Mas Sant Marc: A rustic chic escape in the Pyrenees

When you want to soak in nature, forget the crowds, but still be close to a village and many activities, then Mas Sant Marc is your place.

We’re talking about a rustic hotel in an old-world-style Catalan masia on the calm outskirts of the village of Puigcerdà. There, it’s all about original country-style decor that fuses with the stone walls and wooden floors.

We fell in love with Mas Sant Marc when we visited it, so we decided to share everything you need to know about it here. Keep scrolling to discover more!

* Post written for the first time in April 2022 and updated in June 2024.

Everything you need to know about Mas Sant Marc

Mas Sant Marc is so calm and relaxing, and it’s little known amongst travellers, so it feels like you have discovered a little secret you almost want to keep to yourself! It’s usually frequented by locals (mainly from Barcelona) who seek to get out of the capital for a ski break or a close-to-nature getaway.

The history of this charming country house started in 1880. By then, a doctor from Barcelona named Ivo Morer bought the house and the farm surrounding it as a place to escape from the big city and relax in the countryside. At that time, Mas Sant Marc was just a family home that welcomed the doctor’s family during their summer and winter getaways.

In a significant turn of events in 1994, the daughter of Ivo Morer, the original owner, decided to convert the family home into a charming, family-run hotel. This marked a milestone for Mas Sant Marc, becoming the first officially licensed accommodation in Girona and the seventh in Catalonia.

Nowadays, its current owner is the third generation of the Catalan family Morer to run the business.

The house has been beautifully restored with modern comforts throughout the years and looks absolutely gorgeous! We loved how the place still maintains its character and charm despite the renovations, and you can see the attention to design in every detail.

Staying there was like a feast for our eyes: every colour was perfectly picked and every object perfectly placed. And it seemed to have been done in such a casual way!

The masia

If you’ve never heard the word masia before (which is totally understandable since it’s a specific word of Catalonia), add it to your vocabulary! It’s a common word used here to refer to a building in a rural environment that is (or was) related to farming.

In the old days, Mas Sant Marc was a cattle farm. Nowadays, the masia is where most of the services and rooms are. There, you’ll find a living room to chill by a cosy fireplace, a self-service bar, a desk to work with your computer, toilets, and the reception.

The food

The masia is also where the restaurant is located. They offer typical dishes from La Cerdanya, like trinxat or local cheese, cooked using fresh and local foods.

The lovely breakfast, made with local producers’ items, was the best way to start our day! Cured meats, croissants, bread, fruit, jams, orange juice, tea, coffee, you name it. Oh, and eggs, whichever way you like them! The eggs couldn’t be fresher as they come from the hens of the house itself.

The rooms

The rooms all have so many beautiful details. What enchanted us is that no two rooms are the same, so each time you stay in the hotel, it feels like a different experience.

Each room has its own personalised decoration, and the views also vary from room to room. You can have a front-row seat to the impressive Pyrenees mountains, the beautiful garden, or the outdoor pool.

Another difference is the number of people that can stay in a room. Some can accommodate two people, while others can accommodate up to four.

If you prefer a more secluded experience, you can also stay in the bungalow. It’s an independent tiny house, some meters away from the masia, giving you absolute privacy.

We were astonished by the views from the bungalow, and waking up surrounded by horses felt like living in a fantasy.

The bungalow has a kitchenette and a private terrace, the perfect place to relax, enjoy a cup of wine, and soak up the views.

For big groups, up to 12 people, there’s also the option of booking an independent countryside house next to the masia. We visited the house and wouldn’t mind spending a weekend or more there with our families or friends!

Like the masia, the villa stands out for its thoughtful decor and beautiful private garden. We could quickly picture ourselves enjoying an al fresco dinner or a vermouth under the sun!

Plan your trip to Mas Sant Marc

Best time to go to Mas Sant Marc

You can stay at Mas Sant Marc all year round. The surroundings are at their greenest during spring and summer, whereas you might find them covered in snow in winter! Summer is ideal for cycling and hiking, while winter is the perfect season for ski lovers.

If your dates are flexible, we recommend you book midweek. The price is lower during the week, so you’ll save some money and find fewer people. We highly recommend planning your stay and booking in advance, as it can get fully booked quickly.

How to get to Mas Sant Marc?

You’ll find this beautiful masia on the outskirts of the village of Puigcerdà, in the north centre of Catalunya.

It takes about 1 h and 50 min drive from Barcelona, whereas it’s approx 2 hours from Girona and Lleida.

There are parking premises on the property, so parking the car is not a problem.

If you’re not planning on renting a car, you can also reach Puigcerdà by public transport. From Barcelona, both buses and trains take 3 h to get there. Once in Puigcerdà, the only way to get to the hotel is by foot (26 min) or taxi (call +34 626 20 33 61 or +34 620 72 16 53).

What’s included in the price?

The price varies depending on the room type and the day of the week you book, but it starts at 82 € per night.

You can use all the facilities in the main house and the swimming pool (from June to October). The price also includes a yoga mat for your stay, a map of the area, bikes, and Pukka tea (our favourite tea brand🤤)!

There are many add-ons to choose from, including organic and local breakfast, a massage session, or horse rides.

What to do in Mas Sant Marc

Just chill

Do nothing! Relax under the trees in the garden, read a book by the fireplace, nap, or listen to the birds while sipping your favourite drink. The options are endless! Just enjoy; it’s a feeling we don’t experience too often!

If doing nothing for a few days is too much, keep reading! There are plenty of other options.

Plunge into the pool

Mas Sant Marc has a swimming pool included in the night price. The pool is open from June to October, and it’s perfect for refreshing, practising your swimming skills or sunbathing.

Further relax with a massage

If you want to treat yourself, you can book a private massage session with a physiotherapist. The sessions are held in the rooms. They might be the perfect way to end a ski or hiking day.

Exercise with a morning yoga class

After a good night’s sleep, yoga can be an excellent way to start your day with energy and stretch the whole body before a tasty breakfast. You’ll find a yoga mat in each room, so you can open YouTube, find a class you like and hit the play button! If you need inspiration, our favourite yoga channels are Alo Yoga, Sean Vigue Fitness, and Yoga With Adriene.

If you come in the summertime, you won’t have to do the yoga class alone. Mas Sant Marc organises yoga classes in front of the swimming pool, which are free for hotel guests.

Enjoy a vermouth under the sun

One of the parts of Mas Sant Marc we liked the most was the spacious garden. There’s a beautiful outdoor sitting area, perfect for enjoying an aperitif under the sun before lunch.

If you want to be a true local, ask for a vermut. The word vermut in Catalan not only refers to drinking vermouth, but it’s more like a ritual before lunch. When the weather is nice, people gather on a terrace and ask for a vermut, meaning a glass of vermouth usually accompanied by chips, olives, and/or cockles.

Ride a horse

A special and entertaining way to venture outside the property during your stay is by horse. Mas Sant Marc is home to some horses that roam free in a vast terrain around the property (always under control!). In summer, you can book a horse ride and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Mas Sant Marc with their own horses.

We went there in winter so we couldn’t try riding a horse, but we could see them chilling in the snow as if it wasn’t cold at all haha they were so beautiful!

Cycle the Camí dels Enamorats (The lovers’ path)

You can rent a bike from the hotel (for free during your stay!) and explore Puigcerdà’s surroundings.

From the village’s lake starts an easy and lovely route known as the Camí dels Enamorats, which would translate as the lover’s path. Whether you cycle it with your lover, family, or friends, we’re sure you’ll have a great time!

The Camí dels Enamorats is a circular 3 km track, ideal for families and those who want to discover the region around Puigcerdà at a leisurely pace.

During the route, you’ll have spectacular views of the mountains in the region’s northern part. There’s also a section of the track where you cycle following a ditch and are surrounded by trees. It’s such a bucolic scene!

If you’re looking for a longer route, ask the hotel staff. They know a lot about the region and will be happy to point you toward more challenging tracks.

Activities in the surrounding area

If you need more activities to fill up your time or want to explore the region further, here are some ideas of things you can do not far from Mas Sant Marc:

• Stroll around the city of Puigcerdà. The area around the lake and the city centre are beautiful. If you’re in Puigcerdà before lunch, we can’t recommend enough to stop for a vermut and a dish of braves (fried potatoes with a spicy sauce) at Bodega Serra, one of the oldest bars in town.

• Enjoy lunch or dinner at Hípica Prats i Sansor. This is the restaurant of a horse riding school (hípica in Catalan) where you can eat simple yet delicious local food. The setting is basic but welcoming. They serve typical regional dishes like trinxat (a dish made with cabbage and potato), embotits (cured meats), and grilled meats. Bear in mind that this is a truly local place, and the owners might not speak English, but you’ll be fine as the menu isn’t extensive (only four starters and four mains to choose from).

• Take the car and go for a hike at the Prat del Cadí, or challenge yourself hiking the well-known Cavalls del Vent.

• Relax at the thermal baths in Dorres. Treat yourself to a bath in sulphurous hot water springs while overlooking the breathtaking mountains of the La Cerdanya region.

• Visit the small village of Llívia. It’s nice to climb the castle ruins, with 360 º views of the village, Puigcerdà, and the surrounding mountains.

• Go skiing. Two ski resorts, La Molina and Massella, are just 20 min from Mas Sant Marc.

Our experience in Mas Sant Marc

We stayed one night at the bungalow, and it couldn’t have been a better experience!

We went in winter, so we couldn’t use the pool, but the day was lovely, so we spent some time chilling on the bungalow’s terrace with a cup of tea.

And look what happened when we woke up the next day… Snow was everywhere!

We loved getting out of bed, looking out the window, and seeing all the horses roaming free in the snow. It was such an unusual way to start the day!

A place like this is perfect when you need a break from everyday life. It has everything you need: a pool, great dining, cocktails, bikes, etc. We even had a great game of snooker on our visit!

The staff cared for every detail, and our stay was remarkable. They were super friendly and always willing to help and share their knowledge about what to do in the surrounding area.

Mas Sant Marc is great for couples, families with kids, and fans of slow travel. Its location, decoration, and charm will surely make this stay unforgettable! We truly recommend this place if you like your trip accommodations to be unique and an experience.