Hiking in Colomèrs

In his Journey to the Pyrenees of Lleida, Camilo José Cela wrote that the legs are the wings of the heart. Walking the trails is one of the best ways to explore the territory, which is why in the afternoon, starting in Salardú, we take a hike to explore a wonder of nature: the largest lake area in the Pyrenees, the Colomèrs cirque, located within the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. The entire route spans seven glacial lakes, but we’re not that ambitious; instead we just climb as far as the shelter. Along the way we pass two lakes, several creeks, bridges and all kinds of rock formations. Once in the shelter, we sit with a coffee in hand to enjoy the views of the Estany de Colomèrs and the surrounding peaks of the mountains it reflects. This is what peace feels like. A couple of short and long circular routes start from the shelter and link the different lakes. We end the day with an aranese olha, a hearty and delicious soup typical of the valley’s cuisine that helps us recharge our batteries.