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You feel like snow, don’t you? The date for putting your skis on again is approaching …It is less than 3 months to the start of the season, so we would like to give you some tips so you can prepare for the big day. Strengthen your legs! To ski you need to have a strong and toned muscles to prevent your joints from suffering. Thus you will avoid injuries in delicate areas such as the ankles, knees or hips. Start today with squats and lunges. Set yourself some series before leaving home every morning, and you’ll see how you get to December with stronger legs Prepare your abs and core We don’t usually bother much about them, but it’s well worth bothering! When skiing, much of the tension is concentrated in this area. So you need to do some crunches, especially with rotations that work the sides more. We also recommend working on the lumbar area to strengthen the whole core. Some aerobic exercise Even if you are among those who stop mid-morning to take a break, you know that to fully enjoy your ski day you need a minimal amount of stamina. To train this, try to do some aerobic activity at moderate intensity, for at least half an hour, and 2 days a week. Running, cycling, walking fast, using the elliptical trainer are amongst some of the options for you to increase your stamina. With this simple routine, all that is left to do is to book your hotel plus ski package in Grandvalira and start to cross days off on the calendar. The start date of the season is approaching fast. Don’t be caught off guard!

If you want to discover the most emblematic places in Andorra, and you want to do it in a simple and comfortable way, we suggest you try some of the Tourist Bus routes. Each itinerary covers a specific theme, so you can choose the suggestions that most interest you. From June to October The Tourist Bus operates in the summer months. From June 1st to October 31st one of the 7 itineraries is available each day. The starting point is in the center of Andorra Vella, in front of the church. The tour lasts half a day (from 9:00 to 13:30) except on Saturdays, when the route finishes at 4p.m. and also includes lunch. On all the tours you will enjoy a visit with audio-guide and free tickets to churches and monuments. Tours and themes There are 7 tours programmed during the week, which combine stunning views of our valleys with cultural visits. Mondays and Thursdays: Landscapes and Romanesque Departure to Sant Miquel d’Engolasters (or Casa Cristo, depending on the opening days) followed by a visit to the Meritxell Sanctuary. Afterwards you will discover the church of Sant Joan de Caselles (or the Motorcycle Museum, depending on openings), and will finish with a drive up the Coll d’Ordino to the viewpoint of “Roc del Quer”. Tuesday: Landscapes and urban habitat Departure to Sant Julià de Lòria to visit the Tobacco Museum. You will then visit the church of Santa Coloma (the only one in the country with a circular bell tower) and go on to the Engolasters lake where you will have the chance to take walk and enjoy nature. The tour ends with a visit to the Sant Miquel d’Engolasters church. Wednesday: Landscapes and crafts Departure to the Northern Valleys to visit the Rossell Forge, the charming village of Pal, enjoy the spectacular landscapes in Coll de la Botella and stop at La Caubella, at the foot of Pal ski resort. From there, you will take a Gondola to La Massana (depending on the opening days) from where you will pick up the bus again. Friday: Landscapes, lake and energy The first stop of the tour is at the Energy Museum, after which you follow the hydroelectric Engolasters track and visit the lake. At the end, a pleasant walk surrounded by nature along the “Camí de les Fonts” awaits you. Saturday: Landscapes and traditions Departure to the Rossell Forge where you will discover how the process of transforming iron into ingots and their commercialization on the Catalan markets was carried out in the 19th century. This is followed by a visit to the church of Sant Martí de la Cortinada and a drive to the Arcalís ski resort, where you will enjoy incredible views and landscapes. On your way down, you will have lunch in a mountain hotel in the village of Serrat. Sunday: Landscapes and mountain country Departure to the Interpretation Center of Comapedrosa (or to the Riu Pollós, depending on the opening days). Then, visit the Roc de la Sabina to enjoy the scenery and the views, the town of Pal, Coll de la Botella and go down by Gondola from Pal ski station (depending on the opening days) to La Massana from where you will take the bus back. Some very interesting tours during which the history of the monuments you visit will be explained to you, as well as entertaining anecdotes about the country, its culture and traditions.

Autumn comes with rain, coolest and wet days .. but also with the exquisite mushrooms that, from one day to the next, fill in the Andorran forests. Whether you like to collect them, or if you prefer them well cooked as an accompaniment to a good meat dish, we have no doubt that in Andorra you will be able to enjoy the mushroom season like nowhere else on the planet. Where to find mushrooms? As sure as you know, true hunters never reveal exactly where they found mushrooms. They all have their secret corner that they will never tell us … but we are going to give you some clues so that you can go out into the forest and come back with some fungi in the basket! ☺ Some of the most popular areas in the country to go mushroom hunting are: the forests of Coll d’Ordino and Coll de Pal, the area of La Rabassa in Sant Julià de Lòria, and the area of Sorteny. In these areas it is easy to see cars parked from early in the morning … and as the saying does: “God Helps Those Who Wake Up Early” (or at least you will be sure that no one has benn before you trying to collect mushrooms) Be prudent and respect the forest Although they may seem trivial, these are two basic tips if you want to gather mushrooms. First of all, it is recommended to collect only the mushrooms that you really known. When in doubt, they should never be consumed since they could cause intoxications that can be lethal. So, if you do not have it clear, you can pick up one of them to ask some of the village elders what the mushroom is about. Surely they will be happy to share with you their wisdom about the species in the country! Another important issue is to respect the forest. When collecting mushrooms, it is vital not to damage the low forest around them, as this will prevent them from growing in the same place. In addition, it is recommended to use a wicker basket and not go in groups too big because the excess of footprints will harm the soil in which these mushrooms are to be born. And for the most gourmets … find them at the table! If you have no idea of mushrooms in the forest, but you love to savor them at table, you will enjoy the typical dishes of our mountain cuisine. Cream of boletus, risotto with mushrooms, sautéed prawns with mushrooms, meatballs with “carreroles”, rabbit with “moixerons”, grilled rolls … A taste for the senses that is worth giving away. So this fall season, come and enjoy the mushrooms in Andorra. Book now room with us and … enjoy them as you like!/h4>

In 2004, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley (which occupies 10% of the Andorran territory) was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in the category of cultural landscape (a category that includes only 89 natural spaces in the whole world). Covering 4 parishes The Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley owes its “U” shape to its glacial origin, a feature of valleys emerging from ice. It extends over 4 of the 7 parishes of the country: Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, Encamp and Sant Julià de Lòria. An area of over 4,200ha located in the South-east of Andorra, which will undoubtedly surprise you with its landscapes. Huts, barns and livestock Its paved road is one of the most characteristic and eminent values of this cultural landscape. You will see how livestock is still maintained in the Valley and has become a key element in its conservation. In addition to this traditional activity, you will see huts and barns scattered throughout the valley, as well as animal and plant species that are quite rare or in danger of extinction. GR7 and GR11 Both the GR7 long distance trail – the first one that was signposted in Spain and which goes from Andorra to the Strait of Gibraltar – and the GR11 – which crosses the Pyrenees in about 800 kilometres, from the Cantabrian Sea (Cabo de Higuer) to the Mediterranean Sea (Cabo de Creus) – cross the Madriu Valley in certain sections. This summer, do not miss a visit to this valley recognized as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Book your room in Andorra now and discover one of the jewels of the Pyrenees.

In summer when the snow melts and the landscape turns green, it is the ideal time to come and visit us and discover Andorra from another perspective with other types of activities. On this occasion we encourage you to discover the native fauna of our land, in two very attractive and interesting places and which will be enlightening for the whole family. Will you join us? Naturlandia: much more than an animal park In this animal park you will observe some of the typical Pyrenean species such as the brown bear, the wolf or deer and marmots, among others. All this by means of a beautiful and safe walk through La Rabassa forest, located in Sant Julià de Lòria, about 15 km from the hotel. In Naturlandia, you can also enjoy the Tobotronc (the longest mountain toboggan in the Pyrenees), and other summer activities such as: buggies, quads, pony rides, air-trekk … Mon(t) Magic Canillo If you prefer to stay closer to the hotel, Grandvalira (in the area of El Forn de Canillo) also offers many activities in summer. Among these, Fornatura stands out as an interactive 40-minute circuit, in which you will be in contact with both the fauna and the flora of the country. Although the itinerary can explored on you own, we recommend you hire a guide to have a more complete experience. In Mon(t) Magic you will also find a zip line over 40m high and 550m long, and a children’s area in the middle of nature with plenty of fun options including ponies, archery, slides, footbridges, bridges, bouncy castles as well as tubbing, minigolf, canoes, water scooters, children’s car circuit … As you can see, in Andorra the list of options to ensure you enjoy your holiday and nobody gets bored is endless. If you want to give either of these two suggestions a try, contact us and we will make the reservation for you. Who would want to miss out!? .

Do you like road cycling? Are you a follower of touring cyclist events? Do not hesitate to take part this summer in the fourth edition of La Purito Andorra on August 5th. A date that for many cycling lovers is an event not to be missed in summer. In August 2015 this cycle tour was born, reproducing the queen stage of La Vuelta a España of same year, considered by many people to be the hardest in the history of this sporting event. Joaquín Rodríguez “Purito” was, and still is, the organizer of the stage, in collaboration with the Sprint Club of Andorra. For this reason, the event bears his name;) A touring cyclist event with versions for everyone Despite being a copy of a queen stage in a professional cycling tour, La Purito wants to be an event open to cyclists of all levels. For this reason, it offers 3 routes, each with different lengths and elevations, all of which start in Sant Julià de Lòria. The 145km long route will allow competitors to follow the legendary queen stage of La Vuelta 2015, whose winner was Mikel Landa from Alava. The cyclists will ascend the ports of Beixalís, Coll d’Ordino, La Rabassa, La Gallina, La Comella, and finish with the climb to the Cortals d’Encamp, where they will reach the finish line. The intermediate test, 80km long and a 3,500m climb starts in Sant Julià de Lòria and goes on to the Puerto de la Rabassa, returns to Sant Julià, climbs the Coll de la Gallina, returns once again to Sant Julià and then heads towards the port of Comella, Encamp and to finish the test crowns the Cortals d’Encamp. Finally, the initiation test, consists of a 28km route with a 1,700m climb, which covers part of the Pricipality passing over the port of La Comella to the Cortals d’Encamp. Purito Kids And if your children are also fond of two wheels, you can also participate in the version of the Purito designed for children from 5 to 14 years old, which will take place on August 4 in the town of Encamp in an urban circuit closed to traffic . Prepare your bike, plan your getaway and make your reservation at the best price so you do not miss one of the star events of the summer cycling tour.

Summer, mountains, heat, quietness, Cirque du Soleil … What else comes to mind when you think of the country of the Pyrenees in the summer? If you want to know what else to do if you come to Andorra in summer, read on and discover with us the activities that Grandvalira offers you for the months of July, August and September. Let’s go! Mon(t) Magic, for active families On some other occasion we already told you about this spectacular space by presenting some plans for families with children. This summer, this playful area in the middle of nature incorporates a new BigAirBag in which to jump and perform unthinkable tricks with total security. Without forgetting its fantastic zip line (one of the longest with 550m in length), or the visits to Fornatura (a trip through the senses guided by two great experts of the environment – Shepherd Ramon and his dog Alai – who narrate through legends the stories of the Andorran mountains). For the little ones, the fun is endless: slides, bouncy castles minigolf, acrojump, trampolines, archery, Devalkart, pony rides, arapahoe (mountain scooter pulled by dogs) and even water scooters and canoes in the area of the lake. All this and more, at your disposal until September 16th. Do you play golf? Try the highest field in Europe Above the ski slopes in Grandvalira Soldeu area, at 2,250m altitude, there is the Soldeu Golf course, opened from July 7th until September 30th. A 9-hole par-33 course, designed by Jeremy Pern, with views that you will not find anywhere else in the world. Feel the incredible sensation of hitting the ball on the highest golf course in Europe! Recommended activities outside Grandvalira The leisure offer of the station is complemented by other adventure proposals such as climbing, canyoning, bungee jumping or via ferrata. At Canillo Tourism Office you can hire specialized guides and also specific material. In addition to these activities, you can also make guided excursions, geological itineraries and hiking through the Incles Valley, in which you will enjoy the lakes and landscapes of one of the most special environments of the Pyrenees. Ask us at reception and we will give you all the information you need! Choose your dates, book your room and enjoy the incredible moments that await you in Andorra this summer.

On June the 22th, the summer sales kick off in Andorra, and will last until September the 2nd. So if you are planning your summer holidays in the Pyrenean Country, keep them in mind! You can rest and enjoy nature activities, as well as spending some time looking for your favourite products at the best price. Here you have some tips that will help you to get the most out of the summer sales: Demand the same quality Sales are a period in which stores offer their products at a lower price (but without altering their quality). An item on sale (no matter how cheap it may be) should not have defects (unless it is explicitly highlighted and the price is greatly reduced) Clear and visible discount As a general rule, the product label must inform us about the normal price and the discounted one, with the discount applied. This will make it easier for us to decide whether it is or is not a bargain. Be careful with “Up to” and “From” discounts As a marketing strategy, some shops indicate visibly on posters a large discount percentage (60% or 70% for example) with a small note “up to”. When going through the checkout, you can be unpleasantly surprised and find that your items were not so greatly reduced ☹ Something similar happens with the “prices from” … An eye-catching claim that will draw us into the store but which actually corresponds to only a few items. Andorra’s great commercial tradition ensures that shops play clean during the sales periods, so you can buy with total security in the over 1500 stores that will soon be displaying their promotional offers. You will notice that in big fashion and accessory brands, perfumery and pharmacy, price differences are highly attractive. We also recommend these simple tricks to avoid compulsive purchases: When faced with a product on sale, ask yourself the following: If this product were at its regular price, would I buy it? Pay in cash and not with a card: this way you will have better control over how much you spend and set a clear limit. Although it is normal to allow yourself the odd treat in the sales (and that’s absolutely fine) try to think about whether you really need the product you are about to buy and if you will use it. No matter how cheap or attractive the applied discount is, if you don’t then use the product, it will end up being a very expensive folly! This summer, book your room with mountain views. Enjoy nature and gastronomy in Andorra, and use the summer sales as an excuse to stroll through the country’s commercial area. We look forward to seeing you!

Maybe you’ve never heard of it and it all sounds like double Dutch, or on the contrary, you may think that it is already out of fashion … well, neither one, nor the other! Geocaching is a location game that consists in finding treasures that other people have hidden in different places in a certain area or country. It had its origins at the beginning of the century merely as a training method. By 2013 more than 2 million treasures were hidden in over 200 countries. In Andorra we are not being left behind in this activity, which is a great opportunity to discover cities and countries while playing. How to play? In this game, suitable for all ages, a person hides objects in different places and then marks the geographical coordinates of that location with a GPS receiver. Once that is done, they post them on Apps and specialized websites so that other people can find them. Web pages and specialized Apps show treasure seekers places close to their homes, but also in more distant areas (for example in their holiday destinations). When a treasure hunter manages to find one, they write their name in the small logbook they will find there and must then hide the treasure in the same place again so that another hunter can find it. What is the treasure? As we mentioned, the treasures include the logbook to record your name. You will also find small objects that you can take if you want, as long as you replace them with others of equal or greater value. Among the objects that can be left in the container, there are also travelbugs and geocoins. These are “travelling objects”, which means that you must remove them from the container to take them to another “geocaching”. By doing this, you will help those objects to fulfill their mission (which is described in the code they carry on the geocaching page). In Andorra, where do I start looking? An ideal place to start is the Camí de les Pardines. From El Tarter, drive to Encamp and take the Cortals road. Halfway up the the road you will see the parking area and the path which, through playing, will take you to the lake of Engolasters. Download one of the available Apps, connect the data on your mobile and start playing! (before connecting your data in Andorra, please check if your operator offers you data in our country. If not, get a prepaid Andorra Telecom card to avoid unwanted bills) Book your room now for this summer and discover a new kind of tourism. You will become a treasure hunter in the country’s most emblematic places at the same time as enjoying a fantastic outdoor adventure with the whole family.

The return to Spain, one of the most important races of the international cycling world calendar returns to Andorra this 2018. In its 73rd edition, cyclists will compete in two exciting stages that can mark a before and after in the qualifications. At the El Tarter hotel we want you to know all the details of this event so you can fully enjoy it and not miss any of its most intense moments. Therefore, here are the two stages that will take place in our country. Discover them! From Lleida to Naturlandia On September 14th, cyclists will start the 19th stage of la Vuelta in the city of Lleida. From there, and along a flat route, they will reach Andorra and start climbing until reaching the 2,000m height of Naturlandia. Some 157km during which runners can take advantage of some attempts to escape or defend their position for the next stage. All day in Andorra The penultimate stage of la Vuelta will be fully developed within the principality on September 15. 105.8km that will connect Escaldes-Engordany with the Sanctuary of Canòlich, where the arrival line will be. This route is presented as one of the toughest in the competition as the accumulated altitude will be almost 4,000 meters and cyclists must go through La Comella, Beixalís and Ordino before returning by the coll de la Gallina until the end. A very demanding stage that will require runners to manage their energy well for the final stage if they do not want to lose positions and move away from the La Vuelta podium. What if you forget your TV or Smartphone and come to watch the race live? Book your trip to Andorra, decide at which points of the itinerary you want to see the cyclists pedal and live La Vuelta on the first line.