The Spanish Pyrenees span 491 km of the border with France—mountains, waterfalls, bears, eagles. 3 national parks. 3 NATIONAL PARKS ORDESA AND MONTE PERDIDO (Aragón, UNESCO) The Ordesa Canyon, deeper than the Grand Canyon—1000 m. Classic route: Pradera de Ordesa → Cola de Caballo waterfall (8 hours round trip, 800 m of elevation gain). Monte Perdido 3355 m—the third peak of the Pyrenees. AIGÜESTORTES AND ESTANY DE SANT MAURICI (Cataluña) 200 high-altitude lakes. Only 4x4 foot taxis from Espot. Routes 2-8 hours. PICOS DE EUROPA (Asturias/Cantabria/León — NOT in the Pyrenees, but a must-see) Spain's oldest park (1918). Naranjo de Bulnes — a 2,519-meter-high iconic rock. Lagos de Covadonga (Lake Enol). Ruta del Cares — 12 km through a 1,500-meter-deep canyon. GR-11 (LA SENDA PIRENAICA) 840 km Trans-Pyrenees — from Cabo de Higuer (Atlantic) to Cap de Creus (Mediterranean). 45 days classic. Stages: Roncesvalles, Ordesa, Benasque, Andorra, Cadaqués. SKIING • Baqueira-Beret (Aragón) — the most exclusive resort • Formigal-Panticosa • La Molina (Cataluña, oldest, from 1909) • Boí Taüll — the highest VILLAGES • Aínsa (Sobrarbe) — the medieval capital • Albarracín (Teruel) — UNESCO contender • Vall de Boí — 9 UNESCO Romanesque churches (12th century) • Torla — gateway to Ordesa PRACTICAL Best time: June-September. July-August is the safest (little snow). Backpack: helmets, waterproofs, and weather protection (changeable weather).