10 tips for exploring Guara

Explore the Sierra de Guara beyond the well-known spots

The Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park is a tourist destination; otherwise, you probably wouldn’t have made it this far. We are all rediscovering the value of nature at the same time, and whilst Guara is a top tourist destination with a long history, there are still many hidden corners to discover off the beaten track. So today, I invite you to explore the secret trails of Guara.

In search of places with character

When we visit a place for the first time, most of us are drawn there by an Instagram photo, a TikTok or YouTube video, a blog or magazine article, or a TV feature. Sometimes it’s also thanks to the experience of someone close to us who recommends a particular place. We also go with our list of must-sees, which is very similar to that of thousands of other people who found out about the destination in exactly the same way as you did. This article aims to help you discover the essence of the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park, avoiding that feeling of following a well-trodden path.

Looking beyond the usual routes

These lines are an invitation to look beyond, to places or moments that go unnoticed by others. Of course, I’ll recommend some of those places to you, though the most interesting part of what’s to come is that I’ll explain how to organise your visit to enjoy Guara to the full. It will be difficult for you to feel the thrill of discovery experienced by pioneers such as Lucien Briet or the Minvielle family, father and son, but it is within your reach to rediscover places in this region that not everyone has access to.

10 tips for exploring the Sierra de Guara

Here are 10 tips for exploring Guara and making the most of your visit:

1.- Do your research and plan ahead. This page has everything you need, but there are also some excellent websites and blogs where you can find out more about almost any aspect of the Natural Park that interests you. If you’ve never been to Guara before, you’ll obviously want to visit Alquézar or Colungo, but don’t stop there – there’s so much more to see.

2.- Follow the rules. You are visiting a nature reserve, a treasure that has been preserved for generations. You must follow the park’s specific rules, avoid lighting fires, camp only in designated areas, and ensure the protection of the local flora and fauna. That way, you can return whenever you like, and the park will remain a paradise.

3.- Make sure you’re properly prepared. You’re visiting the great outdoors. As soon as you venture a few metres away from the villages, you’re in the heart of the countryside, which can become a hostile environment. Wear clothing and footwear suitable for the terrain and the time of year, and make sure you take plenty of water with you, especially in summer. We’re in the mountains, but it can get extremely hot. When you choose the path be honest with yourself and with your physical and technical abilities.

4.- Respect wildlife. Try not to disturb the animals or damage the plants. Don’t feed any animals you might come across, and don’t pull up plants just for the sake of it.

5.- Leave no trace. The only trace you should leave behind when your visit is over is your footprints on the path. If you brought plastic bottles, tins or wrappers containing something, all the more reason to take them back with you empty.

6.- Keep your impact to a minimum. Nature doesn’t need us to be there, let alone our shouting. Respect the peace of the place, speak in a tone that is reasonable and stay on the path so as not to erode the ground unnecessarily or damage the vegetation.

7.- Don’t even think about starting a fire. That’s it. Nothing, ever, anywhere.

8.- Don’t go out on your own. And if you do, let your hotel, campsite or hostel know where you’re going and when you plan to return. Use maps, make sure your mobile is fully charged and, if a situation, obstacle or difficulty gives you cause for concern, avoid taking risks.

9.- Be considerate of other visitors. In the mountains and in the villages, we greet one another, even if we’ve never met before. That’s just how we are. Nature can be harsh, and you never know who might lend you a helping hand. Be friendly, smile, and let everyone enjoy the park’s attractions. We’re not just people—or rather, we’re just as human as you are.

10.- Learn and enjoy. Take the opportunity to discover the history of the place, its customs, its geology, and why this is a paradise of unique rock formations that has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, yet is teeming with nature everywhere you look.

Lesser-known trails and hidden corners of the Sierra de Guara

Since you’ve made it this far, it’s clear you’re someone I can trust, so I’ll let you in on some of the least-visited spots and trails in the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park, even in summer.

The north face of Tozal de Guara

It is home to places where time seems to have stood still. Nocito is perhaps the best-known of its villages. It is no longer the little-known hamlet it once was, and now many tourists stroll through its streets during the high season. The route I suggest takes you through this valley, starting from the car park opposite Used and passing through four villages, two of which are uninhabited. You can find more information via this link:

https://guara.org/entorno/senderos/circular-used-azpe-abellada-bentue-de-nocito/

At the end of the valley, where the road ends, you’ll find Bara. From this village, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in some fantastic natural pools.

Mesón de Sevil and its hidden panoramic views

This family walk, around 5 kilometres long, has the unique feature that a 4×4 vehicle is recommended to reach Mesón de Sevil. If you don’t have one, don’t worry – as you know, there are plenty of highly reputable companies in Guara that can lend a hand, ensuring you reach not only the starting point but also the destinations of the best excursions. This excursion, perfect for children, offers magnificent views and vantage points across the entire Sierra de Guara and even the Pyrenees. But the children will be amazed looking at the ground, which is full of fossils.

Pasaderas de Balced y Bagüeste

This route, which we’re presenting as a trail run, is actually perfect for a great day’s hiking. It has everything. Starting from Las Bellostas, the last inhabited village in the north-eastern part of the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park, we’ll descend rapidly towards the Balced ravine, pass through the abandoned hamlet of Bagüeste and finish the route back in Las Bellostas after enjoying the water, the ravine, the incredible panoramic views and, above all, very few tourists.

How to avoid crowds and make the most of the area

There are places in the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park that are absolute must-sees – we won’t deny it. You simply have to see them, though that shouldn’t mean you have to suffer. My trick – though you might not like it all that much – is to get up early and bring my usual schedule forward as much as possible.

For example, Alquézar looks very different at 9 am than it does at 12 noon; it’s also different in spring or autumn compared to the height of August. If you plan ahead and go to bed a little earlier than usual the night before, you’ll be glad you did. Also, if you want to eat at a restaurant in the area on a public holiday or during the peak season, book your table in advance; the same applies to accommodation. Avoid leaving things to chance and you’ll enjoy everything the Sierra de Guara has to offer much more.