MADRIU-PERAFITA-CLAROR VALLEY

It is in the south-east of the Principality of Andorra and occupies 10% of the country’s territory, spanning 4,247 hectares.

The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley stretches through the parishes of Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, Encamp and Sant Julià de Lòria. One of the most popular accesses to the valley is on the road to Engolasters (42.517536, 1.571087). This valley is the most important secondary river basin in the country and is 12 km long from end to end and drops 1,855m. Its highest point is the Pic de la Portelleta (alt. 2,905). Its network of hiking routes and high mountain huts allows for a large number of excursions to contemplate the home to animal and plant species that are very rare or in danger of extinction.

Discover dry stone

Whatever route you choose through the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, you’ll find old shepherd cabins recently restored in a traditional way, plots of land enclosed by walls that once contained vegetable gardens, huts and grazing areas for livestock, etc. In summer, don’t miss out on spending a night in any of the five refuges to be found in the valley. The stone-paved pathway of the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, which corresponds to some sections of the GR7 (GR footpath) and GR11 (GR footpath), constitutes one of the more eminently characteristic aspects of this cultural landscape.