National parks near Santa Pau, Catalonia
Santa Pau sits inside the Olot area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Olot for the full write-up.
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is the closest national park to Santa Pau, Catalonia — 140 km (87.1 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 31 min behind the wheel.
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici makes a full day trip — leave early. Ordesa y Monte Perdido and Cabrera Archipelago are better with a night booked nearby.
Santa Pau has a population of about 1,541.
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
Ordesa y Monte Perdido
Cabrera Archipelago
Asinara
Gran Paradiso
Sierra de Guadarrama
National parks near Santa Pau
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park | 140 km (87.1 mi) | 2 hr 31 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park | 215 km (133 mi) | 3 hr 36 min | Best as a weekend |
| Cabrera Archipelago National Park | 334 km (208 mi) | 5 hr 22 min | Best as a weekend |
| Asinara National Park | 489 km (304 mi) | 7 hr 38 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gran Paradiso National Park | 532 km (330 mi) | 8 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 567 km (352 mi) | 8 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Archipelago of La Maddalena National Park | 577 km (358 mi) | 8 hr 56 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Golfo di Orosei and Gennargentu National Park | 615 km (382 mi) | 9 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Picos de Europa National Park | 618 km (384 mi) | 9 hr 32 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cinque Terre National Park | 620 km (385 mi) | 9 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
When to make this trip
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is generally best May, June, September, and early October, with April and late October as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter is cool and wet at low elevation and snowy in the mountains, with reduced hut and refuge service.
July and August combine peak heat with peak domestic holidays. Shoulder months are both cooler and quieter.
Month-by-month detail for Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Santa Pau are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici → Ordesa y Monte Perdido | 75.8 km (47.1 mi) | 1 hr 33 min |
Planning a trip from Santa Pau
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Read the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park guide
Other towns in Província de Girona
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Santa Pau?
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. It is about 140 km (87.1 mi) from Santa Pau, roughly 2 hr 31 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Santa Pau?
Yes — Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Santa Pau?
10 parks are within reach of Santa Pau, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Santa Pau?
For Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, the closest one, generally May, June, September, and early October. Either side of that, April and late October stays quieter.