The proposed route is one of the most spectacular that can be done within the Aigüestortes National Park. The Josep Blanc refuge.

It is a linear route that can be accessed from different places, starting from the town of Espot. In this case, we will take the route that starts from the Prat Pierró car park.

It is a route of low technical difficulty but considerable distance with a significant elevation gain. We are talking about a distance of about 15 km, round trip, with an elevation gain of about 700 metres, so a minimum level of fitness is required.

The route is very well signposted and when you reach the refuge, the beauty of the surroundings is breathtaking. The refuge is literally in the middle of Estany Tort de Peguera.

Route:

We set off by car towards Espot, drive through the village and head towards the Aigüestortes National Park, until we reach the Prat de Pierró car park. Here we will park and start walking towards the Josep Blanc Refuge.

We take a forest track on the left, just after walking the first 150 metres from where we parked the car. It is a wide track, where only authorised vehicles are allowed to drive, including taxis that leave from Espot and take people to do the route that we will be doing on foot.

The first 4 kilometres are quite monotonous, as there is nothing special about them, despite passing through a tunnel. However, once we reach the Estanys de Lladres, things change.

The landscape opens up before us and we can already see the mountains where we will be heading for the next hour and a half, which is what remains of our journey.

Here, the track ends and a rocky path begins that climbs considerably for a couple of kilometres. However, as we gain height and reach some open bends, we look back and see the Estanys de Lladres at the bottom of the valley and the three highest peaks in Catalonia in the distance.

At this point, we have the final stretch ahead of us and from here, the track levels out until we reach Estany Tort de Peguera and, in between, the Josep Blanc Refuge.

A marvel worth noting.

We head to the refuge, where there are wooden benches at the foot of the pond for breakfast, while we contemplate the immensity of the surroundings.

After breakfast, I recommend heading to Estany de Peguera, which is 5 minutes from the refuge, and continuing along the marked route for about 25 minutes until we reach the end of Estany Tort de Peguera. We will be about a hundred metres above the end of Estany Tort de Peguera. We will be standing a hundred metres above Estany, and the photographs that can be taken are spectacular.

Equally spectacular will be the photos we can take on our way there. Finally, we will retrace our steps to return to the car.

I have marked the other two alternative routes that can be taken to reach the refuge in green fluorescent paint, in case anyone is interested.

Bear in mind that if you take alternative route 1, the elevation gain is 1,000 metres, and if you decide to take route 2, head towards the Espot ski slopes and, at a sharp left-hand bend about 500 metres before you reach the slopes, there is a place to stop. Leave your car here and walk about 200 metres across country towards a tower/power station, where you will find the start of alternative route no. 2. For me, this is the best option.

Enjoy!