for a few hours before raining again. You can still hike – I usually stick to flatter trails or forested paths where the trees offer some cover.
So, on this rainy day, I opted for a lower-altitude trail and explored the route to San Nicolás de Bujaruelo (trail number 1 on the map above).
You have two ways to start this trail:
- Combine it with the route I did on Day 1, starting from Puente de Glera, or
- Drive to Camping de San Antón, park there, and walk a short stretch along the road toward Puente de los Navarros (Check it out on Wikiloc here)
At Puente de los Navarros, you’ll see signs pointing to Puente de Santa Elena and San Nicolás de Bujaruelo – this is where the trail begins. The first section follows a quiet road with lovely mountain views and very little traffic (mainly campers staying at the nearby site).
Once you reach Puente de Santa Elena, the trail continues into the forest. From there, you have two options:
- Follow the river directly to San Nicolás de Bujaruelo and return the same way
- Or take the lesser-known GR 11 trail, which climbs gently into the forest and offers panoramic views before looping back down to the river near San Nicolás de Bujaruelo
I chose the second option, and it turned out to be the most peaceful part of my entire weekend in Ordesa. I didn’t encounter a single person on the trail and enjoyed my snack break while overlooking the valley and the Bujaruelo camping area. Although I ended up descending toward the river earlier than the exact route shown on Wikiloc, I reached a section of the trail marked with a thin cord and a sign warning ‘ganado suelto’ (loose livestock). Rather than crossing it, I chose to descend. Once I rejoined the river, I simply followed it until I reached San Nicolás de Bujaruelo.
At one point, I spotted a wild boar (who was far more scared of me than I was of it – thankfully!). It was a reminder that this quieter path is rarely taken by most visitors, who usually stick to the riverside trail. I really enjoyed this hike because it felt different from the more crowded, well-known routes of Ordesa National Park and offered a much more serene experience.
Pro tip: For a longer itinerary in Ordesa National Park, you can combine this trip with my other 5-day itinerary, which you can find here.
Is Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park worth visiting?
If you love nature and hiking, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is absolutely worth a visit. It’s one of the most breathtaking regions in the Spanish Pyrenees – and one of my personal favorites. I’m already looking forward to returning and sharing even more hiking itineraries from the area.
In my opinion, Ordesa y Monte Perdido truly deserves its reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the Pyrenees. It’s not only a visual masterpiece of nature but also holds historical significance as one of Spain’s oldest and most important national parks, alongside Picos de Europa.
Read more about the Pyrenees:
- Where to Stay in the Pyrenees: Top Hotels and Best Hikes in Every Area (read it)
- Top Adventurous Things to Do in the Pyrenees (read it)
- Beautiful Small Towns in the Spanish Pyrenees (read it)
- Exploring The Pre-Pyrenees of Spain: A weekend in Sierra de Guara (read it)
- Cogost de Montrebei: The Most Adventurous Hike in Spain (read it)
- Epic 7 Days in the Pyrenees of Spain (read it)
- 10-Day Pyrenees Itinerary: An Ultimate Road Trip from Madrid (read it)
- Hiking Trails in The Pyrenees You Can Not Miss (read it)
- Top Beautiful Places to Visit in the Spanish Pyrenees (read it)
- 5 Epic Reasons to Visit the Pyrenees with Kids (read it)
- Top Romantic Things to do in Andorra (read it)
- The Spanish Pyrenees Road Trip 4-Day Itinerary (read it)
- Skiing in Spain: Our Baqueira Beret Family Getaway (read it)
- Top Things to Do in Andorra (read it)
- Best Foods in the Pyrenees of Spain (read it)
- 3 days in the Pyrenees of Aragon with Seniors & Kids (read it)
- Pyrenees in Fall: An Ultimate 5-day Pyrenees Itinerary (read it)
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For more Spain travel tips and itineraries check my Pinterest boards Best of Spain and Spain Travel Collection.
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Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park looks beautiful. When would you recommend visiting if we’d like to hike here when the leaves are changing in autumn?
October is a great month to visit, while November can be a bit unpredictable – some years bring beautiful weather, while others feel more like winter has already arrived.
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park has been on my bucket list for a while, and your guide makes me want to plan a trip even more. The trails you described, especially to the Cola de Caballo waterfall, sound incredible for both scenery and adventure. Your photos truly capture the beauty of the Pyrenees, and the practical tips about parking and where to stay are super helpful. Thanks for sharing such a detailed guide—it’s exactly what I’d need before visiting!