Coma Pedrosa

Overview

This mountain is the highest top of Andorra. Coma Pedrosa is a large mountain, that rises more than 1.500 meters above the village of Arinsal, situated at the bottom of a narrow valley. In winter and spring, snow and ice cover the summit and surroundings, and then it’s the best opportunity to use the skies, ice-axe and crampons or even the snowshoes.

Forests are frequent: pines, firs and birch are the main trees. Wonderful meadows and glacier lakes surround the mountain, but in the highest points some rocky ridges difficult the ascent. In summer, the snow disappears and a lot of mountaineers climb Coma Pedrosa because of its easy and not-technical climb by the normal route. Some of them are following the nearby GR-11 (the trail that joins Mediterranean and Cantabrian seas through the Spanish and Andorran Pyrenees) that crosses from the valley of Arinsal (in Andorra) to the close valley of Vall Ferrera (in Spain) through the port of Baiau (mountain pass).

However, tourism is the backbone of the economy of Principality of Andorra, and especially important is the ski (that is the national sport). It supposed a huge urbanistic development in a small country (468 kms2) with a population of about 76.875. There are 282 kms of slope suitable for skiing in three alpine ski resorts and one cross country ski resort, more than 30.000 hotel beds, 26 campings and about 250 restaurants... no comments. Sant Juliá de Loria, La Massana, Andorra la Vella and other villages are plenty of shopping centers, stores, restaurants, buildings and urbanizations that rise the steep slopes of nearby mountains. It’s better to run away to the virgin valleys and mountains, far from the ski resorts and their crowds, to find real peace and silence. One of these places is Coma Pedrosa.

The Andorran Government must to protect their last virgin valleys and mountains of destructive urbanistic projects and new ski resorts. A national parks network would be necessary to preserve the wonderful nature of this small country.

Some facts about the country

Note that Andorra is the only country where the official language is Catalan; however, the majority of people speak Spanish. French is less spoken.
The total area of the country is 468 km2 and has a population of 76.875. The lands of the Principality of Andorra are organized in seven administrative and territorial divisions known as "parroquias" (parishes): Canillo, Encamp, Andorra la Vella, Ordino, la Massana, Sant Julià de Lòria i Escaldes-Engordany. The parishes are managed by the “comunes”.

The Andorran Constitution (1993) establishes that the co-princes are jointly and indivisibly the heads of State and its highest representation. The co-princes are, personally and exclusively, the bishop of Urgell (Spain) and the president of the French Republic. So, there are two heads of State since 1589, where the count of Foix (Henry) became king of France (up till then, the co-princes were the bishop of Urgell and the counts of Foix.

To know more facts about Andorra, the Govern d'Andorra web site is very interesting (you can visit it in several languages; in English too).

Andorra's highest summits

-Pic de Coma Pedrosa or Pic Alt de Coma Pedrosa (2.946 m.)
-Pic Pla de l’Estany (2.931 m.)
-Puig de Roca Entrevessada (2.928 m.)
-Pic de la Serrera (2.914 m.)
-Pic de Medacorba (2.913 m.)
-Pic de l’Estanyó (2.912 m.)
-Agulla de Baiau (2.908 m.)
-Pic de Font Blanca (2.903 m.)
-Pic de l’Estany Esbalçat (2.899 m.)
-Tossa Plana de Lles (2.898 m.)
-Pic de Centfonts (2.888 m.)
-Pic de Tristaina (2.879 m.)
-Pic de Baiau (2.879 m.)
-Pic de Setut (2.877 m.)
-Tosseta de Vall Civera (2.874 m.)
-Pics de Racofred (2.875 m.)
-Pic de Pessons (2.865 m.)
-Pic Forcat (2.862 m.)
-Pic del Pla de l’Estany (2.859 m.)
-Pic de Llops (2.858 m.)
-Pic Alt del Griu (2.850 m.)
-Pic de l’Estany Mort (2.845 m.)
-Pic de la Cabaneta (2.841 m.)
-Pic de Ribus (2.840 m.)
-Tosseta de la Caülla (2.836 m.)
-Pic del Sirvent (2.835 m.)
-Pic del Mener Nou (2.828 m.)
-Pic d’Ensangents (2.824 m.)
-Pic del Mener Vell (2.820 m.)
-Pic del Roc Meler (2.813 m.)
-Pic de Cataperdís (2.812 m.)
-Pic Negre d’Envalira (2.812 m.)

Some interesting phones

Mountain rescue: 112
Police: 110
Medical Urgent Service (SUM): 116
Pharmacies: 116
Ambulances: 118

How to get

By car

Visit the web of Guiacampsa to design your itinerary (in Spanish). You have to refill the origin ("origen") and destiny ("destino") of your route and the country ("país") where are located in those places.

The following information is taken from the official web site Govern d'Andorra. It's important to visit this link to see updates.

By air

Spain:
• Barcelona airport
Departure from Barcelona airport between terminals A and B
Novatel:
SHUTTLE Direct, regular service Barcelona airport/Andorra. Booking compulsory
Tel : +(376) 803 789/ +(34) 93 436 6170. E-mail: novatel@andorrabybus.com

Barcelona – Andorra 10.30am - 1pm - 5pm - 7.45pm
Andorra – Barcelona 5am - 8am - 12.30pm -3.15pm

Eurolines :
Airport/Barcelona Sants Station/Andorra
Tel: +(376) 805 151/ +(34) 902.40.50.40. E-mail: info@autocars-nadal.ad

Barcelona - Andorra 10.45am – 00.45pm - 04.00pm – 05.45pm* - 07.45pm - 10.00pm
Andorra – Barcelona 06.15am – 08.15am – 11.15am – 01.15pm* - 03.15pm – 06.15pm - 08.15pm
* running on Friday and sundays


France:
• Toulouse airport
Novatel:
SHUTTLE Regular service Toulouse airport/Andorra
Tel : +(376) 803 789/ +(33) (0) 561 167 090 E-mail : novatel@andorrabybus.com

Toulouse airport - Andorra: 10am - 6.30pm
Andorra - Toulouse airport: 5.30am - 2pm
Departures from Toulouse Blagnac airport - Hall II - Exit level

By Coach

Spain:
• BARCELONA - daily service
Alsina Graells:
Tel: + (376) 827 379 / + (34) 93 265 68 66
Barcelona: coach station “Barcelona Nord”
Andorra - Barcelona: 6am - 7am - 10.30am (d) - 3pm (d) - 5pm - 7pm (d)
Barcelona - Andorra: 6.30am (d) - 7.30am - 10.30am (d) - 3pm (d) - 6pm
(d) direct service Barcelona-Andorra

Eurolines:
Tel: +(34) 902.40.50.40 / +(376) 805 151
Barcelona : Sants bus station
Andorra - Barcelona: 06:15am – 08.15am - 11:15am – 01:15pm(a) – 03:15pm – 06:15pm – 08:15pm
Barcelona - Andorra: 06:15am – 11:15am – 01:15pm – 04:30pm – 06:15pm(a) – 08:15pm - 10:30pm
(a) Friday and sundays

• LLEIDA - daily service
Alsina Graells:
Tel: +(376) 827 379/ +(34) 973 27 14 70
Andorra – Lleida: daily 4pm
Lleida – Andorra 7.30am (a) 9am (b)
(a) Weekends and bank holidays
(b) from Monday to Friday

Viatges Montmantell
Tel: +(376) 807 000/ Fax: +(376) 807 444 E.mail : montmantell@myp.ad

Andorra – Lleida: Daily 06:00 - 08:00 - 15.30
Lleida – Andorra: Daily 10:15 - 14:00 - 20:00

• TARRAGONA - daily service
Hispano Igualadina:
Tel: +(34) 977 77 06 98/ +(376) 803 789
Tarragona – Andorra 7 am
Andorra – Tarragona 5 pm

• VALENCIA - regular service
Starbus:
Tel: +(34) 96 349 67 67/ + (376) 820 907
Valencia – Andorra 11.30pm(a)
Andorra – Valencia 1pm(b)
(a)Fridays
(b)Sundays

• MADRID – ZARAGOZA – LLEIDA - ANDORRA - regular service
Samar:
Tel: +(34) 91 468 41 90 / + (376) 826 289
Madrid – Andorra 11.30am(a) - 10pm(b)
Andorra – Madrid 11.30am(c) - 10pm(d)
(a)Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
(b)Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
(c)Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
(d)Fridays and Sundays

Eurolines:
Tel: +(34) 915 063 360 / +(376) 805 151
Andorra – Madrid 02.30pm(a) - 10pm(b)
Madrid – Andorra 02.30pm(c) - 10pm(d)
(a) Tuesdays
(b) Fridays and Sundays
(c) Mondays
(d) Thursdays and Fridays

• VENDRELL - ANDORRA - weekend service
Mon Bus
+(34) 938 937 060/ +(376) 805 151

• ANDORRA – VALENCIA - ALMERIA - MALAGA
Eurolines:
Tel: +(376) 805 151/ +(34) 952 364 332
Andorra – Málaga 8.15am (a)
Málaga – Andorra 10.30pm (b)
(a)Thursdays and Sundays
(b)Tuesdays and Fridays

• ANDORRA – VALENCIA (DIRECT)
Eurolines:
Andorra – Valencia 01.00pm (a)
Valencia – Andorra 11.30pm (b)
(a) Sundays
(b) Fridays

France:
• TOULOUSE
Autocars Nadal / TRG Toulouse: "Gare Routière" (bus station)
Tel: +(376) 805 151 – Tel +(33) (0) 5 61 61 67 67
Toulouse - Andorra: 7.30am - 6.30pm
Andorra - Toulouse: 7am - 3.30pm
Frequency : Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

Samar - "Gare Routière" (bus station)
Tel: +(376) 826 289 Tel. +(33) (0) 561 581 453
Andorra / Toulouse: Saturday 8am
Toulouse / Andorra: Sunday 7am

• HOSPITALET
Connection to trains
Hispano Andorrana
Tel: +(376) 821 372
Fax: +(376) 861 408
E.mail : lahispano@myp.ad

Andorra - L’Hospitalet 5.45am - 7.30am - 10.30am - 14.00pm – 17.00pm
L’Hospitalet - Andorra 7.35am – 10.00am - 14.00pm - 18.00pm -19.45pm
Timetable subject to changes by SNCF

By Train

Spain:
Madrid - Lleida, connection by coach to La Seu d'Urgell and service to Andorra. Barcelona - Puigcerda, connection by coach to La Seu d'Urgell and service to Andorra.
Visit the link of RENFE to know the timetable.


France:
Paris - Toulouse - Ax-les-Thermes or Hospitalet and connection by coach to Andorra.
Perpignan - La Tour de Carol and connection by coach to Andorra.
Visit the link of SNCF to know the timetable.

Red tape

No permits or fees are required to climb Coma Pedrosa. It’s important to advise that in ski season can be complicated to find a place to park the car at the end of the road that gets to the Arinsal ski resort, where starts the normal route to climb Coma Pedrosa. So you’ll need to get up early.

To climb this mountain from the French or Spanish side you’ll have to cross the border, located in high mountain areas. This isn’t a problem at all. Only on the border of the main roads you'll find customs.

When to go

In snow season it's very important to know the avalanche conditions. Visit the link of METEO FRANCE (in French)
All year round you can climb Coma Pedrosa, though it’s necessary warning that mountain conditions can change considerably depending of the season.

Winter: short days (the sunset in December is about 18:00 p.m.). Cold and snow and/or ice are secured, even blizzards. Be careful with the danger of avalanches, especially after intense snowstorms. Snow can cover even the lowest valleys; in this case, mountain skies or snowshoes can be very useful (or even essential) in deep or soft snow conditions.

Spring: longer days (in may, nightfall is about 21:00 p.m.). Snow is still abundant and sometimes you can run the risk of avalanches, that are still frequents. In spite of it, you can find some cold and windy days exceptionally. This is a beautiful season to climb mountains in the Pyrenees: flowers adorn the meadows and trees, bushes and lot of other plants show its new leaves. In the highest areas, the lakes (here named “estanys”) are still frozen.

Summer: is the best season to climb Coma Pedrosa to people without experience in snow/ice climbing. Rocky areas replace to snowy slopes, that remains in small places, preferentially located in north faces. Days are longer (in June, the sunset is about 22:00 p.m.) and temperatures are pleasant.

Autumn: you can find a lot of contrasts, even on the same day. Snow appears plentifully at the end of this season, but hot days aren’t rare, even in October. Rain can be a big problem and cold is intense in November and December. However, the beauty of forests (especially in the valleys) is exceptional, with their leafs showing a lot of different colors. Conifers inhabit the highest zones: pines and firs are the main.

Camping and lodging

Campings are the cheapest way to stay. The nearest to Coma Pedrosa are:
-Camping Xixerella; phone: +376 836 613.
-Camping Santa Catarina, in the road to Ordino; phone: +376 835 065
If you prefer to stay in a hotel, you can see the main in Andorramania

Coma Pedrosa Hut (Phone: +376 327 955) is located in the south face, in the normal route to climb Coma Pedrosa from the village of Arinsal. It's guarded from June to October. The rest of the year opens only a free room (6-10 places).

Mountain conditions

To know the weather forecast you can visit the web site of Andorramania (in Catalan, French and Spanish).
You can visit the Spanish INM or National Meteorological Institute too.
To know the avalanche conditions, visit the link of METEO FRANCE (in French)
To know additional information, you can contact with the Coma Pedrosa Hut (Phone: +376 327 955). It’s guarded from juin to october; rest of the year opens only a free room (6-10 places).

Maps

The map 1:40.000 of Editorial Alpina is very good.