ARCALÍS SKI AREA

On the Slopes
Arcalís’ ski area is compact, yet it offers a good range of terrain; from long cruising blue runs to 50-degree gradient true blacks and extensive lift-served off-piste. There are two distinct zones to the ski area: the rugged Arcalís cirque immediately above the base station and the wide, sunny, high La Coma snowbowl nestled among high wild peaks nearest the French border:

Arcalís Cirque  Intermediates will love the fast undulating reds that run down to the base area in this main cirque; more advanced ability visitors will also enjoy this zone’s two steep black runs and the inter-piste terrain high on the flanks of the rocky peaks; novices have lovely sweeping blues to tackle; a separate small teaching slope just above the upper base lodge area caters for absolute beginners.

La Coma Snowbowl  The higher La Coma sector is more expansive and open, with corduroy-groomed motorway blues and gentle reds, but the main attractions are the lift-served freeride zones and superb off-piste routes.

Alpine Profile
Arcalís is Andorra’s most Alpine ski zone, with classically shaped fold-mountain peaks and savage rocky surroundings. The high valleys have their own microclimate, endowing the area with an enviable snow record, without extreme temperature swings; as a result, Arcalís is usually always over 90 per cent open throughout the season and almost never suffers from icy pistes.
Arcalís holds an allure among those in the Andorran extreme freeride fraternity; positioned as it is in some of the Pyrenees’ gnarliest terrain. The profile of the red and black slopes is much steeper than those in the other Andorran stations; but study the lines of descent first if freeriding, as there are many rocky outcrops and sheer cliffs. Despite its attractions for experts, Arcalís has plenty to offer confident beginners and intermediates too, making it an ideal outing for mixed ability groups.