Our new Canyons of Aínsa guided walking holiday explores one of the quieter and most varied walking regions in the Spanish Pyrenees. In this post, Juanma, one of our local guides, shares what makes the area so special — from the dramatic canyons of Añisclo and Escuaín to the wildlife, mountain villages and quieter trails around Ordesa National Park. Here’s what he had to say.
Juanma's story
This hasn’t been just about guiding another walking holiday for me.
Not only because I had the chance to explore once again the incredible eastern canyons of Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park — Pineta, Escuaín, and the Añisclo Canyon seen from above.
Not only because I could walk once more beneath my beloved Peña Montañesa, or look out over the historic region of Sobrarbe, with its reservoirs and snow-covered peaks, from a lookout point that has watched over these lands for nearly a thousand years.
But because this time, Hike Pyrenees came to my home.
Aínsa... My hometown
We spent our days in a place where I know not only every path and hidden corner, but also many of the people who give life to it. And this trip felt different somehow — not like a one-off experience, but like the beginning of a tradition that will return year after year. A week based in Aínsa, one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, but above all… my home. The place where I have spent so many years living, exploring, guiding, and building friendships.
The Foundation for the Conservation of the Lammergeier
It gave me the chance to share something much more personal, and to reconnect with friends like Noemi, from the Foundation for the Conservation of the Lammergeier, who transported us for a day into the fascinating world of scavenger birds. We spent an unforgettable morning at a feeding station just outside the village, surrounded by the wild landscapes of Sobrarbe.
For two intense hours, hundreds of griffon vultures circled above us and landed only a short distance from our hide. Alongside them came Egyptian vultures, red kites, ravens, and even the unmistakable silhouette of the bearded vulture gliding across the sky.
The passion with which Noe shared her knowledge and answered every question turned the experience into one of the defining moments of the trip. And honestly, I do not think the photos can truly capture what we witnessed there.
The people...
The warmth of those days also came from the people we met along the way: the lovely family from San Juan de Toledo, who still care for the keys to their tiny church, and the team at Hotel Sánchez, who welcomed us with genuine affection and attention throughout our stay. The hotel itself, now celebrating its 100th anniversary, surprised us with the newly renovated bar — a beautiful blend of tradition and renewal.
Familiar faces
And somehow, it feels fitting that all of this happened in Aínsa. Because this is also where I first came across the Hike Pyrenees vans back in 2017, when the company was celebrating its 10th anniversary. Some of the guests from that trip, like Liz and Tony, joined us again this year — familiar faces now, and part of the wider Hike Pyrenees family, like the rest of our guests this time around.
It was there, beside the castle walls, that I first met Rosa from the office and handed her my business card. None of us could have imagined then everything that would grow from that small moment, or how much of my life I would end up sharing with this company.
Becoming part of the Hike Pyrenees family
The following year, I joined the Hike Pyrenees team. Alongside Phil, Rosa, and Teresa in the office, David had joined just a year earlier. Over time, we became a close-knit team, sharing countless days together. And now, in this growing family — one where I feel a little like the prodigal son returning home — we had the chance to relive those years once again, guiding side by side: Phil, David, and me, during a trip that felt special from beginning to end.
Some places stay with you because of their landscapes. Others, because of the people you share them with.
Thank you to everyone who made it so memorable.
If you’d like to explore this quieter side of the Pyrenees with us, you can find full details of the Canyons of Aínsa guided walking holiday here.
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