Pal Arinsal Ski Resort Andorra
The Vallnord ski resorts of Pal & Arinsal are the closest to the capital of Andorra la Vella. Arinsal sits below the highest peak in Andorra, Pic de Coma Pedrosa (2943m) and is connected to Pal by a cable car. For absolute convenience, a gondola runs up to the Pal sector of the resort direct from the centre of Andorra's second largest city, La Massana.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Vallnord Pal Arinsal ski resort is split into two sectors, funnily enough called Pal & Arinsal. A mid-sized ski resort with a total of 60km+ of ski trails, they are rated at around 50% beginner, which is typical of Andorran ski areas. Both sectors are connected by a cable car, but not by ski trail. The Pal sector has some fun, alpine tree skiing on a restively short skiable vertical of less than 400m (ish) on any one slope. The lift system is aging but efficient. The Arinsal sector has an excellent 1010m of skiable vertical, but only the top 350m has a pitch worth riding by anyone above beginner. It is possible to ski the entire vertical at Arinsal, a thigh testing 7km in length. Access to some quality backcountry descents is possible from Arinsal’s Pic Negre.
Check out the ski trail map for Pal Arinsal below.
Lift Passes
Lift passes that are valid in all Andorran ski resorts can be purchased at Pal-Arinsal. The local lift pass is still very good value, just like most things in Andorra. Passes are up to 15% cheaper when pre-purchased online.
Where is Pal-Arinsal Andorra?
The Pal Arinsal ski resort is in the duty-free fantasyland of Andorra. Andorra is deep in the Pyrenees with France to the north & Spain to the south. The base gondola lift at La Massana, Andorra’s second largest city, is only 5km by road from the capital, Andorra la Vella. The village of Arinsal is a further 4.5km up the valley from La Massana.
The best gateway airports for Andorra are Barcelona (BCN) in Spain (230km & over 3hr drive to the south) or Toulouse (TLS) in France (212km & over 3hr drive to the north). Note that we found driving to Andorra from France in winter to be an absolute nightmare, go via Spain instead. Public transport to the small nation is not great, so rental car or private transfers are generally the way to go.
See the Andorra overview page for the best ways to get there.
Pal Arinsal Accommodation
The nearest major town to the ski resort is the city (really a large town) of La Massana. In the centre of town, right at the turnoff up to Ordino Arcalis, the gondola station to the Pal sector of the resort is surrounded by several fabulous hotels. Within a few steps of the gondola are the Magic Ski Hotel & Del Pui Hotel. A short stroll away are the Magic La Massana Hotel & Ruttlan & Spa Hotel. Further away but still within easy walking distance is the affordable, but still excellent, Secret Spot Hostel. La Massana has numerous shops, bars & restaurants that ably complement the individual hotel facilities. Despite what some La Massana accommodation providers state, one cannot ski on a piste trail down to the town from Pal, a download on the gondola is required.
Further up the valley from La Massana, the road splits to go to Pal in one direction, and Arinsal in the other. Arinsal has the better lodging options centred on a real town & with decent lift access. The ski-in ski-out Ushuaia Mountain Hotel & Patagonia Atiram Hotel are the pick if you can get in. In the village proper, with access to the slopes via gondola, the Aparthotel Sant Andreu, Hotel Montané plus the more distant Hotel Palomé are the best of the bunch. The village of Pal is a few kilometres down the mountain from the resort & is not connected to the slopes by either ski lift or piste trail.
Search & book all Pal Arinsal & La Massana ski accommodation.
Given the small proportions of Andorra, it lends itself to a single base ski safari. If not staying in La Massana, finding accommodation in the capital of Andorra La Vella and driving to a new ski resort every day makes a lot of sense if keen to explore all three resorts. Of the other ski areas in Andorra, the huge (but disappointingly mellow) Grandvalira has convenient valley gondola lift access, at Encamp, close to the capital. The small, fun & freeride friendly Ordino Arcalis is only 22km away by car, but way closer to La Massana .
Search & book all Andorra La Vella accommodation.
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Andorra" subcategory="Andorra Packages"]
Ski Rentals. Lessons & Guiding
Our local partners have a variety of ski & snowboard rental outlets in Pal, Arinsal & La Massana. Receive a discount when you book via our Pal-Arinsal Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
If needing ski or snowboard lessons, or just want to be guided around the mountain, check out options with our local partners on the listings below.
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Andorra" subcategory="Pal Arinsal Guiding"]
Review
The Powderhounds were going to review Pal Arinsal in 2019 but a topsy-turvy season in the Pyrenees, plus some deep powder in the Alps meant we didn't make it. We were then definitely going to visit in season 2019/20 but another inconsistent season in the Pyrenees left us with little time to visit. We skied Ordino Arcalis & Grandvalira but just ran out of decent snow before flying off to Iceland and getting hit with the covid wave..... We will review this resort one day in the future, just don't know when!
See how the ski areas of Andorra compare to the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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