Baqueira Beret Ski Resort Spain
In the heart of the Pyrenees mountains in Catalonia, Baqueira Beret is Spain's largest & some would say, best ski resort. Whilst the resort has the country's most expensive lift pass price, relative to the rest of Europe (except maybe some Italian & French Haute Maurienne ski resorts!), it is still sensational value. Powderhounds is constantly told that the off- piste freeride & backcountry snow & terrain at the resort, and more generally in the Val d'Aran, is world-class on its day. We do hope to sample it one day for ourselves.
Pros & Cons for Baqueira Beret Ski Resort
Pros
- Majority of terrain above 2,000m elevation.
- Skiable vertical of over 1,100m.
- Efficient lift system throughout the resort.
- Incredible amount of high-quality off-piste, backcountry & ski-touring terrain available.
- Expansive on-piste trail network for all abilities.
- Very quiet during the week.
Cons
- Expensive lift pass comparative the rest of the country (but on a par with major Alps resorts).
- Snow quality is becoming increasingly variable due the warming climate.
- Public transport access by train & bus is poor.
- Can be incredibly busy during weekends and holiday periods.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Over 40 ski schools to choose from!
- Accommodation in the resort villages is mostly apartments & chalets with limited hotels, and those tend to be high-end.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Baqueira Beret has expansive skiing & snowboarding terrain served by an efficient lift system including a gondola & 19 chairlifts. Terrain is generally high alpine, the majority of which is over 2,000m altitude, assuring the best possible snow conditions in what can be a challenging region in a world of rising temperatures! The resort's 167km of marked trails is exceptionally diverse and includes expert (double black diamond) trails & freeride routes on 1,110m of skiable vertical, spread across a sprawling 11km of mountain peaks. The highest lifted elevation is over 2,610m.
Before we get there to sample it for ourselves, check out the ski trail map.
Those with a good sense of topography will scope out excellent freeride lines within a short walk from the top of the lifts. With no uphill skinning involved, 900m vertical descents to the small village of Bagergue, or on north-aspect slopes to the hamlet of Montgarri are great fun. A local mountain guide can be handy to show the expansive backcountry beyond the more obvious lines. Also, some of the region's best & longest off-piste descents require some form of motorised transport (taxi or snowmobile) to get back into the resort, so a local guide can be doubly handy to help arrange such things!
Pyrenees Heliskiing operates from the major town of Vielha, a short drive west of Baqueira Beret.
Snow & Weather
The Pyrenees can be a feast & famine ski region. The feasts come often, with cold dry champagne powder the likes of which would be normally seen in Utah, Japan, or the high Alps. But after the feast, long periods of above freezing temperatures & warm cloudless days can (& do more regularly) occur, impacting snow quality. Snow making technology has offset most of the issues on-piste, but if looking to ski or board the region's amazing off-piste terrain in powder, it is best to leave your travel options to the Pyrenees flexible & go when the combination of snow base & forecast align. Or just do as most ordinary folk do, travel there when you can, make the most of what you have & enjoy sliding on whatever type of snow is available. The good news is that at Baqueira, that probably means all of the piste trails will be open, but it just might not be dry, cold & squeaky snow you were hoping for. And remember this when sliding down some sun-softened slush in the Pyrenees, it could be raining like it did in Japan most of January 2020! Even the snowiest places have warming temperatures these days!
Where is Baqueira Beret Spain?
Baqueira Beret ski resort is set on the pass between the Val d’Aran & Vall d'Àneu of the Catalonian Pyrenees mountains. The main village of Baqueira is around 275km (3½ to 4hr) by road northwest of the international airport at Barcelona (BCN). The major town of Vielha is 14km west of Baqueira and is linked to the resort via local bus.
The capital of Andorra, Andorra la Vella, is only 50km east of Baqueira Beret, but a 2½hr (130km) journey by road. From France, the airport at Toulouse (TLS) is also a 2½hr (180km) drive away, providing an alternative international gateway to the resort, particularly for European & UK skiers. Note though that the road travel times can vary greatly in winter conditions
Getting to the ski resort from any of the airports by anything other than car is convoluted, or restrictive at best. One public bus a day makes the direct run from Barcelona airport as far as Vielha. It leaves mid-afternoon & does not arrive until 2045hr. The return airport bus leaves Vielha at the excruciating time of 0500hr. Check out the ALSA bus website for tickets. The ‘least worst’ options are renting a car or taking a private transfer. Note that rental cars in the region are generally not winterised other than coming with snow chains. A private transfer can be pricey but convenient & not so hard on the wallet if in a group of 3 or more.
Search & book private transfers to Baqueira Beret.
Baqueira Beret Ski Accommodation
The ski resort has three main village areas, the largest of which is Baqueira at 1,500m elevation. The smaller village of Bonaigua is higher in the resort, but both tend to share a common architectural theme best left to the 1970s! Many of the lodging options are either self-contained apartments or chalets, but there are several highly rated hotels in Baqueira including several 5-stars like the Hotel Val de Neu & Meliá Royal Tanau, plus some better value 4-stars like the Hotel Montarto & the 3-star Hotel Tuc Blanc (situated right near the slopes at the gondola station.
Search & book Baqueira Beret ski accommodation.
Down the valley, west of the resort in the Val d'Aran toward the large vibrant town of Vielha are numerous traditional cobble stoned, hillside villages. The likes of Arties & Garós provide a true Spanish lodging & cuisine experience. Several excellent hotels & guesthouses are clustered in each village. A local bus links them to the ski resort. Vielha is worthy of a night out to sample the many rowdy tapas bars, particularly if you have never experienced them anywhere else in Spain.
[AdListings Filter="Baqueira Beret Packages"]
Ski Rentals
Ski rentals from our partner organisations are available in the main resort village of Baqueira, adjacent to the ski lifts plus in the valley approaches at the towns of Vielha to the west & Esterri d'Aneu to the east. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Baqueira Beret Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
Ski Lessons & Mountain Guiding Services are available in the ski resort. For options, see our Baqueira Beret Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Review
The Powderhounds were hoping to review the Spanish Pyrenees & Baqueira Beret in season 2019/20. We visited Andorra & La Molina-Masella, but after a stellar start to the season, snow conditions in the Pyrenees had become impacted by a prolonged warm, dry spell. Skiing in the sun is nice....... but only to a point! We journeyed north to ‘whiter pastures’ in the Alps instead. We will try again next season as Baqueira Beret has awesome terrain and should be a great ski experience. More information will come after we visit.
See how the rest of the European ski resorts compare on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.