4-Day Route in Aigüestortes: Ascents to Tuc de Ratera and Montardo

On July 12, 2026, a 29.05 km traverse began through the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, offering a glimpse into the renowned Carros de Foc route. The journey spanned four days, including three nights spent in mountain huts located above 2000 meters. This high-mountain Pyrenean hiking experience took place under suitable weather conditions.

The itinerary commenced from Espot, with a taxi service providing access to Estany de Sant Maurici. From this point, the first stage to Refugi d'Amitges began. This section, covering 4.39 km with an ascent of 450 m, passed through notable sites such as the Ratera Waterfall and several lakes, offering characteristic views of the area.

The second day connected Refugi d'Amitges with Refugi de Saboredo. During this stage, which covered 6.79 km with 542 m D+ (ascent) and 607 m D- (descent), the ascent to Tuc de Ratera was completed from Port de Ratera. This peak is included in the FEEC's “100 Summits” list. The route allowed hikers to enjoy alpine landscapes and the presence of numerous lakes.

The third stage was the longest and most demanding, totaling 15.79 km with 1229 m D+ and 1519 m D-. From Refugi de Saboredo, the route continued towards Refugi de Restanca, passing by Refugi de Colomers and the impressive Coll de Calders. A highlight of this day was the ascent of Montardo, another summit on the FEEC's “100 Summits” list. This segment of the traverse combined high-mountain terrain with forested areas.

The fourth and final day concluded with a descent of 2 km and 367 m D- from Refugi de Restanca to Pont de Rius. From there, a taxi transported participants to Arties, from which a regular bus service completed the return journey to Espot, thus concluding a four-day traverse through one of the most significant national parks in the Pyrenees.