The Coronallacs is a hiking trail in Andorra. The trail is a loop, starting and finishing in Escaldes-Engordany, and covering the world heritage site Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, and the highest mountain in Andorra, Coma Pedrosa (2944 m, 9657 ft).
It is a strenuous route, covering 91 km and 6134 m of elevation gain in 5 days.
The route largely overlaps with the GRP and GR7 ("grandes randonees") routes.
Route
[edit]
The trail (route map) takes 5 days, staying in 4 refuges. The route may be walked in either direction, but the standard route is anti-clockwise. The official route map gives highly conservative/pessimistic estimates of stage durations; most hikers will be faster.
The route is mostly marked with the yellow and red marks of the GRP (Gran Recorrido del País). Additionally, the black and light blue signs with the Coronallacs logo indicate which way to go. Nonetheless, a map is strongly recommended.
The season
[edit]The summer season runs from 3 June until the end of September. The refuges are closed in May and November; Refuge de Sorteny is also closed in October. The winter season is December to April, when there is thick snow.
In September you can expect occasional rain and for some paths to be running with water. Make sure your boots are well waterproofed!
Get in
[edit]Andorra has no railways or airports (except for helicopters). The drives from Toulouse, Perpignan, Barcelona, Reus and Girona airports are all similar distances, about 3 hours. Barcelona (BCN) airport tends to have the cheapest car rentals. If you tell your car rental company you are travelling to Andorra, they may add an extra fee.
Hikers can park their car in Escaldes for 5 days for €30. Alternatively, there are free car parks elsewhere along the route, such as at Grau Roig. There are car parks near Cabana Sorda and Cabana Coms de Jan. By joining a stage half-way and staying an extra night, you can reduce the average distance covered per day.
See Andorra and Andorra la Vella for bus information.
Stages and refuges
[edit]Breakfast is served from 7am. Aim to be on the move by 8am. Dinner is served at 19:30.
Escaldes to Refuge l'Illa
[edit]- Distance
- 12.6 km (7.7 miles)
- Duration
- 4-7 h
- Ascent
- 1,473 m (4630 feet)
- Descent
- m
Includes part of the GR7 route. This is the most beautiful stage. It is also the shortest stage, so you have plenty of time to enjoy it.
Start your trip at the tourist office in Escaldes-Engordany, where you can collect a booklet to be stamped at each refuge, if you care about that sort of thing. They can also rent you a solar charger for your phone. Address: Tourist Information Centre, Plaça Santa Anna, Avinguda Carlemany, AD700 Escaldes-Engordany. Phone: +376 890 881. Hours: 09:00–13:00 and 15:00–19:00. Confirm opening times here[dead link].
Other refuges on this stage include Refuge Fontverd[dead link] (14 beds) and Refuge Riu dels Orris[dead link] (6 beds), both unguarded. It's about 2 hours to Refuge Fontverd, another hour to Refuge Orris, then another hour to Refuge Illa.
- 1 Refuge l'Illa. A bright, modern government refuge, Illa is open from 3 June-31 October and from 1 December-30 April (it is closed in November and May). Half board is €62 for adults including €1 tourist tax. A packed lunch ("picnic") is €15. You must pay a deposit in advance. No phone signal or customer WiFi. Beer €4. Well insulated. Also some free "unmanned refuge"-style beds available.
Refuge l'Illa to Refuge de Juclà
[edit]- Distance
- 19.4 km (12 miles)
- Duration
- 8 h
- Ascent
- 1173 m (3750 feet)
- Descent
- m
This stage passes through the town of Envalira, with nearby refuge Pla de les Pedres (6 beds, unmanned) if you want to split the stage. You can also split this stage by staying at the Grau Roig Hotel, about half-way along the stage.
- 2 Refuge de Juclà. Half board is €54 for adults as of 2025, including €1 tourist tax. A packed lunch is €15. Dinner is a plentiful meal of hearty soup, beef bourgignon, and a tinned peach half. €4 beer. Hot showers €3/4 minutes. Plug sockets available but electricity turned off at 10pm until 8am. No customer wifi. Credit cards accepted.
- 1 Grau Roig hotel. 5-star hotel with restaurants, small pool and small gym.
Refuge de Juclà to Refuge de Sorteny
[edit]- Distance
- 16.9 km (10.5 miles)
- Duration
- 8 h
- Ascent
- 1180 m (3875 feet)
- Descent
- m
Refuges on the route include Coms de Jan[dead link] (10 beds) and Cabana Sorda[dead link] (20 beds), both unmanned.
2:15 from Jucla to Refugi de Cabana Sorda. There is a car park not too far from Cabana Sorda, making this a good place to begin or end your trip.
3:30 from Jucla to Cabana Coms de Jan, which is an unmanned refuge. There is a car park nearby, making this a good place to begin or end your trip.
From Collada dels Meners you can make a brief detour to climb Pic de la Serrera. There is an emergency shelter just east of Collada dels Meners, a stone building with no door.
- 3 Refuge de Sorteny. Sorteny is open June to 30 September, and weekends in May. Large, modern refuge with a bar and restaurant. Half board is €70 as of 2025. A packed lunch is €13.50. Self-cooking is not permitted. Superb cheesecake and a beer for €10. Free WiFi.
Refuge de Sorteny to Refuge Comapedrosa
[edit]- Distance
- Duration
- 9-11 h
- Ascent
- Descent
- m
Officially 11 hours, not including the diversion to the peak of Coma Pedrosa. In practice 9 hours. (Someone has been defaced the sign at Refuge Sorteny, writing 7 hours to Refugi de Comapedrosa. That would be very quick indeed.) 21.4 km (13.5 miles), 1700 m (5600 feet) elevation gain. This is the hardest stage.
2 hours from Sorteny to Llorts, where you can get a coffee. At least 3:30 from Sorteny to Refuge l'Angonella. This is an unmanned refuge. 5 hours from Angonella to Refuge Comapedrosa.
Shortcut available on this stage from Bordes del Plat Nous to Borda de la Coruvilla. There is a potential shortcut from Clot de Cavall to Refuge les Fonts.
Alternative refuges on the route include )Refuge Angonella[dead link] (6 beds), Refuge Les Fonts[dead link] (6 beds), and Refuge Pla de L'Estani[dead link] (6 beds), all unguarded. Towns on the route include El Serrat, Les Salines, and Llorts. Llorts and Refuge Angonella are about half-way along the stage. To reach Mount Comapedrosa from Refuge Comapedrosa takes an additional 3-3.5 hours (1.5 hours each way), so most people will do this the following day.
- 4 Refuge Comapedrosa. Refuge Comapedrosa is open 3 June to 11 October. It is not open in the winter. There is a 10% discount for those doing the Coronallacs. There are only 25 beds. Spacious but basic refuge. Good food. €54 half board including wine + €1 tourist tax. €15 picnic. €4 beer. Cold showers. No customer wifi.
Refuge Comapedrosa to Escaldes
[edit]- Distance
- 21.4 km (13.2 miles)
- Duration
- 6 h
- Ascent
- 490 m (1600 feet)
- Descent
- m
Mostly downhill to Escaldes.
It makes sense to climb Mount Comapedrosa on this stage (an extra 3 hours, totalling a 9 hour day) because the previous stage is so long, but staying an extra night at Refuge Comapedrosa would be overkill. There are two routes to Mount Comapedrosa, one going past Upper Lake Negre, so you can take one route up and a slightly different route down.
The town of Sispony is about an hour before Escaldes, so you could stay at Sispony if you need to shorten this stage. However there are more hotel and dining options in Escaldes; Escaldes is the more interesting town. Another option is to stay an extra day in Escaldes for a rest and some tourism.
The official Coronallacs route goes via Sispony, however you could instead stick the GRP route which goes straight to Escaldes.
- 5 Hotel Comtes d'Urgell. Relatively cheap for Escaldes, and very good value.
Maps
[edit]- Andorra. Editorial Alpina. Scale 1:40000. English edition: ISBN 9788470111235. Spanish edition: ISBN 9788480908429.
Booking
[edit]Manned refuges must be booked in advance. Refuge reservations can be made here. Alternatively the refuges can be booked direct at their websites:
It is possible to hire a guide.
Water
[edit]You should carry at least 1.5 L of water, and drink a litre of water before you leave each refuge.
Gear
[edit]Take as little as possible, pack light! Keep the weight of your rucksack below 15 kg (ideally below 10 kg), including 1.5 L of water.
Required
[edit]- Map and map case.
- Rucksack with waterproof cover. 40-50 L is about right.
- Water bottles. 1.5 L total
- Boots or trail shoes
- High-visibility quick-dry clothing. Approximately 4-5 sets so you can wash and dry some sets while using the others.
- Sun protection cream (high factor).
- Ultra-lightweight wind & waterproof.
- Fleece top. It can get cold!
- Quick dry towel
- Sleeping bag
- Toothbrush, wash-kit, etc.
- First aid kit, including plasters to cover/prevent blisters
- Toilet paper
- Cash
Recommended
[edit]- A smartphone with an app like Google Maps and the Andorra maps downloaded will provide your GPS location. Alternatively, more advanced users can download hiking apps with the exact route.
- Head torch
- Energy bars
- Protein bars
- Mobile phone for safety; the emergency number is 112. Andorra is not a member of the EU and mobile phone roaming is not usually included in call plans.
- Phone charger, European plug adapter, external battery back. Camera.
- Survival bag
- Insurance
Optional
[edit]- Brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt and trousers, sunglasses.
- Walking poles.
- Detergent for clothes (or just a bar of soap)
- Moisturiser, shampoo, body wash
- Compass
Cope
[edit]- Bring cash along (Euros). Some refuges are cash only. You can pay for dinner and breakfast in advance but for a packed lunch you must bring cash.