Mountain rescue in Andorra and Lift Pass insurance

Here's the lowdown on mountain rescue in Andorra, broken down informally:

• Who Rescues You?

  • On the slopes (in ski resorts like Grandvalira): The resort's own crew, kinda like ski patrol. They'll give you first aid and get you off the mountain to their medical centre.

  • Off-piste or trickier stuff: The official Mountain Rescue Group (part of the Fire Department) or sometimes the Police handle it. These folks are pros!

• Here's the Kicker: It Costs Money!

• Unlike some places (like the US) where just getting rescued on the piste might seem free, in Andorra, you'll get charged for being rescued and transported off the mountain.

• Yep, even that first stop at the resort's medical centre will cost you.

• Because of those costs, everyone pretty much says you have to have insurance. The resorts themselves push it hard.

• Good news! You can totally grab "Ski Accident Insurance" right when you buy your ski pass. It's super recommended.

• It's cheap, usually around €5-€6 a day.

• What it covers: All those rescue costs (sledge, snowmobile, helicopter) and the initial medical bills at the resort's clinic (up to a few thousand Euros- maximum 5000 Euros ). Sometimes it even covers unused passes/lessons and civil liability.

• Important: You gotta buy it before you hit the slopes for the first time! No adding it later.

• Seriously, Get Insurance!

• Easy Insurance Option: Buy It With Your Lift Pass!

​How Mountain Rescue Works in Andorra

In Andorra's major ski areas, like Grandvalira Resorts (which includes Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal, and Ordino Arcalís), rescue operations are handled by two main groups:

• Piste Rescue (Ski Patrol): Within the resort boundaries, rescue is conducted by the ski area's professional safety and rescue staff, similar to Ski Patrol in the US.

• They are responsible for immediate first aid, stabilising the injured person, and using a rescue sledge (toboggan), snowmobile, or sometimes a helicopter to transport the casualty to the nearest resort medical centre.

• The resort medical centre provides initial diagnostics and treatment.1

National Mountain Rescue: More complex rescues, or those occurring in the wider backcountry, are handled by the Grup de Rescat de Muntanya (Mountain Rescue Group), which is part of the Bombers d'Andorra (Andorran Fire Department) or, in some cases, the Police Corps of Andorra. These are highly trained professional services.