Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is one of the most pristine mountain parks in Catalonia and is part of the Pyrenees mountain range. Traveling to the park during the shoulder season can be a bit challenging, but that’s exactly what I always do,  so I can fully enjoy the beauty of nature without the crowds. Here, we stayed in the village of Espot, near the eastern entrance, which provides easy access to Lake Sant Maurici. Espot is a small mountain village with many stone houses, separated by a small river, and surrounded by campsites along its banks.

The next day, we spent the whole day in the park. First, we took a taxi to Prat de Pierró, then began our hike to Lake Sant Maurici (1h 15min). From the lake, we continued hiking past Ratera Waterfall (30 min), and finally reached Lake Ratera (1h). The full round-trip hike takes 5-6 hours to complete. The trail from Prat de Pierró to Lake Sant Maurici includes a wooden bridge nestled in the middle of a pine forest. The lake itself is beautiful and calm, with a mirror-like reflection of the surrounding snow-capped mountains in the background. I love dipping my feet into the icy water, it’s super refreshing!

After a light snack, we continued our hike, passing Ratera Waterfall and arriving at Lake Ratera. Some parts of the path were still covered with snow, as was the river. Maybe this is why I love hiking in the shoulder season, it feels like playing hide-and-seek, uncovering the park’s hidden gems. The best part of hiking in the national park is the feeling of being embraced by snow-covered mountains. Whichever direction I turn, I see mountains surrounding me.

I truly hope you get to visit this park one day. Here’s how to get there:

• Take two trains: from Barcelona to Lleida, then Lleida to La Pobla de Segur.
• At La Pobla de Segur train station, you’ll find a bus outside heading to either Sort or La Guingueta.
• From there, call a taxi to Espot. You can ask the bus driver or locals for help with a taxi contact or directions to Espot.

During peak season (June to September), park buses operate around the park for easier access to its four entrances. Another popular entrance is through Vall de Boí, where you can also explore the Romanesque Catalan churches with their iconic tall bell towers. Sant Climent and Santa Maria in Taüll are especially famous for their stunning frescoes.