Starting Off
Access to the slopes from the base-station arrival point is very straightforward:
with all major ski lifts departing from just above the main car parks.

You have two choices as to where to start off: either directly from the roadside ski lifts by the main base lodge at 1940 m (6365 ft); or from the roadside-accessible pistes and ski lifts closer to a second lodge building a little further on up the station's only access road.

The first level gives access to the main Arcalís Cirque towering above you, as well as a direct chairlift link to the neighbouring La Coma sector.
The upper level has a second chairlift link into La Coma and is nearest to the beginners' slopes; starting off from this higher level also gives you the option of warming-up on the finish section of La Font piste down to the first level's lifts.

Base Lodges
Two large day-lodge buildings are located at Arcalís base station, together housing all of this sector's visitor services and facilities.

Edifici Arcalís
This is the lower lodge building at the main arrival area at 1940 m (6365 ft) altitude; situated on the tight bend where the road continues to climb towards the station's upper parking bays.
At the roadside just before the lodge, on the left under the get-on points for the nearby chairlifts, there is a smaller building which houses lift pass kiosks and a sports shop with an equipment rental operation.
The main lodge building itself is plain and functional, but it has good facilities and easy access to/from the pistes.
Piste Level:  (approached via the steps up from the roadside) public telephones, WCs, medical centre, administration offices, central stairwell to the first floor.
First Floor:  L'Hortell self-service cafeteria and bar, stairs to a picnic room and to an upper roadside access level.
Top Floor:  a cosy attic furnished as an interior picnic room, and a Mezzanine-level entrance/exit by the upper roadside.

Edifici Els Planells
This upper lodge building is similar to the lower Edifici Arcalís but, as it sits at a slightly higher altitude, it catches more of the sun.
A self-service restaurant and bar share a piste-side terrace overlooking the slopes and the children's Snow Garden in front of the building; the ski school office is housed in a chalet a short stroll away, opposite the beginners' slopes.
Lower Ground Floor:  crèche, picnic room, WCs, public telephones.
Ground Floor:  piste-side terrace with BBQ, snack kiosk and sunloungers;
Els Planells self-service restaurant and bar, stairs to upper floors.
Second Floor:  Els Planells cafeteria and bar, stairs to roadside access at the rear of the building.
Upper Level:  roadside entrance/exit, [exterior] lift pass kiosks and a small shop.