Spain’s leading resort, Baqueira Beret, is a winter wonderland that’s quick and easy to reach from the UK.
One of the largest resorts in the Pyrenees, it’s located by Val d’Aran, an area with a rich cultural heritage and a reputation for wonderful gastronomy.
Baqueira Beret is also famed for its perfect powder snow, which provides epic freeriding opportunities (it’s one of the few regular stops on the Freeride World Tour). The majority of slopes are on the Atlantic-facing side of the mountains, guaranteeing decent amounts of high-quality snow.
The resort is spread across four distinctive areas: Baqueira, Beret, Bonaigua and Baciver. All in all, it covers 2,273 hectares, with 114 pistes to choose from, adding up to an impressive 170km of routes. Lifts start from 1,110m altitude and climb up 1,500 vertical metres to the highest at 2,610m at Cap de Baciver. Altogether, there are 17 black runs, 49 red, 43 blue, and five green runs, as well as three off-piste routes, so everyone can be very happy here, from complete beginners, through families and recreational skiers, to the most determined powder hounds.
That said, freeriders are particularly in their element here, with 237 mountain itineraries to enjoy, offering 40,000 vertical metres of descent between them, and you can even book heli-ski trips.
Families will find dedicated snowparks for children, including Baby Baqueira 1500 for ages 6 months to 3 years, and Baby Baqueira for ages 3 to 6. Kids can enjoy games and ski lessons in these exclusive snow areas.
Baqueira Beret is much more than its amazing skiing, though. Over six decades, it’s grown into a full-service resort with fantastic dining options, loads to do off the slopes, and amazing accommodation options from budget-friendly to super-lux, and it’s all very easy to reach. It’s also all part of the wonderful, natural Val d’Aran, which provides many more engaging and enticing opportunities to get closer to the natural world and enjoy its many benefits.
The Four ‘4 Bs’ of Baqueira
It all started back in 1964, when the first sector, Baqueira, was developed. This remains the centre of the resort, located at 1,500m at the foot of the slopes with a hub of hotels and services, and remains the most popular sector, blending nostalgia, modernity and easy access to the slopes. With its 33 runs covering 37.3 km, 93% of them with snowmaking cover, many think it’s also the largest of the four sectors, but it isn’t, quite. Great runs here include Luis Arias (named after the famous Spanish ski racer who started it all), Pales der Arias, and Tubo Nere, with Passarells considered the most challenging in the entire resort. There’s also Tamarro, a recently revamped challenging 2.3km red run, and the Escornacabres, a legendary offpiste run.
The second of the four sectors making up the resort, Pla de Beret, has the most varied terrain and is also the largest of all, with 41 slopes, the majority of them lovely cruising blues, spread over 74km – twice the size of Baqueira. It’s got a relaxed, laidback vibe making it ideal for families with children and also a top choice for freestylers who love Beret’s snowpark, boardercross, and funpark, as well as the Audi Ski Kronos. There are special learning zones for beginners as well. This is also where cross-country skiers can head to access 7km of tracks, and there’s also dog-sledding and sleigh rides offered in the area. Beret has seen significant investment in re- cent seasons, including several fast, comfortable new six-seat chairlifts.
The third sector, Bonaigua, was added in 1988 and has its own character and, in contrast to Beret, the most black runs in the whole resort – eight of them, to be precise. There are easier runs and even beginner slopes here too, though. After arriving on easy trails through Argulls, the descent towards Bonaigua and all of Peülla offers many exciting descent options. There are 38 skiable kilometres in the sector, with highlights among the 29 runs including Barranc der Aire, the Gerber run, and the new Barqueta red run down to Argulls.
The final sector, Baciver, formerly only accessible to ski mountaineers, is home to the resort’s highest point up to 2,610m. It’s the smallest of the four, with just 15.9 km of runs, suited to good skiers as the 11 pistes are all reds and blacks. Besides exciting terrain and great snow, they’re rewarded by some of the resort’s best views towards the vast faces of Baqueira’s Cara Nord. The winding Eth Coret trail is a particular favourite here, winding through the trees.
The Val d’Aran
The history, culture, beauty and heritage of the Val d’Aran, the region where Baqueira Beret is located, help make the resort particularly special. Between the mountains, you’ll find stunning vistas, taking in forests, frozen waterfalls, hot springs, and more than 200 lakes! It’s an unspoiled natural wonderland, home to eagles, bears and vultures, and a wonderful place for winter hiking, snowshoeing excursions, or even horse riding or mountain biking over snow.
The region has its own unique culture, the true essence of the Pyrenees, and even its own language. Along with stunning scenery, you’ll find many historic buildings reflecting the region’s rich heritage and museums, where you can find out more. Some of these are now fantastic restaurants, delivering the region’s famously rich gastronomy, while others provide unique accommodation options. There are more than 200 restaurants to choose from in the region, of which 25 restaurants, bars and cafés are located on the ski slopes. Most serve locally sourced ingredients, with more than 30 products registered as officially originating only in the Val d’Aran. These include caviar, honey, cheese and yoghurt. Look out for the Caviar Gastronomic Days if you visit in March!
Booking and Arriving
Viajes Baqueira Beret is the ski resort’s official travel agent, specialising in trips to Val d’Aran and Valls d’Àneu. Reservations staff have firsthand knowledge of all the accommodation and services on offer – hotels, apartments, self-catering and activities – so are able to create a tailored package to suit your needs.
It’s possible to book everything from accommodation to skiing lessons and snowmobile excursions. Viajes Baqueira Beret’s aim is to help plan your holiday and make sure you enjoy your trip to Val d’Aran or neighbouring Valls d’Àneu to the max.
Viajes de Baqueira Beret also provides its accommodation and ski pass customers free and exclusive services, such as ski pass delivery to your hotel, parking by the cable car parking so you can conveniently access the slopes, leaving your car in a covered area – great if you’ve driven down from the UK or picked up a rental car at the airport.
Baqueira Beret is located in the Pyrenees, close to the French border, and is easy to reach with five airports close by. Choose from Lleida (145 km), Pau (157 km), Tarbes (161 km), or Barcelona (350 km) airports in Spain, or fly into Toulouse in France (166 km). Bus services, taxis or hire cars can be used from there to the resort.
If you are looking for the perfect destination for your next trip, our Resort Guide has everything you need to know.