Andorran ski resorts open early for Puríssima after heavy November snowfall

The main Andorran ski areas opened in advance of the Puríssima long weekend after a November of generous snowfall and intensive piste preparation. Ordino Arcalís was the first to start lifts on 27 November; Grandvalira and Pal Arinsal followed with staggered pre‑openings that will allow widespread skiing this weekend.

Grandvalira confirmed an early opening of the Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig sectors, with a special €45 day ticket available only at the ticket offices of those sectors. The resort plans to bring the remaining sectors — Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Encamp — into service so that the whole domain will be skiable and sectors connected by Saturday, offering more than 100 km of prepared pistes from the outset. Grandvalira also launched a free circular bus between Grau Roig and El Tarter to ease transfers between sectors.

Pal Arinsal opened with over 30 km of pistes and about 90% of its lifts operational, including the cable car that links its two sectors. The station’s Winter Bike Park also began operations with its circuits available. Ordino Arcalís has continued to expand its offering since its late‑November start and expects to have roughly 65% of its domain available for the weekend.

Resorts credited the early start to substantial November snowfall and the work of technical teams on piste grooming and snowmaking. Overnight accumulations at higher elevations improved conditions, and operators said they will publish daily updates on lift and slope status on their websites and social channels.

The early openings have boosted demand for accommodation. The Unió Hotelera d’Andorra reported a positive November, with hotel occupancy averaging 61.9% — up 8.26 percentage points year‑on‑year — and described the trend as supportive for the winter season. Hoteliers and the Association of Tourist Accommodation Companies reported mid‑week bookings in key areas ranging from about 60% to 85%, with some establishments already full for New Year’s, and many businesses expecting last‑minute reservations to lift occupancy further for Puríssima and the Christmas period.

The sector warned that staffing remains a challenge in some establishments due to additional controls linked to entry/exit permits; operators are adapting by improving offers and wages to attract experienced workers. Despite that, tourism bodies and operators expressed optimism, describing the current combination of snow cover and events as a strong lead‑in to a busy December and holiday season.

Resorts are running a programme of opening‑weekend activities and urged visitors to check official channels for the latest information on pistes, lifts and services before travelling.