For two days we have run the route "Estels the South" in the Ports Tortosa-Beceite (South Catalonia – Spain).  65km. the first day and 36 km. the second, with about 4,500 meters positive, which left our body crushed, but the mind completely regenerated, and allowed us to get into one of the most beautiful and little known sites in Catalonia.

7 partners from the Marathon des Sables 2011 we have gathered to meet again and celebrate the first anniversary of such an intense experience: Jordi Mercader, Carles Portabella, Quim Tribó Jordi Vila, Jose Arimany and Xavier Garcia.

Very often people who want to make mountaineering, use to focus the North, and places like the Ports of Beceite keep quite unknown. Therefore I strongly suggest it, because it is a spectacular area with an incredible variety of landscapes, canyons, forests, closed and open views ranging from pure mountain to the sea and the Ebro Delta.  A great luxury for the senses. Moreover, this particular route, is well marked and easy to follow, while that is designed to explore the most special parts of the natural park, crossing small trails rather than large forest tracks.

This circular route is advised to do it in 5 stages of 6-8 hours of trekking up to pace, always finding accommodation in shelters, hotels or country houses. The usual stages are: Refuge Monte Caro, Paüls, Arnes, Beceite and Refuge Font Ferrera. We have done as excursion-training of ultra-marathon, and we eat in 2 very intense journeys.

I’ve done a lot of routes throughout Catalonia and Spain, and I can assure you that this is one of the best. If you want more information, see the website of the route: www.estelsdelsud.com