FROM THE ARA VALLEY TO THE SIERRA DE GUARA 3 DAYS

We recommend you download the Geo Routes on the Geopark website before doing this trail. There are also information panels at the start of each itinerary where you can download the Geo Route from a QR code with a Smartphone.

Day 1 Route : Aínsa - Bujaruelo – Linás de Broto – Broto – Boltaña Type of route : A linear route for cars taking you from the Bujaruelo Valley down to Aínsa, running the full length of the Ara Valley from its beginnings down to its merging with the River Cinca. There are two Geo-Routes walks to do along the way. It also takes in numerous points of geological interest: - Geopark Interpretation Centre GEO1, in Aínsa Castle. - Geo-Route on foot PN 11 Otal Valley . - Bujaruelo Valley, Santa Elena and “Puente de los Navarros” (PN 11 Geo-Route ). - Glacial deposit in Linás de Broto and Fragen (PN 11 Geo-Route) . - Torla and “Roca de la Pillera” (PN 11 Geo Ruta) . - Broto and Sorrosal Waterfall (PN 11 Geo Ruta) . - Table 2. A turbulent history (Boltaña Castle).

1st Stop: Geopark Space. Aínsa A good place to start this route is the Geo-Park visitor centre in the south west tower of Ainsa castle. You can download the GEO1 Geopark Interpretation Centre Geo Route in advance from the Geopark Website.

2nd Stop: Bujaruelo and Otal Valley From Aínsa take the N-260 west to Boltaña. Continue up the River Ara Valley to Torla. At the “Puente de los Navarros” bridge take the dirt track to the “Mesón de Bujaruelo” refuge. Once parked up in the Mesón de Bujaruelo Car Park you can continue on foot up to the Otal Valley (9Km round trip) You can download and consult the PN11 Otal Valley Geo-Route from the Geopark website.

3rd Stop: Santa Elena and “Puente de los Navarros” This stop is explained in the PN 11 Otal Valley Geo-Route.

4th Stop: Fragen and Linás de Broto To get to observe glacial morphology, moraine as well as glaciolacustrine deposits, follow the directions given in the PN 11 Otal Valley Geo-Route.

5th Stop: Broto and Sorrosal Waterfall Continue visiting the points of interest detailed and described in the PN 11 Otal Valley Geo-Route. Take the path that starts from the centre of Broto and head towards the Cascada de Sorrosal (10 minutes one way).

6th Stop: Ara Valley Along the route between Broto and Boltaña, you can make several stops as there are many places of interest, such as the Llanos de Planduviar, Ribera de Fiscal or the Gorge of Jánovas, to name but a few.

7th Stop: Boltaña In Boltaña, you can take the footpath that goes up to the castle along the top of the ridge. There you will find Information Table 2. A turbulent history (Boltaña Castle).

Day 2 - Route : Aínsa – Garganta de Escuaín - Cañón de Añisclo – The Aso mill circuit– Vió Valley - Type of route : A circular route by car. This route ill take you along two of the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park’s greatest valleys: the Garganta de Escuaín and the Cañón de Añisclo . • To visit the Garganta de Escuaín you should download the PN 10 Escuaín Valley Geo-Route (Tella – Revilla – Escuaín) . • And to visit the Cañón de Añisclo you should download the PN 9 Circuit around the Cañón de Añisclo Geo-Route (Escalona – Puyarruego) .

- Starting point: From Aínsa take the A-138 main road towards and France. Take the turn off to the left from Escalona and then fork right up to Belsierre and Escuaín.

1st Stop: Puerto de la Cruz Here you will find the turn off to Bestué and Escuaín. The geological description of the area is at point 5 of the PN 10 Escuaín Valley Geo-Route. If you take the turn off to Bestué you can have a look at information Table 12. Geology and landscape, in Bestué’s square.

2nd Stop: The Escuaín viewpoints. Once you’re in Escuaín you can walk along a short, easy footpath which leads to the viewpoints over “ La Garganta de Escuaín”. Its details appear at point 6 of the PN 10 Escuaín Valley Geo-Route .

3rd Stop: Cambras Ravine Go back down to the road that runs from Escalona to Puyarruego. Leave the turn off to Puyarruego on your left and continue along the section of road called “El Desfiladero d’as Cambras” that takes you into the “Cañón de Añisclo”. You can pull over at all the stopping points along the gorge. Some of them have information panels.

4th Stop: Molino de Aso Circuit Park your vehicle in the Car Park at San Úrbez, also known as Ereta de Bies. From here you can walk along the easy but spectacular Molino de Aso Circuit . Along the foot path you can visit the San Úrbez Bridge, the San Úrbez cave chapel, the bridge over the River Bellos and the River Aso Waterfall. - Type of path : Circular. - Difficulty level : Low. - Length : 45 minutes to do the circuit. - Gradient : 50 metres.

5th Stop: Once back at the “Ereta de Bies”, continue along the one way road towards Nerín and Fanlo. Before going back towards Puyarruego, you can go and visit Fanlo , the biggest village in the Vio Valley.

6th Stop: Las Cruces Vantage Point After Fanlo, you will come back along the same road to the turn off for Buerba and Vió. You can stop off at the Mirador de las Cruces viewpoint. Its details are at Point 4 of the PN9 Circuit Añisclo Canyon Geo-Route.

7th Stop: Vió Vantage Point If you carry on along the road you’ll get the chance to stop off at the Vió – Buerba viewpoint . The views of the Añisclo Canyon and the Monte Perdido mountain range are nothing short of spectacular. Its description is at Point 5 of the PN9 Circuit Añisclo Canyon Geo-Route.

8th Stop: Vió and Buerba You should visit Vió and Buerba , where you’ll find interesting examples of traditional architecture and religious monuments such as the Romanesque parish church at Vió.

9th Stop: Table 11. The origins of the Peña Montañesa Along the road down between Buerba and Puyarruego there are several places to stop and get out of the car. At one of them you’ll find Information Table 11. The origins of the Peña Montañesa .

Day 3 - Route : Boltaña – Guaso – Arcusa – Erípol – Lecina – River Vero Canyon - Type of route : A linear route by car between Boltaña and/or Aínsa and the River Vero Canyon (there and back on the same road). This includes the GEO 5 Geo-route. Breath-taking landscapes of water and rock. Vero River Canyon Viewpoints. - Starting point: - From Boltaña take the A-2205 from the Monasterio Hotel, towards Guaso and Arcusa. - If you start from Aínsa, take the A-2205 from the Meson de Ainsa Hotel, towards Guaso and Arcusa.

1st Stop: Guaso Between Boltaña and Lecina you’ll pass through some beautiful scenery and will be able to stop and take in some of the stunning architecture in the villages along the way. We recommend you make some stops, the first of which would be in Guaso . You can get up to the top of the village by car and visit the parish church and the “Esconjuradero” from where you’ll enjoy dramatic panoramic views. Have a look at Information Table 3. “An ocean of rocks”, Geo-Route panel at the side of the road.

2nd Stop: Erípol A visit to the village of Erípol, where you’ll find Table 1. Landscapes of yesterday, landscapes of today.

3rd Stop: River Vero Canyon A walk along the GEO 5 Geo-route Breath-taking landscapes of water and rock. Vero River canyon viewpoints: - Starting Point: Vero Canyon car park, at kilometre 19 on the A-2205, between the turn-off to Lecina and . This is a large, visible, car park with several information panels and some picnic tables (that may be hidden by parked cars). - Route: Vero Canyon Viewpoint - Chapel of San Martin - Tozal de Mallata Viewpoint - Portiacha Ravine Viewpoint. - Type of route: Circular. - Difficulty level: Low, but it is necessary to ford the river on 5 occasions, which is not difficult but, depending on the amount of water carried by the river, can be just over knee-high in the case of an adult. - Duration: 3,5 hours. - Length: 6 kilometres (there and back). - Gradient: 450 metres up and 450 metres down.

4th Stop: Lecina After walking the GR 5 and before returning to Aínsa or Boltaña, you can have a look around the village of Lecina which has a lot to offer, notably its Milennial Oak tree (the path starts from the main square and gets you there in 5 minutes).

Collaborating Entities of the Geopark: on your trip to the Unesco Sobrarbe- Pyrenees World Geopark look for them and enjoy their welcome and services.