Canillo

Canillo is Andorra's easternmost and largest parish by area, home to the Soldeu and El Tarter ski sectors that form part of Grandvalira—the Pyrenees' largest ski resort with 215 kilometers of slopes. The sector founded in 1964 merged in 2003 with neighboring Encamp's resorts to create the current mega-resort. A cable car from the village of Canillo connects to the ski area above. The parish's atmosphere is calmer and more family-oriented than the rowdier Pas de la Casa across the mountain. Population stands at approximately 4,600, swelling dramatically during ski season. Grandvalira has hosted prestigious events including Alpine Ski World Cups in 2012 and 2016, World Cup Finals in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025, establishing the resort on the international racing circuit. Summer brings hiking and mountain biking as the parish markets year-round alpine tourism. The Romanesque church of Sant Joan de Caselles, dating to the 11th-12th centuries, represents the parish's pre-tourism heritage. By 2026, Canillo's trajectory depends on whether snow reliability holds as climate change shortens seasons, whether summer tourism diversifies revenue streams, and whether Grandvalira maintains competitiveness against larger Alpine resorts.