Engolasters

Engolasters is a small dispersed settlement and lakeside leisure area in the parish of Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra, set on a wooded plateau at about 1,616 m, ~5 km east of central Escaldes by road. The main visitor focus is the Estany d'Engolasters, an artificial reservoir built in 1929 to supply the FHASA (Forces Hidroelèctriques d'Andorra) hydroelectric scheme — historically a defining piece of 20th-century Andorran infrastructure. The lake is fringed by a flat, easy walking path through pine forest and meadow that is one of the most popular family walks in the country.

Above the lake the wider Engolasters plateau holds the small Romanesque-origin chapel of Sant Miquel d'Engolasters with its imposing 17 m Lombard bell tower (one of the most striking such towers in Andorra), and the Borda dels Reguers ethnographic complex. Some hiking routes from Engolasters climb on into the Madriu-Perafita-Claror UNESCO valley, although the formal main entrance to the UNESCO area is on the opposite (southern) flank of Escaldes.

Best time to visit: April–November for the lake walk and surrounding paths; the road can be icy in winter but is normally kept open.

By Plane

Same gateways as Andorra la Vella: BCN (~208 km), TLS (~195 km), LEU (~25 km).

By Train

Not relevant.

By Car / Road

From Escaldes-Engordany centre, take the signposted CS-200 road that climbs steeply east for ~5 km / 12–15 minutes to the lakeside parking. From Andorra la Vella, ~6 km / 15 min via Escaldes. > TODO: Limited regular bus service; in season a small shuttle may operate from Escaldes — check with the tourist office. Otherwise reach by private car or taxi.

The lake is walked on foot on an entirely flat, paved / packed-gravel circuit (around 2 km / 30–40 min). The Sant Miquel d'Engolasters chapel is on the road just below the lake. No internal bus or rideshare; for onward travel return to Escaldes-Engordany.

• Estany d'Engolasters — Artificial lake at 1,616 m fringed by pine forest and meadow; the most popular family lake walk in central Andorra. Free; accessible at any hour.

• Església de Sant Miquel d'Engolasters — Romanesque-origin chapel with one of the most striking Lombard bell towers in Andorra (~17 m). Free; opening hours irregular outside the summer cultural-visit programme.

• Borda dels Reguers — Restored mountain barn ensemble illustrating Pyrenean pastoral life; open for cultural events.

• FHASA hydroelectric heritage — The early-20th-century dam, the buried pressure pipe down to the Escaldes power station, and the Ramio worker-residences in the valley below are interpreted on the Camí Hidroelèctric heritage trail.

• Mirador de l'Estany d'Engolasters — Viewpoint over the lake and toward the Pic de Padern.

• Walk the Estany d'Engolasters lake circuit — Flat 2 km loop suitable for families and wheelchairs on most of the path.

• Hike the Camí Hidroelèctric — Heritage trail descending from the lake to Encamp / Ramio along the buried hydroelectric pipe; about 2–3 hr one way (downhill); return by bus from Encamp.

• Climb up into the wider Madriu-Perafita-Claror UNESCO valley — Longer routes from Engolasters cross the ridge into the UNESCO area; allow a full day with a guide.

• Picnic at the lakeside — Marked picnic zones; no campfires.

• Photograph the lake and Sant Miquel bell tower — Especially in spring with snow still on the surrounding peaks.

• Restaurant La Caubella (mid-range, on the road up from Escaldes) — Mountain restaurant with terraces and Catalan-Andorran cooking; mains €18–28.
• Snack bar at the Estany d'Engolasters (budget, seasonal) — Sandwiches, drinks, simple grills; €8–15.

For more substantial dining drop back down to Escaldes-Engordany (5 km) for Borda d'Erts, L'Encís, La Borda Pairal 1630, or central Andorra la Vella for Borda Estevet. Catalan-Andorran cooking dominates.

No bar scene at Engolasters beyond the seasonal snack bar. For evening drinks head back down to Escaldes-Engordany. Tap water is safe.

No formal accommodation at Engolasters itself. Most visitors stay 5 km down in Escaldes-Engordany or Andorra la Vella:

• Budget: Hotel Pyrénées in Andorra la Vella (6 km) — From €70.
• Mid-range: Hotel Roc Blanc in Escaldes (5 km) — Four-star with spa, €140–250 with breakfast. Hotel Espel — Three-star, €100–170.
• Upscale: Caldea Spa Hotel in Escaldes (5 km) — Five-star, €250–500. Hotel Holiday Inn Andorra — Five-star, €200–400.

No shops at Engolasters beyond the small refreshments stand at the lakeside (seasonal). Stock up in Escaldes-Engordany before driving up.

• Escaldes-Engordany (5 km / 12 min) — Caldea / Inúu spa, shopping.
• Engordany (4 km / 10 min) — Older quarter of the parish.
• Les Escaldes (5 km / 12 min) — Spa complex and Avinguda Carlemany.
• Andorra la Vella (6 km / 15 min) — Capital, Casa de la Vall.
• Encamp (8 km / 18 min, also accessible on foot via the Camí Hidroelèctric) — Funicamp gondola to Grandvalira.
• Madriu-Perafita-Claror UNESCO Valley — On foot from the southern Escaldes entrance.