{"id":2097,"date":"2026-01-03T20:33:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T18:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/olla-de-nuria-a-legendary-route\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T06:53:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T04:53:37","slug":"olla-de-nuria-a-legendary-route","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/olla-de-nuria-a-legendary-route\/","title":{"rendered":"Olla de N\u00faria: A legendary route"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

They say that, for mountaineers, completing the Olla de N\u00faria route is essential due to its spectacular nature and comprehensive path, where hikers and trail runners venture in search of a stimulating experience. Below, we analyze its geographical location, routes, and everything indispensable to carry it out. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

To talk about the Olla de N\u00faria, first of all, we must locate it geographically. And, of course, understand why it’s called an “olla” (pot). This name comes from its U-shape. And where does it start? At the Sanctuary of N\u00faria<\/a>, located in the N\u00faria Valley. This is where the route begins and ends, consisting of circling the head of the valley by passing over the peaks that form it. It is located in the municipality of Queralbs, in Girona. <\/p>\n\n

Completing the Olla de N\u00faria route<\/strong> is not easy; it requires good physical condition. As mentioned before, the starting point is the Sanctuary, followed by a climb to the summit of Puigmal (2,913 meters). From there, the ridge begins, conquering the various peaks that follow: Segre, Finestrelles, Eina, Noufonts, Noucreus, Fossa del Gegant, Fontnegra and, finally, \u00c0liga, culminating this exciting expedition. To learn more about this attractive mountain journey, we spoke with Mountain Guide Carles Gel<\/a> and Josep Bisquert<\/strong>, co-director of the Olla de N\u00faria alpine race<\/a>, which was suspended this year due to the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n

Olla de N\u00faria Route<\/h2>\n\n

Carles Gel, Mountain Guide and extensive expert on the area, explains it to us below:<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe Olla de N\u00faria is a giant pot that extends to the west, north, northwest, east, and back to N\u00faria, like the hands of a clock. It is a brutal route. There are 19 peaks, all above 2,700 meters, with Puigmal being the highest point. It is one of the most impressive routes in the Catalan Pyrenees. It is a beautiful route. It is usually done in summer, and there is the famous<\/strong> Olla de N\u00faria<\/a> race<\/strong>. It is a high-mountain itinerary where you leave N\u00faria towards Collvert. Here you leave the normal Puigmal route and head for the summit of Ras de l\u2019Ortig\u00e0. From there, you don’t leave the ridge surrounding N\u00faria until you descend from the Pala peak, reach the hostel, and from the hostel, go down to N\u00faria. For me, the normal time to do the Olla de N\u00faria is no less than 10 to 12 hours.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"The
The start of the Olla de N\u00faria race<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Doing the Olla de N\u00faria in virtual format<\/h2>\n\n

As Carles Gel already mentioned, the Olla de N\u00faria alpine race is held every summer. Organized by the Uni\u00f3 Excursionista Vic<\/a>, this year, due to the global pandemic, they opted for a virtual race<\/a>, as other sporting events have done. Josep Bisquert, co-director of this epic trail running<\/a> race, explains it to us: <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe race features a 21.5km route with 1,950m of positive accumulated elevation gain in the Olla de N\u00faria. It is especially characterized by not touching a single meter of asphalt, as it starts from the Sanctuary of N\u00faria at an altitude of 1,900m; and also, because 72% of the race takes place above 2,700 meters in altitude. With the current situation, we had to suspend the edition scheduled for June this year. Therefore, given the demand from participants and the sadness of not being able to hold it, we had the opportunity to create the Virtual Olla de N\u00faria. Participants had the chance to do the Olla de N\u00faria route<\/strong> for free over the course of 1 month. Once completed and recorded using a GPS watch or any device with a .gpx format (download the Olla de N\u00faria gpx at this link<\/a>), the file was sent via email to the organization. They then uploaded the result to the LiveTrail<\/a> platform to create a ranking with all participants.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n

You can find the route on the Wikiloc<\/a> app: the complete Olla de N\u00faria wikiloc<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Why do the Olla de N\u00faria route?<\/h2>\n\n

Carles Gel, Mountain Guide: \u201cThe prestige, its famous Olla de N\u00faria race\u2026 that’s why mountaineers want to do it. Because in one go, you bag almost 20 mountains. Summer is when there’s the most people. In my case, I’ve done it twice in winter, and it’s a route that has its technical sections.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n

\u201cSimply, being able to do so many mountains. And the incomparable high-mountain setting, always straddling Catalonia and Upper Cerdanya. That is the greatness of this route, which not everyone is capable of doing, although some people running it usually finish in three hours. However, if you’re going on a hike to the Olla de N\u00faria, prepare for 10-12 hours (as I mentioned before). And if you’re doing it in winter, it’s very tight to do it in one day unless you start at night, reach Puigmal at night, and then continue with the new day ridging along this giant pot that forms N\u00faria, always with the Sanctuary (at 1,964 m) at your feet. It is a magical place where most mountaineers and hikers from the Girona and Barcelona areas got their start.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n

Likewise, race participants want to take part for the same reasons: \u201cmountaineers want to traverse the Olla de N\u00faria for its great landscape value, surrounded by unique and highly important peaks, such as the 8 peaks the route passes through, climbing one of the most emblematic, Puigmal, the highest point of the race\u201d<\/em>, exclaims Josep Bisquert<\/strong>, co-director of the Olla de N\u00faria race<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

\"The
The N\u00faria valley covered in snow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

What do I need to hike the Olla de N\u00faria?<\/h2>\n\n
    \n
  1. Water<\/strong>. \u201cYou must be prepared and carry at least 2 liters of water, as you won’t find any along the way\u201d (Carles Gel, Mountain Guide). <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. If you’re doing it in the middle of summer, it’s best to start very early<\/strong>. Carles Gel recommends staying overnight in N\u00faria and starting around 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Bring several energy bars, some gels, and a good sandwich, plus candies<\/strong> to always have sugar in your system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Equipment<\/a><\/strong>: good hiking boots, trousers or leggings, a t-shirt, a Gore-Tex jacket, even a light one (for possible rain), a fleece (essential), a map of the area (even if you have GPS), a compass, good poles, and the typical items you’d take to the mountains in summer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. If you go in winter<\/strong>: boots, crampons, poles, ice axe, helmet\u2014essentials in your backpack (It’s a \u201cbeastly\u201d winter route, as Carles Gel says, since you hit 19 peaks. \u201cAnd it’s nothing like other crossings\u201d).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Keep the weather<\/a> in mind<\/strong>. Get to know the safety apps for high-risk sports<\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Hiking the Olla de N\u00faria in the middle of a pandemic?<\/h2>\n\n

    \u201cGoing out to the mountains during this pandemic is good for disconnecting a bit from all the information we’re given. However, from the Olla de N\u00faria organization, we want to remind you that it must be done with sufficient preparation for the activity and knowing the weather you’ll encounter. Rescats have increased since the end of lockdown, and it’s important to know your limits to prevent accidents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

    –Josep Bisquert, co-director of the event organization<\/a><\/em>.-<\/p>\n\n

    To comply with the guide and the manual of good practices during the pandemic, before starting the Olla de N\u00faria hike<\/a><\/strong>, \u201cwe must follow the Covid-19 protocol of the Federaci\u00f3 d’Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya<\/a> (FEEC) for mountain activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

    To participate in the Olla de N\u00faria race, it is mandatory to have a current mountain federation license to register. If you don’t have one but want to do a route, you can take out multi-adventure insurance<\/a>. And if you are a sports event organizer, you can take out your sports insurance online at this link<\/a> on the Urquia & Bas<\/a> website. <\/p>\n\n

    Gesti\u00f3 Radical<\/h4>\n\n

    If you want to stay up to date with all our recommendations and activities to do on the Costa Brava, don’t hesitate to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    They say that, for mountaineers, completing the Olla de N\u00faria route is essential due to its spectacular nature and comprehensive path, where hikers and trail runners venture in search of a stimulating experience. Below, we analyze its geographical location, routes, and everything indispensable to carry it out. To talk about the Olla de N\u00faria, first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2098,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"blocksy_meta":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Olla-de-Nuria_banner.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"jbs","author_link":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/author\/jbs\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2097"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2099,"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097\/revisions\/2099"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/costabravaparcaventura.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}