When we think of big ski areas close to home, too often our thoughts head to the Alps, when we ought to be looking somewhere a little less obvious (and much better for it) look at Baqueira Beret .
Baqueira Beret is the biggest resort in the Spanish Pyrenees with an impressive 113 runs spread over 170km of slopes, with more than 1,100m of lift served vertical. That’s all served by a world-class fast and efficient network of 36 lifts, including many high seed chairs and gondolas, with a combined capacity of over 61,024 people/hour.
As we’re talking a reputation for great powder snow and lots of superb off-piste terrain (it’s one of the few stops on the Freeride World Tour), we should be talking area too and that’s 2,273 hectares …or a little bigger than Vail, Colorado. It’s thanks to the Atlantic orientation of Baqueira Beret’s slopes that the snowfall quality and volume are both so good.
Baqueira Beret is close to home as well. It’s just a two-hour drive from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, a much less stressful airport to travel through in winter than Geneva or Chambéry, with often more affordable flights available. There’s also the big benefit of Spanish prices, compared to those of the Alps.
A Huge Ski Area
Baqueira Beret celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2024, having grown from its first lifts and runs created by a Spanish skiing champion in the early 1960s. Over the years the area has groswn across flour sectors: Baqueira, Beret, Baciver and Bonaigua. Baqueira was where the first lift was installed in 1964 and remains the most popular sector to this day with 41 runs covering 45 km, but despite popular belief it is no longer the largest part of the ski area.
It is home to several of Baqueira Beret’s most famous runs though among its 8 black and 17 red trails. They including the Cara Nord, Luis Arias, Pales der Arias and Tubo Nere and Passarells runs, not to mention the Escornacabres, an iconic off-piste descent.
But the resort is home to plenty of beginner and intermediate terrain as well, with the Baqueira sector home to an area of easy slopes at a snow sure 1800 metres with beginner slopes plus 13 blue and 3 green runs.
Beret has grown to become the largest single sector of the ski area, with 70km of slopes, including a fabulous 7km descent. With 37 runs, more than half of them blues, its considered a more peaceful, laid back part of the ski area and ideal for families and children.
Choose The Best Slopes Each Day
Baqueira Beret is located across Spain’s spectacular Val d’Aran and Valls d’Àneu (Pallars Sobirà) and its slopes can be accessed via both valleys through the Vielha tunnel and Bonaigua. Those two sides are very different and allow you to avoid any crowds with some savvy planning on powder days.
The ski slopes climb from the lowest part at Baqueira 1500 and climb to 2,610 metres at Cap de Baciver. Besides the groomed slopes you’ll find abundant freeriding opportunities as well as the Era Marmòta snow park, a slalom stadium and a boardercross zone. Also not to be missed is the Marmòtes piste, which has green, blue and red coloured routes depending on the level of difficulty you’d like with colour-coded jumps, boxes and rails.
In addition, over in the ski area’s southeast corner, you’ll find The Ski Kronos, an easy 200m ski run with an automated camera system. Simply scan the barcode on your skipass to watch back and share video of your run!
Off The Slopes
Baqueira Beret is one of Europe’s leading ski resorts so it should be no surprise that, along with a great foodie and apres ski scene, there’s loads to do besides the downhill slopes.
Outdoor options include snowmobiling and there are 7km of prepared cross country ski circuits.
For equipment rentals and sales Baqueira Beret has several rental, repair and sales centres which invest in new equipment from leading brands each winter for downhill skiing, snowboarding, telemarking, cross-country skiing and ski mountaineering. So all you need is waiting for you in resort.
The Return of the Freeride World Tour
Once again, next January 2024, Baqueira Beret will be a host of one of the few full stages of the prestigious Freeride World Tour. The planet’s best freeriders will be back resort performing the most jaw dropping feats as they descend some of Baqueira Beret‘s most challenging terrain.
Easy Booking
Reservation Baqueira Beret, is the ski resort’s official travel agency and a one stop ship for booking and advice to help you make the most of your stay. They can help you book everything in one place, for minimum hassle. That can be everything from ski school lessons to snowmobile excursions as well as your hotel or self-catering apartment? If you have kids in tow you can even book them in at the fabulous BaqueiraSNOWCAMP, a children’s playground with indoor activities such as crafts, movies and games
If you prefer to travel independently, you can buy a BaqueiraTICKET to access the ski lifts, which can be topped up online as you need, while regular visitors should invest in a BaqueiraPASS.
f you are looking for the perfect destination for your next trip, our Resort Guide has everything you need to know. You can check out our regular podcast here Apple | Spotify | Podcasts or search The White Out on your chosen podcast directory.
