Mountain Layout — Skiing

Here is a larger, more detailed Baqueira/ Beret map.

Here is a larger, more detailed Bonaigua map.

Here is a larger, more detailed Beret map.

Baqueira/Beret, covering 4,270 acres, is an expansive series of trails with four main access points. The vertical drop in this resort is 3,282 feet. The trails are served by 30lifts inlcuding two new high-speed six-person chairs. More than 500 snow cannons provide dependable snow coverage on 35 km. of the trails even when faced with poor natural snow cover.

The village center of Baqueira is the main center with a gondola lifting skiers from nearby hotels up to the 5,000-foot level where the ski school operates and the main beginner slopes welcome those starting with the sport. Beret is a cluster of facilities — ticket offices, restaurant, day care and ski school that anchors what is considered the wide open area of the resort. Between Baqueira and Beret, a new development of apartments and hotels, Tanau, is served by an old double chair that reaches the Altitude 1800 area as well. At the far eastern edge of the valley, a small building at the top of the Bonaigua Pass sells tickets and has parking, day care, restaurants and rentals.

The network of lifts and runs above Baqueira is dense and should keep most intermediates busy for days. The runs in the Beret section are much more widespread with lots of off-piste possibilities. The Bonaigua sector runs are well marked, and even without a map it is fairly easy to navigate.

Altitude 1800 above Baqueira is reached by the Bosque Lift, a detachable quad from the edge of town. This brings skiers to a lower plateau where beginners learn on what are called the “pastures” and four more lifts take skiers to the upper reaches of the mountain. Head to the left of the restaurant and take the detachable quad lift. This allows experts and good intermediates the option of dropping down to the new six-passenger chair or heading to the Luis Arlas lift that will bring them back up to the Cap de Baqueira peak. Intermediates can enjoy the Isards and Mirador runs back to the lower plateau or go all the way into the valley to the De la Choza chair lift. There is also an exciting off-piste itinerary, called Escornacrabes, off the back side of the Cap de Baqueira that loops back to the front side of the mountain and eventually back to the village. Beginners should stay to the right side of the restaurant, where a chair lift and a drag lift open up a practice area.

Vall d’Aneu extends Baqueira toward Bonaigua with a new access from Alt Aneu.. The Bonaigua area is really an extension of the Baqueira section that drops down to the Bonaigua pass. This is for the most part intermediate terrain with expert touches. Baqueira and Bonaigua share the steep Manaud trail from the top of the Manaud lift.

To get to the Beret section of the resort take the connecting Vista Beret lift. It is slow but is well worth the ride. When you get off the lift stay high on the trail and ski over toward Beret. If you begin to drop down the trail, you arrive back at the base of the lift and will have to take the lift again to connect with Beret. Once in Beret get ready to cruise almost anywhere.

The Beret area is served by five lifts, but its terrain allows skiers to ski virtually anywhere and choose from beginner to expert. The trails here are an intermediate heaven with good beginner terrain laced throughout. Further to the left, two triple chairs open more difficult terrain with the most difficult trails dropping from the top of the Dossau lift. The high-speed quad lift, Blanhiblar, opens up all-new terrain on the opposite side of the valley below Cap de Blanhiblar and Tuc de Costarjàs. A small drag lift links with this chair and opens extensive off-piste opportunities down into the valley.

The link from Beret back to Baqueira is made by using the high-speed six-person chair. From the top of this lift the long trail takes skiers back to the base areas.

Mountain rating
For intermediates, there is plenty of skiing and enough challenge to leave you feeling pushed beyond your normal limits. Every lift has good intermediate skiing. Absolute beginners have plenty of area to practice their turns, then strike out for long easy trails. With good snow, experts will find plenty to keep them busy. With powder in the bowls, the slopes beneath Costarjas, the off-piste itineraries and the chutes dropping off the ridges running through the Baqueira and Bonaigua sections of the resort provide more than enough challenge. With poor snow, experts will be left wanting.