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Travel to Candanchu with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Located at an altitude of 1,560m above sea level, the village of Candanchu is a cosy resort town situated amid the stunning scenery of the Pyrenees. With only a handful of hotels and commendable shopping services, including boutiques, gift shops and banks, Candanchu is well equipped. The nearby historic town of Jaca provides additional services.

Candanchu ski resort has 48 well-prepared slopes over 51kms of terrain, with all abilities catered for and an emphasis on experts. Six chairlifts and 19 draglifts, with an hourly uplift capacity for over 21,000 people, serve all slopes. In addition, the resort has an excellent snow park, featuring a ski jump and half-pipe.

The ski season at Candanchu runs from December to May, with low season rates the first three weeks of December and mid-season in January, and from mid-March to mid-April. The most convenient way to get Candanchu is to fly to Pamplona and hire a car, or fly to Zaragoza and take a train/bus combination transfer to the ski resort.

Skiing in Candanchu

Lying to the east of Pamplona and northwest of Barcelona, on the Spanish/French border, Candanchu is a laid-back Pyrenean ski resort that prides itself on its lack of tourist hordes. Candanchu offers 51kms of terrain suitable for all levels of skiers, along with some great cross-country trails and a snowboard park.

There are 48 slopes altogether that run across 51kms of fantastic terrain and are divided into nine beginner slopes, eight intermediate, 14 advanced, and 17 difficult slopes for experts. Twenty-five chair and draglifts provide access to all slopes and can lift 21,000 people per hour. Additionally, Candanchu has a snow park and 35kms of cross-country trails for all levels.

The cosy resort town of Candanchu sits among beautiful Pyrenean scenery at an altitude of 1,560m and only has 1,800 guest beds, adding to its less-commercialised appeal. Three hotels, apartments and private houses provide the accommodation and there are an additional 8,000 beds within the valley.

The December to May ski season at Candanchu ski resort has its best snow conditions from early February to mid-March and its lowest rates up to the Christmas holidays. Mid-season rates are in January and from mid-March to mid-April.

The most practical option for getting to Candanchu involves flying to Zaragoza and taking a taxi or shuttle bus into the city. Trains run from here to Canfranc (near Candanchu), from where buses and taxis go to the resort town.

Après-ski in Candanchu

There are 1,800 beds in Candanchu, provided by three hotels, apartments, a hostel and private residences, and a further 8,000 beds in the surrounding villages within the valley. There are cafés, restaurants, bars and discos, but for more of a choice of facilities and activities, head for nearby Jaca. Childcare facilities are provided in both Candanchu and Jaca.

There are good childcare facilities in Candanchu, but a fairly limited amount of other non-ski activities and facilities; however, these can be found in nearby Jaca. Candanchu has several restaurants and bars, but if it’s a busy night you’re after, head for Jaca.

For alternative skiing, the Astun ski area is adjacent to Candanchu and offers a further 17 slopes; while Gourette, Artouste and La Pierre de Saint Martin are just over the border into France. Away from the slopes, historic Jaca has interesting sightseeing, including a museum, cathedral and an impressive 16th century fortress.

Transportation to Candanchu

Located in the province of Aragon, on the Spanish/French border of the Pyrenees, 140kms east of Pamplona, Candanchu ski resort is only directly accessible by road. The quickest travel option is to fly to Pamplona and hire a car, whereas the drive from the UK is fairly long and rail travel involves many connections.

Candanchu is 480kms northeast from Madrid along the E-90 and E-7, and the route from Barcelona is 470kms along the A-2 and E-7. If you’re travelling by car from the UK, the quickest route from Calais goes via Paris, Orleans, Tours, Bordeaux and Castets. From there, take the D-947, D-238 and the E-7 to Candanchu (1,160; 12 to 13 hours).

Rail access is through Zaragoza and ultimately, Canfranc (six kilometres from Candanchu). The Canfranc-bound train leaves Zaragoza at 07:10 and arrives at 11:05. If you’re coming from Paris, TGV trains go from gare de Lyon, via Montpellier, to Barcelona, from where several trains run to Zaragoza. There is also a service from Paris’ Austerlitz station direct to Barcelona. Eurostar runs a regular service from London to Paris, taking under four hours.

Both Pamplona and Zaragoza have airports, with Pamplona being the closest to Candanchu ski resort and servicing regular flights from Barcelona and Madrid. The easiest transfer option from Pamplona is to hire a car and take the N-240 and the E-7 (140kms; two to three hours), or take the bus. From Zaragoza, take a shuttle to Zaragoza train station, from where services run to Canfranc. Taxis and buses run from there to Candanchu.

If you fly to Barcelona’s El Prat de Llobregat Airport, trains go from the airport to Zaragoza for a change to Canfranc. Eurolines buses run from major European cities to Barcelona, from where services run on to Zaragoza, and then to Candanchu.

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