Exploring the eastern Pyrenees

March 26, 2023

When my friend got a few days off work, we thought it was the perfect chance for a little getaway. We wanted to hike, chill, and just be in nature, so we jumped in the truck and headed to the Pyrenees.

Our first stop was at a mountain north of Berga, where we spent a quiet night surrounded by nature.

First stop near Berga

The next day, we drove a bit further north to Bagà and went for a lovely forest hike.

Hike through the forest near Bagà

Along the trail, we spotted the first spring flowers of the year.

Flowers next to the hiking trail

Step by step, we kept heading north, deeper into the Pyrenees. The N-260 took us through Martinet, where we made another stop.

River going through Martinet

During our evening walk, a cat joined us for several kilometers, it seemed to enjoy our company.

Cat accompanying our hike

We spent a peaceful night on a hillside above the village and woke up to a beautiful sunrise lighting up the mountains.

Waking up in the cold morning with a nice view on Martinet

The following day, we went on more hikes to explore the area and passed through the small village of Montellà. In the distance, we could already see higher peaks covered in snow.

Church of Montellà in the sun

We kept following the N-260 west and found a quiet, beautiful spot to stay near Guils del Cantó.

Remote spot near Guils del Cantó

High up in the mountains, with almost no light pollution, we watched a sky full of stars after sunset, it was magical.

Truck at night under the stars

Our trip led us deeper into the mountains. In Espot, we stayed for a few days and went on several day hikes. When we reached Estany de Sant Maurici, it was so cold that the lake was completely frozen and covered in snow.

Frozen Estany de Sant Maurici

A bit lower down, the air was warmer, and we saw small creatures like a ladybug crawling through the undergrowth.

Ladybug crawling through the grass

Another hike took us to snow-covered peaks and the dried-up Estanys de Trescuro.

Dried-up Estanys de Trescuro

Luckily, a mountain stream next to our spot was full of clear water, so with the help of an electric pump we had all the fresh water we needed.

Filling up the water tank with fresh water from the mountain river

After a wonderful week of hiking and exploring, we drove back to the Costa Brava.

Driving back to the sea

It felt unreal, after walking through snowy mountain landscapes, just a few hours later we were lying in the warm sun by the Mediterranean Sea.

Sun bathing at the beach of Calella de Palafrugell

Catalonia’s variety never stops amazing me!