The privileged location of Biescas offers the client of Hotel Tierra de Biescas –the four star hotel closest to Ordesa- the opportunity of planning a day’s journey in Ordesa National Park. It is only 34 kilometres away from the Hotel.

Ordesa National Park is in the Central Pyrenees (longitude: 3º 35' - 3º 50'). It occupies 15,608 hectares, which in the Autonomous Region of Aragon stretches the municipalities of Torla, Broto, Fanlo, Tella-Sin, Puértolas and Bielsa.

There are five areas in Ordesa: the Massif of Monte Perdido and four valleys that extends to the Spanish slope:

Ordesa Valley (southwest)

, of glacial origin and declared National Park in 1918; narrower is the

Añisclo Canyon

(south); the Escuaín Gorges (southeast), where the marks of the glacier and the karstic erosion are appreciable;

Pineta Valley

(east), with its supernatural Pineta Walls; and the Massif of Monte Perdido, the highest point in the Park (3,355 m.), with impressive mountain tops.

Ordesa National Park has been included by UNESCO in the Ordesa-Viñamala Biosphere Reserve, being a Special Protection Area for Birds. That is why it is a privilege being one of the 600,000 visitors that annually can enjoy the excellence of this open space.

During all the year you can enter to the Park by private car except in the Holy Week and from July to October, when you must park in the free parking area located in Torla. There is a continuous shuttle bus service to Ordesa Meadow, where you can choose among thirteen itineraries, different in travel time and access easiness.

The favourite excursions

because of their easy access are: 1st – route to the viewpoint of the waterfall of Arripas; 2nd - if you are enjoying the route, you can continue to the waterfalls of “la Cueva” (the Cave) and “el Estrecho” (the Strait) -1 hour-, arriving to a dense forest of centenary beech trees; there, where the vegetation clears, we can see the waterfalls of Gradas de Soaso; 3rd – right away a green Alpine meadow appears and the way begins through the Soaso Cirque, at the bottom of which is located the well-known “Cola de Caballo” (Horse Tail) waterfall; 4th – another alternative is the itinerary to the Cotatuero Cirque, where you can enjoy its spectacular waterfall with 200 meters of free fall. The trippers familiar with mountains can also arrive to this cirque of glacial origin through the “Senda de Cazadores” (Hunters’ Path). Other attractive alternatives: the “Faja de Pelay”; the “Camino de Turieto” (Turieto Path); “Añisclo Alto” (High Añisclo); “Añisclo Bajo” (Low Añisclo); the “Balcón de Pineta” (Balcony of Pineta); “San Vicenda”; Carriata Cirque; Gorges of Escuaín-Cuello Viceto; Góriz Refuge and “Punta de las Escaleras” (Point of Stairs).

Along these routes, the landscape shows a never-ending range of contrasts: when looking up, the aridity of the high peaks; when looking down, the exuberant flora of Ordesa: from the snow flowers (edelweiss) and the black pines to the vast forests of beech and oak trees, box, birches, ashes, holly trees, hazels, Alpine clovers, red elders, violets... and to 1,200 different species. In the meantime, impressive cliffs watch our steps through generous meadows, fascinating canyons and ravines or hypnotic torrents and waterfalls.

Although less clearly to our look, the diversity of the fauna is rich in chamois (Pyrenean mountain goats), roe deer, wild boars, marmots, otters, foxes, great spotted woodpeckers, shrews… and species specially protected as bearded vultures –one of the biggest birds in the planet-, brown bears, Griffon vultures or golden eagles.

How to arrive?

From Biescas, take the N-260 road towards ‘Broto’. Only 2 kilometres before arriving in this town, a sign leads to Torla and to the Park.