Pantikos ski resort is located in the heart of the Pyrenees, in the amazing province of Aragon. The resort is adjacent to another equally popular resort, Formigal . Both settlements are geographically located near the French border, which is why it is common to hear the French language or see French dishes and wines on the menu of local restaurants.
Pantikosa is considered a calm and cozy ski resort in Spain , located at an altitude of 1350 meters above sea level. Today, the ski resort attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world with thirty-eight slopes with a total length of 35 kilometers. Each of the tracks has its own mark, which is why both a beginner and a professional mountain skier can try their hand here.
Incoming tourists who have long chosen Pantikos can stay in apartments both on the territory of the ski complex and in the residential area. In total, Pantikos has about twenty-five hotels of various levels.
It is noteworthy that Pantikosa is popular with Spaniards and visiting guests not only in the winter tourist peak, but also in the summer. After all, from May to September, here you can master diving in the local Gallero river, conquer the mountainous terrain with the help of alpine equipment, and also engage in spa procedures provided by qualified specialists.
What is interesting to see in Pantikos?
Undoubtedly, the main attraction of the Pantikos ski resort is the sports complex of the same name. It has at its disposal three dozen tracks of different difficulty and length, which are designed for athletes with any level of training.
Today, on the territory of the complex there is a ski school, several children’s rooms, hockey rinks and indoor skating rinks.
In addition to sports and active recreation, Pantikosa is famous for the fact that you can passively relax and improve your health there. The thermal springs of Aragon have long attracted tourists from all over the world. Pantikos’ “health resort” was located in the Balneario hotel, where you can use the gym, baths, saunas and, of course, take a dip in the thermal springs.
Other spa procedures provided by hotel specialists are paid separately. Those staying in other apartments can also visit the Balneario complex.
Another attraction of Pantikos is the Gallego River. It is one of the deepest. Small houses located literally a hundred meters from the reservoir brought great popularity to this river. They have become a kind of “tourist base” for everyone who wants to merge with nature and rest from the hustle and bustle.
It is noteworthy that many tourists prefer not only to rest on Gallego, but also to master its depths by diving there with diving equipment. In the same way, fishing on Gallego, which leaves a sea of positive emotions and a good catch, has been gaining popularity recently.
Pantikos: tours and activities
Pantikosa is a fairly compact settlement, which is why no sightseeing tours are held on its territory. However, for those who decide to dilute their sports vacation, there is an opportunity to go to nearby cities. For example, every Thursday a tourist bus with a guide departs from the Balneario Hotel to the ancient city of Jaca, where tourists can immerse themselves in the history of this settlement, admire and study the cultural and architectural monuments of this city. You can sign up for an excursion and learn about its full cost at the hotel reception.
As for events, Pantikos celebrates the beginning and end of the ski season quite brightly and colorfully. For example, November 1 in this resort is considered a day when a field kitchen is set up on the territory of the ski complex, an improvised scene is arranged with raffles for gifts and discount cards for visiting certain sports areas. Also, on this day you can get good discounts and bonuses in Pantikosa establishments.
The end of the ski season, even if it is not a big holiday for local residents, is also celebrated on a huge scale. Songs, dances, dressing up and fireworks – all this awaits those who end their winter vacation in Pantikos in early April. It is noteworthy that the end of the season can fall on any number, because it is celebrated on the first Sunday of April.
Climate in Pantikos
The favorable temperate-continental climate in Pantikos is characterized by fairly warm summer months and sunny winters. In the period from November to April, which is considered the tourist peak, the weather in the settlement greets tourists with positive temperatures and abundant night precipitation.
It is noteworthy that during the day there is practically no wind in Pantikos , but many note fog and cloudiness, however, most often the sky becomes clear by noon. In the summer in Pantikos, the thermometer can rise to +37 0 C, while the relative humidity of the air and rare gusts of wind are noted.
Hotels and apartments
A little more than two dozen hotels are located on the territory of Pantikosa. All of them have 4 or 5*. The Balneario de Panticos apartments are considered the most popular, they are located 8 kilometers from the ski resort. The Balneario de Panticos is a whole complex that includes a hotel, two restaurants, a gym, a spa elephant, baths, saunas and other relaxation areas.
The cost of accommodation in such a hotel is the most expensive on the territory of Pantikos. One day in a single room will cost a tourist 180 euros.
For those who do not want to pay such an amount, but cannot sacrifice comfort and well-established service, there are many other hotels. For example, you can rent a good room on the territory of a ski complex or in a residential area with excellent service and a view from the window for 60 euros per day.
Balneario de Panticosa 4-star hotel
The Balneario de Panticosa hotel complex consists of 2 buildings. It is located 8 km from the Pantikosa-Los Lagos ski resort. It offers 3 restaurants and free Wi-Fi throughout the territory.
Decorated by Raphael Monet, the stylish rooms at the Balneario de Panticosa have flat-screen TVs. All of them are also equipped with air conditioning and central heating. In addition, each room has its own bathroom.
The Balneario restaurant serves breakfast and a dinner buffet. The restaurant on the 1st floor serves traditional Aragonese cuisine, while the La Fontana del Balneario restaurant serves Italian cuisine.
There is a thermal spa center on the territory of the complex, which specializes in personalized health and beauty procedures. The thermal pool, relaxation area, steam bath, cold baths, contrast shower and Roman baths are available. Various procedures are also performed for an additional fee.
At the reception desk, guests can purchase ski passes for the Pantikos-Aramon and Formigal slopes. Cross-country skiing slopes pass near the complex.
The Balneario de Panticosa complex is located in the Tena Valley, where you can relax all year round. The drive to the ski resorts of Pantikos and Formigal takes 10 and 30 minutes, respectively. An 18-hole golf course is located 40 km away, and the GR-11 hiking route begins directly in the complex.
Hotel Sabocos 3-star hotel
Hotel Sabocos is located in the village of Pantikos in the Pyrenees, 50 meters from the ski lifts of Pantikos. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and rooms equipped with a flat-screen TV.
Rooms at the Sabocos Hotel are functionally decorated and have parquet floors. All rooms have a private bathroom and some also have a balcony with stunning mountain views.
In the morning, guests are served a buffet breakfast. The hotel’s restaurant serves traditional Aragonese cuisine on a daily changing menu. The hotel has a cafe-bar with a terrace.
Sabocos Hotel has a TV lounge and a library. Ski storage facilities are at guests’ disposal.
The hotel is a 30-minute drive from Jaca and a 1-hour drive from Huesca. El Formigal Ski Resort is a 15-minute drive from Pantikos.
Escalar 2-star hotel
This cozy hotel is located just 300 m from the ski slopes of Pantikos, in the Tena Valley. It features a seasonal outdoor heated pool, terraces with panoramic mountain views, a bar and free Wi-Fi in public areas.
Rooms at Hotel Escalar are decorated in a traditional mountain style and feature central heating, a sofa, a plasma TV, a safe and a private bathroom. Some rooms offer stunning mountain views.
Guests can relax in the TV lounge, play billiards in the games room, or take a walk along the Bubal Reservoir, a 20-minute walk from the hotel. The hotel is located in the city center and the thermal baths of Pantikos are 8 km away.
Hotel Escalar is a 50-minute drive from Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. The resort of Formigal is 12 km away, while the city of Jaca is 45 km away. Free parking spaces are available subject to availability.
Hotel Vicente 1-star hotel
Rooms at the Vicente Family Hotel offer a beautiful view of the Aragonese Pyrenees. Ski storage facilities are at guests’ disposal. The hotel is located just 300 meters from the Pantikos ski resort and 14 km from Formigal. Pantikos Spa is 6 km away.
All rooms at Hotel Vicente are decorated in a country style and have windows overlooking the mountains. Each room with parquet floors is equipped with heating, a TV and a private bathroom with all amenities.
Breakfast is served in the hotel restaurant. Guests can relax in the lounge or on the garden terrace with great views.
The hotel’s tour desk can arrange skiing, fishing trips and hiking in the surrounding area. Wi-Fi is available in public areas.
Camping Panticosa
Overlooking the garden, Camping Panticosa has rooms, a bar and a garden. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are available.
Each chalet has a terrace, a fully equipped kitchen with a microwave, a living area with a sofa, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a shower. A refrigerator, a stove and a coffee maker are at guests’ disposal.
Skiing can be enjoyed nearby.
Near the Panticosa campsite is the Corona de Aragon chair lift, the Javier Escartin and O’Fonille lifts.
Pantikosa restaurants
Cafeteria Xena
Cafeteria Xena is one of the few cafes in Panticos and is famous for serving fairly simple food. Pizza, hamburgers, sweet pastries, simple alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails are the basis of Cafeteria Xena’s menu.
The interior of the cafe is just as simple – wooden tables and chairs, small paintings and postcards from different countries of the world…
El Embalse
El Embalse is a restaurant of Spanish cuisine, which is located a little further from Panticos , but is quite popular, both with local residents and visiting tourists. Salads, soups, pastas, pizzas and fast food are served there. It is noteworthy that the establishment offers both meat dishes and dishes for vegetarians. The interior at El Embalse captivates with its simplicity and elegance…
Navarro and Emotion
Navarro and Emotion is an establishment that plays live music, serves delicious meat and wine. Restaurant Navarro and Emotion has long been a meeting place for loud companies and family dinners. The interior of the restaurant is made in an inconspicuous, refined style, which is suitable for any events.
The dishes at Navarro and Emotion are delicious, the portions are always large…
Casa Morlans
Casa Morlans is one of Pantikos restaurants located on the central street. Entering the institution, it seems that you have entered a cave – the interior is made in this style, baked clay on the walls, chaotic recesses – all this is reminiscent of the natural landscapes of Spain. The dishes at Casa Morlans are hearty, tasty, and the portions are large.
The menu offers both local and European cuisine… …
Pantikosa: entertainment and active recreation
Entertainment, sports and active recreation in Pantikos are presented in the ski complex of the same name. Today, anyone can learn mountain skiing, ice skating, play hockey or go dog sledding on its territory. The sports ground is equipped with several dozen lifts, which deliver all athletes without delay or queues to conquer new peaks.
At the ski complex, there is a school for beginners, and there are also kindergartens where you can leave your children for a while under the supervision of experienced and qualified staff. Another place that many visitors to Panticosa have fallen in love with is the Balneario de Panticosa, or thermal resort. This is a whole complex with open-air swimming pools, thermal springs, baths, saunas and many sports grounds, for example, with areas for golf or big tennis.
Initially, the Balneario de Panticosa was a hotel, but only later did new, modern health and sports grounds begin to be built on its territory. They are available both to those who checked into the hotel and to tourists from other apartments. The cost of the visit must be clarified at the Balneario de Panticosa itself, as there is a system of discounts and bonuses for both group and individual visits. The price of an unlimited card per day is 155 euros.
The Gallego River is considered the most budget-friendly place for sports and recreation in Pantikos. It was located a couple of kilometers from Pantikos and is one of the cleanest and deepest in all of Aragon. In summer, it often becomes a place for fishing and diving, as well as for kayaking and canoeing. But it is worth noting that there are no shops with fishing tackle or places to rent kayaks on the territory of the settlement. That is why everyone brings their equipment or rents it in the big cities of Aragon.
Transport features of Pantikos
The public transport network on the territory of Pantikos is not developed. This settlement is quite compact, all important public places of the resort are within walking distance, so neither tourists nor local residents feel the need for buses and shuttle taxis.
It is customary to move around Pantikos by car or bicycle in the summer. Lifts take tourists from the residential area to the top of the trails. You can get from the ski complex to the hotel with thermal springs with the help of local residents who have cars and actively offer their services. Most often, the cost of such a trip does not exceed 3 euros, and the time spent on the journey is about 10 minutes.
Pantikos souvenirs
Souvenirs in Panticosa can be bought both on the territory of the ski complex and in the Balneario de Panticosa hotel. If you buy souvenirs on the territory of the sports area, you should be prepared for the fact that their selection will not be so large, and the cost will be clearly overestimated. For example, the most common souvenir products of Pantikos are simple badges, postcards, magnets, key rings and other small things with the image of the flag and coat of arms of Spain or the mountains of Pantikos.
More original souvenirs are sold in the thermal complex Balneario de Panticosa. There you can buy jars with useful water that do not break, clay or creams made from natural products. Such presents are very popular and are considered the most desirable. However, their cost often exceeds 35-40 euro..
Another extremely unusual place to buy souvenirs is a simple supermarket. Due to the proximity of Pantikos to the French border, you can buy relatively cheap French and Spanish delicacies, sausages, cheeses and wines in the usual Pantikos grocery stores.