Hotel del Tarter

Ctra. N-II El Tarter AD100 Canillo Principado de Andorra.
Tel. +376 80 20 80 Fax +376 80 20 81 reserves@hoteldeltarter.com

The Madriu – Perafita – Claror Valley: the jewel of the Pyrenees

Vall-Madriu-Perafita-Claror

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.

Come and meet the native fauna of Andorra

Naturalandia

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!? .

4th edition of La Purito Andorra

ciclismo-la-purito

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.

What to do in Andorra in summer? Do not miss the activities in Grandvalira

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.

Summer sales in Andorra – make the most of them!

summer-sales

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!

The summer challenge: geocaching in Andorra

geocaching-cami-de-les-pardines

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.

La Vuelta of Spain returns one more year to Andorra with two new stages

etapa-vuelta-andorra

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.

“Allées et venues”: The cultural visit in Andorra that you cannot miss

mueso-carmen-thyssen-andorra

After “Scenarios. From Monet to Estes. From Trouville to New York “, the Carmen Thyssen Museum Andorra seeks once again to offer us the opportunity to see in first person great works of art from the hand of artists such as Gauguin or Pissarro. Now we will present you all the details of “Allées et venues”, the new museum exhibition that will be available until September the 10th. A common theme As with the previous collection, the paintings have not been chosen randomly, but are linked by the same theme: the roads. Although they may seem like a simple tool to give depth to the painting or an element of a landscape that the artist has wanted to represent without any other objective, the roads are much more than that. They are places of inspiration, of pictorial and personal evolution, of beauty, of discovery… “Allées et venues” Among the works exhibited in the room, one stands out the one that gives its name to the exhibition: “Allées et venues” (goings and comings) of Gauguin. This painting is one of those that the author created in his trip through the Caribbean, during which his technique and artistic vision evolved. In addition, being able to see this work in person is an opportunity that you cannot miss, since its transportation is so delicate and complicated, it is not usually displayed. A point of interest With just one year of live, the Carmen Thyssen Museum Andorra has become one of the great points of interest in the country, an almost obligatory visit if you come to the country of the Pyrenees. Its modern facilities integrated into the emblematic building of the Hotel Valira, its activities for both adults and children in the EduCarmenThyssen space and the excellent selection of paintings will make the visit to the museum an experience that will not leave you indifferent. On your next trip to our small country, or if you are on holiday to the principality, don’t forget to visit the Carmen Thyssen Andorra Museum, open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3 great plans in Andorra for a perfect family summer vacation

  Snow, skiing, slopes … Surely when you think of Andorra these are the first words that come to mind. But if you think our little country can only be entertaining in winter, you’re wrong! This summer we propose you to come and discover other facets of our home with your whole family and to live an unforgettable vacation. Do you want a little breakthrough? Keep reading!   The Cirque du Soleil is back! After marveling us every summer for the last 5 years, the famous Canadian company returns with a new approach. And it is that DIVA, its new unique show in Europe, moves away from the SCALADA saga and the Andorran theme to take us on a journey through the recent history of music. With this show you will meet again with the great divas of the song through acrobatics, unique numbers and lights in the venue that will be installed in the parking lot of the Parc Central d’Andorra la Vella. If you do not want to miss this event, book now our hotel offer plus Cirque du Soleil and you will have your reserved seat numbered to live this experience that will take place from June 30 to July 29.   Fun in the middle of nature Once all the snow is melted, the Andorran mountains offer endless proposals and activities so you can enjoy its flora and fauna in the various Family Parks in the country. In the Family Park Mon (t) Magic of Canillo, you can practice with your children minigolf, acrojump, canoe, archery, tubbing or even explore the forests in arapahoe, a type of scooter pulled by dogs, among many other things. And if you have strong emotions, do not forget to get on the zip line that will make you travel at 80km / h for 500m hanging at almost 40 meters high. In the south of the country, you will find Naturlandia where, in addition to having fun with various activities with your family, you can see up close the typical fauna of the Pyrenees in its animal park. An experience that children will surely not forget!   Travel through history If you are one of those who, when traveling, like to investigate the history and culture of the destination, Andorra will love it. In our territory there are more than 50 Romanesque monuments, some of which have free guided tours during the summer months. In addition, in museums such as the Tabaco or old manor houses such as Areny-Plandolit, you can discover how people who lived in these lands lived in the past. And if you prefer something more current, do not forget to visit the Carmen Thyssen Museum where until 10/09/18 you can enjoy works by artists such as Gauguin, Rusiñol or Heckel in the exhibition “Allées et venues”.   Do not you think it anymore! This summer your destination is Andorra.  

The best offer to see the Cirque du Soleil in Andorra this summer

Are you one of those persons who has not missed any of the Cirque du Soleil shows in Andorra since 2013? Or have you been unable to attend any yet? Whatever your case is, this summer the Canadian company returns to our small country to marvel us again with DIVA. From the hotel el Tarter we don’t want you to miss the opportunity to enjoy this event and we have prepared a perfect offer so that you can come in July. The show After 5 unforgettable summers in which the Cirque du Soleil has presented us different facets of Andorra in its show series SCALADA, DIVA arrives, a totally different show to the previous ones. In this one you will meet again with the hits of the great divas of the music of the last decades. Acrobatics, pirouettes, games of lights and many more things will meet from Tuesday to Saturday at 10pm at the venue that will be located in the Parc Central car park, in the center of Andorra la Vella. And if you arrive 30 minutes before … you can enjoy a few animations with the DIVA characters! The hotel And during the day … Why don’t you discover everything that Andorra offers you in the summer? Endless shopping sessions, horse riding, fun and relaxation in CALDEA … Imagine being able to wake up and, after having breakfast, being able to walk to Grandvalira and enjoy all the activities that await you in the domain. It’s possible! In our hotel, your room will be just 200 meters away from a day of emotions and fun alone, with your friends, as a couple or as a family. Our offer Don’t wait any longer! We propose you a perfect plan: Spend an unforgettable day in the mountains of Andorra, live a magical night with DIVA by Cirque du Soleil and rest in the hotel El Tarter. With our accommodation offer + Cirque du Soleil you will have numbered and reserved tickets so you can sit and enjoy the show without worrying about anything. Book now and don’t let escape your chance to see DIVA , a unique show in Europe.