Arinsal Hill Climb 2026: complete spectator guide — schedules, route, how to get there and where to stay

On May 30 and 31, 2026, the CS-520 road climbing from Comallemple to Arinsal becomes one of the most spectacular motor racing venues in Southern Europe. The Arinsal Hill Climb 2026 —seventh edition of the event— brings together more than 80 drivers from Andorra, France, and Spain on 3.75 kilometers of technical asphalt, constant gradient, and tight corners that test the precision of the best mountain specialists. If you're thinking of going to see it, this guide tells you everything you need to know: what happens each day, where to position yourself, how to park, and how to make the most of the weekend to discover the parish of La Massana.

What is the Arinsal Ascent?

The Arinsal Hill Climb is a mountain motorsport event organized by the Sports Commission of the Automòbil Club d'Andorra (ACA CLUB). It is contested in a timed hill climb format —from the starting point in Comallemple to the finish in the village of Arinsal— and brings together the best of Pyrenean motorsport over two days: speed, precision, high mountain scenery, and a village atmosphere that few events in this discipline can match.

Since its first edition, the Arinsal Hill Climb has gained prominence in the European calendar. In 2026, it reaches its seventh edition, consolidated as one of Southern Europe's benchmarks, with international participation and, for the first time, with a real-time digital environment to follow times from your mobile.

If you love motorsport and have never seen a mountain hill climb live, Arinsal is the ideal place to discover them: access is easy, entry is free, there's a chairlift to go up and down between start and finish, and the village has places to eat and stay.

2026 Edition: dates, format, and championships

The Arinsal Hill Climb 2026 takes place on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, with activity starting early each day. On Thursday, May 29, there will be technical scrutineering for participating teams.

The event counts towards two championships:

• CAAM – Andorran Mountain Motorsport Championship (2026 season). The event officially opens the Andorran calendar.
• French Mountain Championship – 2nd Division (CFM), with the presence of the most competitive French teams in this category.

The format for 2026 is two independent events: Arinsal 1 on Saturday and Arinsal 2 on Sunday, each with its own classification, independent scoring, and trophy ceremony. This means that spectators attending both days will actually experience two distinct competitions, with their own winners and classifications.

Regarding participation, this edition reaches a record number: 82 drivers on Saturday (35 from the French Championship + 47 from CAAM) and 84 drivers on Sunday (35 French + 49 from CAAM). Nearly 50 of the participants are Andorran, which makes the event a local celebration as well as a top-tier sporting event.

A notable novelty for 2026 is the debut of the ACA CLUB Technical Training Program, with five young Andorran drivers who will compete at this level for the first time. It is also the first edition in which the organizational structure incorporates 13 women as track marshals, in line with the FIA Women in Motorsport program.

Official daily schedules

The following schedules are those officially published by ACA CLUB for the 2026 edition. Arrive with plenty of time: access roads close promptly and parking lots fill up quickly.

Saturday, May 30 — Arinsal 1

Sunday, May 31 — Arinsal 2

The track: 3.75 km of pure mountain

The setting for the event is the CS-520 road, the same one that leads to the Pal Arinsal ski resort (Grandvalira Resorts). The timed route runs between milestones 0.590 and 4.340, which gives a total length of 3.750 kilometers with an average gradient of 8.6%.

The profile combines two fast sections —at the beginning and the end— with a more technical central section where several tight, almost hairpin-like curves (known as "paelles") are linked, where drivers must slow down to a minimum and accelerate with precision. It is precisely this central area that is most popular among fans: you can watch the car pass, hear the gear shift, and practically smell the rubber.

With an accumulated elevation gain of 320 meters, the event demands maximum vehicle tuning to maintain power throughout the climb. The current event record reflects how quickly specialists tackle this course: the best single-seaters complete it in less than two minutes.

The village of Arinsal —at an altitude of 1,467 meters— serves as the finish line and paddock location, accessible to the public a few meters from the arrival point.

How to watch the race: spectator zones and chairlift

One of the great attractions of the Arinsal Hill Climb for spectators is the freedom of movement. There isn't a single viewing area: you can move along the track and find the spot you like best. Of course, use common sense and stay within the designated areas.

Josep Serra Chairlift: free and with views

The star attraction for the public is the Josep Serra chairlift, which operates completely free of charge throughout the entire weekend. It connects the start area (Comallemple) with the finish (Arinsal), following almost the same route as the road, giving you an aerial view of the track that is impossible to get from below. It's an experience in itself: you take the chairlift, see the cars from above, walk down wherever you want, and repeat. The organization recommends making good use of it to move between areas without needing to return to your car.

Paddock in the village

The starting park and paddock are in the very center of Arinsal, accessible to the public. You can get close to the vehicles, see how the teams prepare the cars, and talk to the mechanics during the intervals between heats. In events of this level, access to the paddock is an experience that is unthinkable in other motor sports.

The "paelles": the most technical area

If you're looking for pure spectacle, position yourself in the central section of the track, where the tightest curves are linked. Cars arrive at high speed, brake hard, turn, and accelerate fully: the sound is brutal and the viewing angle is unbeatable. Go up early to get a good position.

How to get there and where to park

Arinsal is in the parish of La Massana, about 10 kilometers from Andorra la Vella via the CG-4 road. From Andorra la Vella, the car journey takes about 15-20 minutes under normal conditions. During the race weekend, traffic in the Arinsal area becomes particularly complicated early in the morning, when everyone tries to arrive before the CS-520 closes.

The organization recommends two parking spots:

• Prats Sobirans Parking: located past the Arinsal dam tunnel. It is the most suitable parking lot for walking to the race start area.
• Arinsal Village: you can also park in the village and walk up to the start area.

In both cases, the final access to the start area is on foot. Allow between 10 and 20 minutes of walking depending on where you park.

Real-time results

The 2026 edition introduces the new CAAM digital environment: caam-2026-live.vercel.app. It is the official platform to follow classifications, times, and telemetry during the event, in real-time and for free. Access it from your mobile while you're in the mountains and you'll know who's in the lead at all times.

For the French Championship, times are also available live via Topcrono (topcrono.net).

What to do in Arinsal and La Massana beyond the race

If you organize your weekend with a couple of extra days —or simply arrive on Friday—, Arinsal and the parish of La Massana have a lot to offer beyond motorsports.

High mountain hiking

Late May is one of the best times of the year for hiking in the Andorran Pyrenees: the snow has already disappeared on the most accessible routes, the meadows are starting to turn green, and there are few people. Several emblematic routes depart from Arinsal:

• Comapedrosa (2,942 m): the highest peak in Andorra. The route starts from Arinsal and passes by Estany Negre. Technically it's not difficult, but in late May it's advisable to check the trail conditions. A full day trip.
• Estany de les Truites: a shorter and more accessible variant, perfect if you have children or if you've already been standing for a few hours watching the race the day before.
• Roca de la Sabina Viewpoint (km 4 of the CS-520, at 1,896 m): panoramic point over the Arinsal valley. From here, the damage from an old avalanche is clearly visible, and the views over the valley are magnificent.

Comapedrosa Valleys Natural Park

The protected natural area surrounding the eponymous peak is one of La Massana's great treasures. It is home to high mountain fauna —chamois, marmots, golden eagles— and a network of well-marked trails. The park entrance is from Arinsal.

The village of La Massana

About 6 kilometers from Arinsal, La Massana is the capital of the parish and has much more character than passing tourists usually discover. The historic center preserves Romanesque churches and restored bordas (traditional mountain houses). There is a market on Saturday mornings.

Looking for more ideas? Explore our Destinations section.

Where to stay in Arinsal for the weekend

Staying in Arinsal or La Massana during the Hill Climb weekend is the most comfortable option: you wake up, have breakfast, and are on the track in ten minutes. Plus, you can stay for the trophy ceremony on Saturday afternoon without worrying about getting back.

The accommodation offer in the area is wide: from mountain hotels with spas to small, characterful hostels. For the weekend of a popular sporting event, book in advance: the closest spots to Arinsal fill up.

There you will find all the updated offers with availability and prices for the race weekend.

Practical tips to make sure nothing goes wrong

Having a good weekend at the Arinsal Hill Climb involves a lot of logistics. Here are the tips anyone who has been there would give:

Before you go:

• Check the official program on the ACA CLUB website (esportiva.aca.ad) to confirm road closure times.
• Book your hotel as soon as possible. The Arinsal area has limited availability, and an event weekend fills it up.
• Download or save access to caam-2026-live.vercel.app to follow live times from your mobile.

On the day of the event:

• Arrive before 9:00 AM. After that time, road CS-520 may already be closed for access to viewing points.
• Park in Prats Sobirans or in the village and walk the last section. Do not try to get closer by car: there's no way and you'll waste time.
• Use the Josep Serra chairlift. It's free, gives you a unique perspective of the track, and saves you a lot of time moving between start and finish.
• Bring warm clothing. In late May, in Arinsal, the sun can be deceiving: it's cool in the morning and the wind in high areas is noticeable.
• If you have hearing protection (earplugs), use them near the starting area: high-displacement single-seaters are very loud at the starting point.

For the rest of the weekend:

• Friday afternoon is ideal for reconnoitering the road on foot or by bike before it's closed.
• The daily trophy ceremony (Arinsal 1 on Saturday, Arinsal 2 on Sunday) is usually in the village center. It's worth staying.
• If you're with children, access to the paddock is a memorable experience: the cars, teams, and atmosphere are very accessible.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Don't arrive late thinking there will be parking options near the track.
• Forgetting to check the official program and arriving after free practice has already finished.
• Not booking a hotel and finding yourself driving back at dusk with the day half over.
• Not knowing there are two independent races: if you only go one day, you'll miss the classification of the other.

Discover everything to do in Andorra this weekend

The Arinsal Hill Climb is a perfect excuse for a perfect weekend in Andorra. Combine motorsports with high-mountain hiking, the paddock with village terraces, and Sunday's race with a quiet afternoon in nature. Check all available activities and experiences in Andorra and organize every detail from here.

Frequently asked questions