If you are one of those who, when the weekend arrives, rejects the fact of staying at home doing nothing and needs different adventures, here is a plan that could amaze you: Congost of Montrebei. Just over two hours from Barcelona and located between the provinces of Lleida and Huesca we find an impressive gorge formed by the Noguera Ribagorçana river as it passes through the Sierra del Montsec that over the years has fallen in love with thousands of tourists and is now one of the most desired destinations of the moment.
Choose your route according to your preferences
To visit Congost de Montrebei we can choose to do it through a short route and a longer one, it all depends on our physical state, our desire and our energy. In order to get to this wonderful place we can do the route from the Masieta car park -in the province of Lleida- which is the natural path, or do it in the opposite direction from the province of Huesca starting from the car park of the Montfalco hostel.
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Short route through the Congost
- Distance: 10 kilometers (round trip).
- Estimated time: approximately 3 hours.
- Starting point: Masieta car park.
This route starts at the Masieta car park (during high season you have to reserve your ticket online and it costs 6 euros). It has a 5km section and reaches the bridge of Sigue, where the provinces of Lleida and Huesca meet. After two kilometres, one comes across the suspension bridge of the Sant Jaume ravine. With a landscape that takes your breath away, soon begins a path excavated in 1982 in the rock that allows us to enter the gorge.
It consists of vertical walls over 500 meters high and a canyon that barely reaches 30 meters wide at its narrowest point. Approximately an hour and a quarter of the way (without stops) you reach the Petrusa intersection, to later look for the Sigué bridge. This is the final destination of this route, allowing you to turn around and return to the car park.
Long route through the Congost
- Distance: 16.8 kilometers (round trip).
- Estimated time: 4 hours and a half (approximately).
- Starting point: Masieta car park.
This route is the same as the short route but includes an entire route through Huesca after crossing the Sigué bridge. After crossing it (and already in the province of Huesca), a steep slope of about 200 meters begins. At its end begins the first section of spectacular stairs anchored in the rock that have to be lowered.
Saving a drop of 50 meters you reach the second section, less vertiginous than the previous one. The last section of the route in continuous ascent reaches the Montfalcó hostel, a point at which you have to turn around to retrace the entire route in the opposite direction.
For the more adventurous: kayak, boat, canoe or catamaran ride
If you are one of those who wants to make the most of the day or prefer to explore this area sailing through its turquoise waters and its spectacular vertical walls, there is the option of renting kayaks, canoes or even taking a boat trip.
- Kayak rental price: from 65 euros to 80 euros.
- Catamaran ride price: 25 euros (duration of 1h 30m).
How to organize your visit to Congost de Montrebei
If you are one of those who wants to make the most of this weekend plan, we show you different ways to organize your visit to Congost de Montrebei. There are different options to stay near this place: via hotel, rural house or camping, that depends on the taste of each one.
Hotel Terradets
Located 34.9 km from Congost de Montrebei and 21.8 km from the Montsec Astronomical Observatory, Hotel Terradets is perfect for resting after a long day of excursions and enjoying impressive views of the lake.
Rural house Cal Soldat
With a house dating from the 14th century and which gives its name to the whole complex, it is divided into different rural houses. With prices ranging from 165 euros to 250 euros, this destination becomes a haven of peace and relaxation.
Campsite Alta Ribagorça
Located in Les Bordes, a small village in L’Alta Ribagorça, this campsite is just over half an hour from the start of the Congost de Montrebei route from the Masieta car park. It has bungalows, refu-rooms and even houses.
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Photos | Congost de Montrebei, Kayaking, Cal Soldat, Camping Alta Ribagorça