From Llíber to the piste in a few hours!

If you are lucky enough to live in the Marina Alta you will know the privilege of having everything on your doorstep. If you enjoy walking or cycling, there is no better location. Riverside and mountain trails for hiking and cycling routes that take in mountains and coastline. Watersports are also easily accessible, with hotspots for scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing the waves and wind and kite surfing, all with a setting of pristine rocky coves and Blue Flag beaches. But what about winter sports? 

Here in the vineyards of the Valle de Pop (Jalon vally), would you believe you could go skiing in the morning, to the beach in the afternoon before returning to our wonderful rural home in time for dinner?

Last year, one Sunday, we put that to the test. We set off early and arrived on the piste in Javalambre, near Teruel, in a few hours. The snow was perfect and it was sunny and not too cold. We had 3-4 hours skiing and then headed home. By the time we got back to the Valley it was late afternoon and certainly warm enough to go to the beach. The slopes in Teruel are for all abilities, including classes for complete beginners but we would recommend doing some research. 

It was a fabulous day trip but tiring, and as there are some stunning medieval pueblos in the region, we vowed to take a long weekend next visit. For example- Albarracin is a Medieval town, 30 minutes from Teruel, surrounded by stone walls and idyllic cobbled streets. With affordable boutique style hotels and apartments, it would make a great base for your skiing trip.

More recently, we booked a skiing trip with friends, the location- Andorra. Having been a few years ago, we liked it and, although it is a 6.5 hour drive, it does not involve airports, flights, transfers etc. Without a car, it is a more complicated trip- a train from Valencia Nord station to Barcelona Sants station (3hrs 25mins), a metro to Diagonal, and then a bus to Andorra la Vella (2hrs 45 mins).

Andorra is a tiny, independant country, in history part of Catalonia and before that governed by France. In 1993 it was declared a parliamentary democracy and joined the United Nations. It is situated in the Pyrenees mountains and is known primarily for ski resorts and as a tax haven for people from all over the world, which also means it has duty free shopping. The capital is Andorra la Vella, which, although tiny compared to other capital cities, has a modern cosmopolitan vibe and some great shopping (our friend came back with bag fulls of bargains!), cafés and restaurants. 

We chose a hotel in the village of La Massana, a 10 minute drive from Andorra la Vella. The village is a traditional mountain village with some superb restaurants and a gondola cable car to take you up to the piste. The Rutllan Hotel and Spa is literally across the road from the ski hire shop Shusski and gondola and in the centre of the village, with a supermarket and pharmacy next door. The route to La Massana is a picturesque drive and we planned a few stops on the way, so it didn´t feel arduous at all, and we arrived in time to check in to our hotel, familiarise ourselves with the village of La Massana and unpack, in time for a trip to the spa and dinner. The hotel looks like a wooden ski lodge inside and, with a roaring fire in the bar, it was warm and cozy, perfect for a night cap after dinner. A good selection at breakfast means you can fill your tank and prepare to enjoy the days activities and the mountain air. 

Andorra has 300km of combined slopes for all levels, including high altitude black runs. Our ski level is still fairly novice and, as it was a while since we had skied, we booked some lessons. Our friends, on the other hand, are advanced in level with one a snowboarder, but we could all ski in the same area and join up for coffee and aprés ski. 

Althought the weather and the snow were not perfect we thoroughly enjoyed our 5 day trip and look forward to going back next season. 

With the Sierra Nevada roughly a 5 hour drive in the other direction, there are some fabulous ski resorts, all within a manageable drive from the Marina Alta. At Jacaranda Spain, it is our job to find your new dream home in Spain and we are proud to promote our wonderful valley and all it has to offer. If you love winter sports and road trips there is no better place to improve your lifestyle and your physical and mental health, meaning you get to live a happier longer life. Also, it is never too late to learn a new hobby and, by the way, ski season 2026, in Andorra, carries on until April 6th so you still have time to get a last minute booking!

If you are thinking of relocating to Spain, call us for an informal chat and make an appointment to see how we can help you to start your adventure!