An official Family Nature and Mountain area, the Vall de Boí is a paradise for hikers with trails suitable for all levels, from those with a low difficulty ideal for children to more demanding routes for experienced hikers. We choose to climb to Planell d’Aigüestortes from Boí in a 4×4 taxi, where we start a gentle excursion that will take us to Estany Llong. The path leading up to the Rus hill is the historic road used by the inhabitants of the Vall de Boí to visit Barcelona, before the motorways were built. The same path, although in the opposite direction and on the back of a donkey, was often travelled by the Catalan bourgeoisie on their way from the city to visit the hot springs of Caldes de Boí. After walking we’re getting hunger, luckily the Vall de Boí is an ideal place to try hearty Pyrenean cuisine: mushrooms, shepherd’s cheese and a meat cooked a la llosa are served in the local restaurants.
The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park has three entrances. One of them is at Boí and Espot, the villages which house the main centres, and where it is necessary to go in order to be able to see the best-known places, such as Aigüestortes and the Estany de Sant Maurici. A second entrance is via the villages of Sort and Llessui, where there is a park information centre. The third is that of Pont de Suert and Senet, where there is also a park information centre
