- Sierra Nevada resort
- Baqueira-Beret resort
- Formigal resort
- La Molina resort
At the mention of this hospitable country in the Iberian Peninsula, bullfighting, flamenco and sangria are the first to come to mind. But it turns out that Spain is also a ski country that does not hesitate to compete in this type of tourism business with the most advanced European neighbors. Despite the seeming recklessness of the Spaniards, which is due to either a hot climate, or a long siesta, the slopes at the local ski resorts are fully consistent with all standards accepted in the civilized world, the service captivates with special care for guests, and the prices are surprising with democracy and the opportunity to receive pleasant bonuses. If we add here the relatively simple procedure for obtaining visas and the opportunity to pleasantly and useful wandering around the shops, we can authoritatively state that fans of winter outdoor activities should go to Spain.
Sierra Nevada resort
This ski area is considered the southernmost in Europe, and therefore the view of the Mediterranean Sea during downhill skiing gives a special charm to the local slopes. The easiest way to get here is from Malaga, the airport of which is a maximum of one and a half hours' drive. Skiing at the resort begins in the 20th of December and continues until mid-spring. The average temperature on the slopes at this time does not drop below zero, which makes the descent especially comfortable.
The highest point in the region is at 3300 meters, and the height difference reaches a kilometer or more. In total, more than 60 km of marked trails have been laid in the Sierra Nevada, of which only a third can be mastered by beginners. The rest of the slopes belong to the black and red categories. 19 lifts make it possible to deliver about 32 thousand people to the starting points every hour, and right on the mountain you can have a great lunch in six restaurants.
Boardmen prefer this particular Spanish resort for the opportunity to fly on the parallel slalom track, which is also suitable for freeriders. The snowpark in the Sierra Nevada has an excellent half-pipe, and you can ride at night on two slopes, the length of which is 1100 and 3000 meters.
It will be interesting for kids and beginners to work out with instructors at a ski school, and for their parents it will be interesting to ride a dog sled, fly into the sky on a hang glider or conquer white virgin lands on a snowmobile. An excursion to Malaga, Granada or the Mediterranean Sea will help you believe that your vacation is still in Spain.
Baqueira-Beret resort
It is located in the heart of the Aran Valley between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It is famous for the fact that it is here that members of the Spanish royal family prefer to ride, and for the highest prices. The best, according to gourmets, restaurant in Spain is also located here, although the taste and color, as they say …
The best resort in the Pyrenees, Baqueira Beret is made up of three ski regions that offer pistes of every difficulty. By the way, for those who are still a green penguin in snowboarding and are new to alpine skiing, the resort offers the services of two hundred instructors, some of whom are Russian-speaking. The season runs from December to spring, and 500 snow cannons keep the slopes tidy, even in particularly warm weather.
The highest point in the resort is at 2500 meters, and 77 excellent trails descend to a kilometer height. Boardmen will appreciate the modern snow park with interesting tramp and figure placement, and the half-pipe will certainly appeal to even the advanced. Plus, the pros won't miss the chance to excel on the popular off-piste descent of Escornakrabes.
Formigal resort
They say that the only drawback of this resort, located in the Tena Valley very close to the French borders, is the strong wind. Everything else here is beyond praise. It is not at all difficult to make sure of this, you just have to fly to Barcelona and then overcome 375 km along an excellent Spanish road.
The season is a little shorter here, and skiing becomes problematic already in March, but at the right time, snowboarding and alpine skiing fans feel like a fish in water here: high-speed technological lifts, a mogul track, modern snow cannons and two fan parks, which are made on decent European level. The difference in altitude on the Formigala tracks exceeds 700 meters, which allows you to diversify skiing and feel the spirit of downhill skiing.
There were no queues for 24 ski lifts of the resort, because their capacity exceeds 30 thousand people per hour. The trails illuminated in the evening make it possible to organize romantic skiing for newlyweds and lovers who prefer this resort to others. Perhaps because of the proximity of France?
La Molina resort
The oldest resort in the Basque country, La Molina received its first tourists in 1909. The current level of preparation of the local routes and infrastructure will give odds to the latest requirements of the standards. The slopes stretch for more than 40 km, 13 lifts are in operation, and the season continues confidently until the last days of March. Powerful cannons are used as a safety net for high-quality slopes.
Trails can be found very simple, and red, and even six black, so everyone will find something to their liking in La Molina. Fans of simply cheering for a friend who has gone up the hill will appreciate the local cuisine in numerous restaurants with very affordable prices.
Updated: 2020.03.
