Puig Sant Cristau via the Col de Llinas

Date of your route : Dec 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, well-marked route. Having already done this route, I decided to return to Saint Jean de l'Albére from the San Joan pass. The trailhead is a little difficult to find; it is located to the right of a hunting lookout tower. At the start, there is a simple path for 200 metres, then a better marked trail. There are no markings, but there are cairns.Then you reach a track that leads to the road. Turn right and you will quickly reach Saint Jean de l'Albére.

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Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Outward journey through the forest: trail not very well marked; fortunately, there are lots of painted markers that you must follow carefully! The return trail is better marked and easier to follow!

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Date of your route : May 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

the route is magnificent and the view at the summit is a reward in itself!
We were forced to take a detour to the left of the ridge at the start of the descent to avoid two sheepdogs that were very seriously guarding their flock of sheep.

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Date of your route : May 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike on the uphill section. Quite a bit of elevation gain, but it's manageable.
The reward is at the summit with an incredible 360-degree view. I had to detour because a herd of goats and their two billy goats were below the chapel, right on the route.
The descent is more difficult from the "font" as the path is not very well marked. Wild boars have been feasting and the trail has been churned up. The rain of the last few weeks has fed a few springs that are eroding the trail on the way back.
No major difficulties, but a trail or map is essential as the markings do not match the description.

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Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with splendid views.
The elevation gain is concentrated over a short distance, so it's a bit challenging, with a nice climb up to the chapel and then a nice descent. We had a great time, it was fantastic!
No particular difficulties in following the route with the GPS track, the markings are quite numerous and clearly visible too.

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Date of your route : Jan 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this beautiful hike. We wanted to go to the chapel but were afraid that starting from Montesquieu would be too difficult for us. So we took this route and it was perfect. Magnificent view at the top. The descent is a bit long and hard on the knees, but it's worth it... We only encountered small wild goats, in herds

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Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
We did the hike yesterday in good weather and windy conditions, especially in the morning.
For the start, we followed the marked path, but for the less adventurous, why not mention the other starting point a little further away, which starts at the transformer and is easier?
For the descent from the St Jean pass, the path is more unpredictable – as a group of senior citizens, we don't use GPS – so we followed the path marked with a red circle and occasionally found a yellow mark... With wild boars having passed through and turned the earth over, it was less obvious which was the right path to follow. That said, we arrived safely without any problems. A beautiful trip with superb views of the surrounding area.

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Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

we thoroughly enjoyed this hike. The view was breathtaking, best enjoyed in bright sunshine and calm weather! The rich flora and fauna above the busy Pertus are truly heart-warming.
However, a little more detail on certain points of the hike would be welcome!
particularly at points n2 and n3. But otherwise, everything else is fine.
Thank you for the warning about the steep descent. We were extra careful and were glad we were, as it was very slippery!
We recommend it!

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Date of your route : Nov 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with a view, once at the top, of Le Perthus and the entrance to Spain on one side and the sea on the other.
The weather was clear, so we were able to enjoy a magnificent panorama

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Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I went hiking this weekend with my partner and my dog. It's not particularly difficult, but you do need to be used to hiking and be in good physical shape to enjoy it. We took it easy, keeping pace with the dog and without walking sticks, and everything went well. There's a nice climb right from the start, and the descent may seem quite steep and long for some. It was great, with a lovely view, and we were able to eat at the top, sheltered from the wind.

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Date of your route : Jul 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Good climb up to Puig, with a beautiful view as a reward at the top. Bring walking sticks for the descent; it will make it easier.

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Date of your route : Sep 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, quite physically demanding, especially on the descent on the way back. However, some of the directions on the map and the markings on the ground were missing in certain places, which led us astray.
For example, between No. 1 and No. 2, the pass is indicated by an arrow pointing upwards, whereas you have to descend for quite a while through the undergrowth before climbing back up.
At No. 3, there is mention of an intersection where you have to leave the path on the left, but the correct path, on the right, is marked with a yellow cross. The yellow markings that you have to follow are only visible much further on.
The markings are poor throughout the descent through the undergrowth.
Despite our many trips back and forth to find the right path, we thoroughly enjoyed this hike with its magnificent views.
I highly recommend this beautiful hike.

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Date of your route : Jul 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A long and challenging climb, but the magnificent view is well worth the effort.
I highly recommend this route and would like to thank those who allow us to share these beautiful trails....

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Date of your route : Jul 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike that is definitely worth the effort.
Make sure you have good walking shoes and are in good physical condition (you don't necessarily need to be very athletic, but you should be a good walker).
We did the loop in reverse because we don't like walking down steep paths. Especially as the paths are dusty, full of dead leaves and stones that roll underfoot.
Allow at least three hours. The ascent and descent are shaded. You can rely on the signposting without any problems. Beware of the wind once you reach the top, as the tramontane can be quite strong!
The view is simply magnificent , a walk that wasn't too busy for a 14 July weekend.
Go for it without hesitation, it's brilliant!

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Date of your route : May 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a beautiful hike: please note that the description is very reliable
this hike is demanding, but the reward is guaranteed
everything is magnificent
i had the chance to meet a resident of the village of St Jean des Albères: a lovely moment of conversation
Congratulations to the trail markers!

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