7-Day Carros de Foc Trek From Hut to Hut

Route

What's the plan?

Stage 1: Espot - Refugi Josep Maria Blanc - Refugi Ernest Mallafré

It is a gentle but constant hike up to our Refugi Josep Maria Blanc. Here you can get your stamp card and a detailed Carros de Foc hiking map. Also, if you need an extra t-shirt, you will be sure to find a Carros de Foc t-shirt here as well. Enjoy a quick coffee or lunch and keep hiking uphill until you've reached about 2,700 meters. From here it will be a gentle downhill hike to Refugi Ernest Mallafré. You will see that Mallafré is a basic refugi with not too many amenities; it's an absolute classic.

Distance: 15,7 kilometers
Time: 6 hours
Vertical gain: 1,370 meters
Vertical loss: 750 meters

Accommodation: Refugi

Stage 2: Refugi Ernest Mallafré - Refugi d'Amitges

Today is a long and beautiful hike toward Refugi d'Amitges. You hike up a path through the woods, after about 7 kilometers you can enjoy a beautiful view from the Mirador del Collado de Fogueruix. Shortly after, you'll pass Refugi Pla de La Font, enjoy a quick break here to get ready for the rest of the stage. Going onwards, you'll come across several beautiful glacial lakes, a sight to behold. After going downhill for a while, you will reach Refugi d'Amitges, one of the prettiest refuges on the Carros de Foc.

Distance: 18,2 kilometers
Time: 6 hours
Vertical gain: 1,470 meters
Vertical loss: 1,050 meters

Accommodation: Refugi

Stage 3: Refugi d'Amitges - Refugi Colomèrs

The day starts by walking past Lake dels Barbs, going uphill towards beautiful Port de Ratera. Here you can enjoy stunning views over the mountains. You'll go slightly downhill next, passing refugi Saboredo on the way. Enjoy a drink or lunch here and continue uphill again towards Coll de Sendrosa, where other stunning views await you. From here it's downhill toward Refugi Colomers, situated next to Lake Colomers.

Distance: 10,6 kilometers
Time: 4 hours
Vertical gain: 540 meters
Vertical loss: 800 meters

Accommodation: Refugi

Stage 4: Refugi Colomers - Refugi Ventosa I Cavell

Today is a shorter hike, but it will still take you a few hours to cover the distance. Don't forget to enjoy the views today. The walk starts by climbing towards the highest point of the day near Port de Riberata, where you can enjoy panoramic views over mountain peaks, lakes and rocky terrains. Walking on, you'll pass multiple lakes, good spots to take a small break. Next, Refugi Ventosa I Cavell will come into view. A beautiful place to spend the night.

Distance: 8 kilometers
Time: 3 hours
Vertical gain: 540 meters
Vertical loss: 390 meters

Accommodation: Refugi

Stage 5: Refugi Ventosa I Cavell - Refugi del Estany Llong

Another beautiful day awaits, shortly after starting the hike you come along a small valley with a few lakes, surrounded by rocky mountains. Maybe you'll even encounter a few cows or sheep here. Continuing uphill, you will reach the highest point of the Carros de Foc route at 2,748 meters, Coll de Contraix. A beautiful spot for a quick break, to enjoy the views surrounding you. After conquering Coll de Contraix, you'll go downhill towards Refugi del Estany Llong. This refugi has a relaxed vibe and is a good place to unwind after your walk.

Distance: 8,7 kilometers
Time: 4 hours
Vertical gain: 650 meters
Vertical loss: 910 meters

Accommodation: Refugi

Stage 6: Refugi del Estany Llong - Refugi Colomina

After a few intensive days, you have deserved an easier one. After breakfast, you can take the entire day to cover the 4 hours of hiking that is planned for today. Still, you are climbing almost 800 meters today. That is the only way to reach Refugi Colomina, the highest of all Carros de Foc refugis. This refugi has been revamped not so long ago. It offers splendid views over the Southern section of Aigüestortes. An excellent place to spend your last night on the Carros de Foc.

Distance: 11,5 kilometers
Time: 4 hours
Vertical gain: 750 meters
Vertical loss: 350 meters

Accommodation: Refugi

Stage 7: Refugi Colomina - Refugi Josep Maria Blanc - Espot

The Carros de Foc is not done yet. You will have completed the full circuit once you check into Josep Maria Blanc for the second time. This hike will take you about two hours. On the way there, you will come across a few lakes like Estany de Mar and Estany de Saburo. Once you see Estany Negre de Peguera, you may recognize the same trail from a few days ago. Now you are well on your way to Josep Maria Blanc and, finally, Espot. Well done, you've conquered the Carros de Foc!

Distance: 13,6 kilometers
Time: 4.5 hours
Vertical gain: 250 meters
Vertical loss: 1,340 meters

What's included

Included:

√ Booking the huts
We will take care of arranging accommodation for you. We will also provide you with a detailed itinerary for every stage and instructions on how to get to the trailhead. 

√ Accommodation
We will arrange your accommodation on the Carros de Foc in mountain huts (refuges). There are several options to choose from along the trail. We have selected the refuges on our trek based on the length of each stage and recommendations from trekkers who have done the Carros de Foc before us.

√ 6 nights in refuges including full-board
Accommodation at the refuges includes dinner, breakfast, and a picnic lunch. We will arrange this for you as well. This allows you to travel lighter and have one less thing to worry about. 

Excluded:

× Transport to Spain
You have to find your own way to Espot. The price does not include transport to and from Spain. Bus tickets and other transport costs are not included. 

× Transfers
Once in Spain, you will have to make your way to the starting place in Espot. We will provide the instructions and assist you with how to get there. Transport to Espot is not included.

× Accommodation before and after the trek
Accommodation before and after the trek is not included.

× Travel Insurance
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.

× Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.

Accommodation

Accommodation

During your Carros de Foc trek, you will mostly spend your nights in mountain huts. In the mountain huts we normally only book dormitories, but we can look into private rooms on request. If the private rooms are fully booked or not available in the hut, we book automatically a bed in the dormitories for you. Please note that private rooms are more expensive and there will be an additional charge for this. The booked accommodations may differ from the below program here and there. A beautiful location and great food are at all times guaranteed.

Refugi Ernest Mallafré
This refuge is located at 1,950 metres high and is a good place to finish after the first day of hiking. Enjoy a meal and a drink and get ready for the next day.


Refugi d'Amitges
This beautiful refuge with stunning views, is a comfortable place to relax after a long day of hiking. Enjoy a (hot) shower and a good meal. End the day with a drink and get to know your fellow travelers.


Refugi de Colomèrs
This refuge is located next to one of the biggest lakes in the area, make sure to enjoy the views. Refugi de Colomers offers you a good meal and a place to sleep, to get ready for the days ahead!


Refugi Ventosa I Cavell
You will see it's quite a busy hut. This is due to the fact that Ventosa can easily be reached from Vall de Boi, one of the main entrances to Aigüestortes. Here you will be sure to find good pizza and pasta sourced from local organic produce. A good place to spend the night.



Refugi del Estany Llong
This refuge is located at 1,985 metres high and offers everything you need after a day of hiking. A shower, a meal and a place to sleep. The next morning, you are ready to go again.


Refugi Colomina
Located at 2,425 metres, this is the highest place you will sleep during this trip, a special experience. Enjoy the views surrounding the refuge and have a drink after another beautiful day on the trails.

Packing List

Packing list

It doesn't matter where you are going trekking or for how long: Carrying the right equipment with you is paramount. For a hiking trip in Carros de Foc, you will need, first and foremost, a good backpack. The size of your backpack will depend on how many days you will be spending in the mountains, the season, and the clothes you will be taking with you. We have prepared a packing list with some essential clothing that you should include and some extras that you may find useful:

Essentials
- Walking boots (worn in)
- Walking socks
- Base layer tops – ideally thermal
- Mid-layer tops (eg. fleece)
- Trekking Trousers
- Hat for warmth or shade
- Gloves
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Warm layer
- Casual clothes & footwear for evenings
- Nightwear and underwear
- Water bottle
- Sunglasses & sun cream
- Toiletries
- Cash for in the huts
- Sleeping bag liner

Extras
- Small first aid kit
- Blister Plasters
- Insect repellent
- Electrical socket adapter
- Camera and charger
- Map and compass
- Whistle
- Reading book(s)
- Energy snacks
- Walking poles
- Buff

FAQ

FAQ

Where is the Carros de Foc?
You can find Carros de Foc in the Pyrenees, about 4 hours northwest of Barcelona, and because they are the Pyrenees after all, basically on the border with France. Carros the Foc is located in Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park.

You can get to Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park in different ways. Also, you can start the Carros de Foc at every connected refugi. Not every refugi is easy to reach though. Also, Aigüestortes can not be accessed from every side. It is the easiest to enter Aigüestortes from the Espot side. This will bring you to Josep Maria Blanc and onto the Carros de Foc route. This is why we have chosen Espot as the starting point for the trip.

How do I get to Aigüestortes?

By plane
Espot is about 4 hours from Barcelona and 3.5 hours from French Toulouse. Both these towns have an international airport and are well connected with other key cities in Europe. Here you can either rent a car and drive to Espot, or use public transport.

By bus
From Barcelona, you can first take a bus to La Pobla de Segur. From here you can take another bus to Espot. It's not easy, but if you plan at least half a day for traveling and want to travel on a shoestring, it is worth it.

By car
The easiest way to get to Aigüestortes and Espot is to go by car. From Barcelona, it's about 4 hours and 260 kilometers. From Toulouse, you can count 3.5 hours. In Espot you can find various options for long-term parking.

Safety

Safety

The Carros the Foc is a safe trek and the trail is quite well signposted along the way. Although the route is quite clear throughout the trek, it is important to carry competent navigation with a map and compass. Weather conditions can be unpredictable in the mountains and occasional snow, fog or storms can make navigation hard. A map and compass are a must when going on a self-guided trek. Also, make sure to always have enough water, snacks, and a good jacket.


The most important thing to do in an emergency is to stay calm and survey the situation. Do not panic or take useless risks if the people in trouble are difficult to reach. In an emergency, first and foremost, call for assistance. When calling for help, make sure to provide your location and the number of victims and type of injuries. Then, protect the victim from cold and other environmental threats and administer first aid, if you can.

Reception is not a given in Aigüestortes. About 70% of the Carros de Foc route doesn't have reception. However, the Emergency Number can be reached on most of the route. Always let your peers know what you are doing, which direction you are headed, or plainly, what your itinerary looks like.

Useful emergency phone numbers:

General Spanish Emergency Number: 112
Park authorities Aigüestortes: +34 973 69 61 89

COVID-19

COVID-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has had its grip on us, and accommodations around the world have had to take several preventive measures over the past two years. In the meantime, most of the measurements are not taken into consideration anymore, yet it is definitely still a factor to take into account. Some restrictions that are worth mentioning:

- Don't go on your hiking trip if you have symptoms.
- Not all the accommodations are allowed to operate at full capacity yet, so make sure you book your stay in advance.
- Keep your distance and hygiene.
- Use disinfectants and hand sanitizers.