Pass Route: Envalira, Ordino and Gallina in One Day

The Ruta de los Puertos of Andorra is the great motorcycle challenge of the eastern Pyrenees: stringing together in a single day the principality's three main passes — Port d'Envalira (2,408 m), Ordino-Arcalis (access at 2,560 m) and Coll de la Gallina (2,010 m) — on a 180-kilometre circular route that accumulates more than 4,500 metres of positive elevation gain. It is an intense, demanding and deeply rewarding day that crosses Andorra from north to south and from east to west, traversing the principality's three main valleys and offering a complete panorama of the entire landscape diversity of the smallest country in the Pyrenees.

The route begins at dawn in Andorra la Vella (1,023 m) and climbs directly to the Port d'Envalira via the CG-2, the first and highest of the three passes. The morning ascent, with the low sunlight bathing the peaks of Grandvalira, is one of the most beautiful moments of the entire day. From the top of Envalira you drop briefly down to Pas de la Casa (the French border) and then return to Andorra la Vella to take the CG-3 towards Ordino and the CS-340 towards Arcalis, the second pass. The climb to Arcalis is the gentlest of the three, but also the most bucolic: alpine meadows, fir forests, glacial lakes.

After the descent from Arcalis you return to Andorra la Vella (or directly to La Massana) and take the CG-1 towards Sant Julia de Loria, where the climb to the Coll de la Gallina begins, the most technical pass of the three. By this point in the day, the body already feels the hours of riding and the accumulated climbing, and the Gallina demands precision and concentration at every one of its tight curves. It is the perfect finale: the most demanding pass when the rider is most tired, forcing you to ride with your head rather than on instinct.

The day's gastronomic logistics are part of the pleasure: a hearty breakfast in Andorra la Vella (croissant and coffee with mountain views), lunch in Ordino (trinxat and trout at Borda de l'Avi) and a celebratory dinner in Sant Julia de Loria (grilled ribs and Andorran craft beer). Between passes, the cafes in the villages you pass through (Encamp, La Massana, Canillo) offer perfect stops for a cortado and a sandwich of Andorran cured meats.

Rider's notes: this route requires a long day (leaving before 8:00, finishing around 18:00-19:00) and an intermediate-to-advanced riding level. The three passes are only open simultaneously from June to September, and you should check the conditions on the Gallina (the most prone to closures for roadworks). Always keep the fuel tank above half (refuelling in Andorra la Vella between passes, taking advantage of the duty-free prices). Thermal protection in your upper layers is essential: the temperature difference between the valley (25C) and the summits (10C) can be as much as 15 degrees.