This page offers a list of all of these refuges, which is really useful if you’re planning a long hiking route.
Most of these refuges are unmanned. This means that they’re in isolated locations without staff to offer any assistance or services to guests. Some of them are manned, such as those in Comapedrosa, Sorteny and Juclà. This is why the services offered in these refuges are quite limited, offering only paid Wi-Fi in some cases. They're a godsend for hikers, though, especially when they need comfortable, secure shelter for the night. In most cases they come with chimneys and firewood to provide heat during your stay.
As you can see in the information file for each refuge in Andorra, these are stone shelters that have been refurbished, are modern and resistant to adverse weather. In some cases they are refurbished bordas, old buildings traditionally used by local farmers for storage. Given their isolated locations, they usually offer coverage for mobile phones.
If you’re going on an easier route where you won't need to spend the night at a refuge, Andorra offers some interesting options: accommodation for hikers, such as apartments, rural houses and hotels with services specially designed for hikers. Extensive, flexible opening times and spaces to store equipment are just some of the advantages you’ll find. These are all included in the list of hotels and the Mountain Guide published by the Principality, where you’ll find them marked with the corresponding symbol.
Sleep at a refuge in Andorra
They offer a safe place to spend the night in the middle of the mountains when you're on a long hiking route.
Where are they located?
To see the exact location of these refuges, check out the information file for each of them or take a quick look on the map. Normally, they’re located high in the mountains and can only be accessed on foot, and are isolated from the surroundings. That’s why the so-called ‘high parishes’ tend to have a greater variety of refuges, such as in Ordino and Canillo, where you’ll find refuges in Comaubaga and La Vall del Riu, respectively, along with many others. In any case, all the parishes except Andorra la Vella have some type of refuge for overnight stays, including Sant Julià de Lòria, with El Collet Martí and two others.
Another feature common to all refuges in Andorra are their location on hiking routes. In some cases these routes are classed as GRs (Grand Routes), of which there are 5 that cross our country. In other cases they serve smaller routes of great natural interest with higher difficulty levels.
As you’ll see on the map, some serve the three nature parks that exist in our country: La Vall de Sorteny, Madriu-Perafita-Claror and Comapedrosa. If you’re planning a hike in these protected green spaces, you should make sure you know exactly where the refuges are located.
On mountains by hiking trails
All refuges in Andorra are close to GRs or shorter but more difficult routes.
Relevant information
So you can enjoy the best experience when spending the night at a refuge, Andorra provides you with useful information in the tabs in this list and the map of GRs published by the Principality that you can download here. One of the most basic pieces of information you’ll need are the geographical coordinates: that’s the only way you’ll be able to know the actual location of the refuge and how far away you are from it.
Another piece of important information is whether it’s manned or not. Even more important is to know its closing dates, if any. This is crucial to know to avoid unwanted situations where you’ll need to sleep outdoors in a sleeping bag, which isn’t always a safe option, especially in winter. You can also check how many people can sleep at each refuge and what additional services there are.
Finally, you should bear in mind some basic safety recommendations: if you plan to spend the night at a refuge it means the route is particularly difficult and you should take extra precautions. A charged mobile phone with the Alpify app installed, water, energy bars and a lighter are just some small details you’ll need to include in your hiking kit.
If you'd like to get advice before a route and have a guide take you along it, you can always contact one of our expert mountain guides.