Echo

Echo or Hecho is a village in Aragon. The town has pretty stone houses, is surrounded by formidable mountains, and hiking trails abound.

Best to have your own transport. There is one bus a day to and from Jaca that serves Echo and the nearby towns of Ansó and Siresa.

Small and easily walked.

Castilian (Spanish) is the official language and is spoken by everyone, but the native language is Aragonese in its local form, called cheso, still used vigorously.

The village itself is not as old as it appears but full of old alleys and steps.

• Museo Etnologico Casa Mazo. Close to the Plaza Mayor of Echo, the museum is housed in an old stone house. Exhibits illustrate the lives of the people of the valley in earlier centuries (Echo was once the capital of Aragon).
• Siresa - a small village higher up the valley where the bus goes if demanded but easily walkable. There is a 9th-century monastery here -ask for the key from the house above the bar. In the bar they sell beer in half-frozen glasses (which is great after a long hot walk in the mountains).

It's a great base for walking holidays. Spend all day up in the mountains and come back for eating and sleeping. There's a little museum in Hecho, showing rural life with photographs and old farming equipment.It has limited opening hours though.

• Restaurante Gaby, Plaza de la Fuente, ☏ +34 974 375 007.  
• Fran, plaza Alta, 3, ☏ +34 974 375 334. Cafe and bar with tapas (raciones) and sandwiches for a quick lunch or dinner. 

• Hotel Gaby, Plaza de la Fuente, ☏ +34 974 375 007. Housed in the Casa Blasquico, the best option in Echo. 
• Casa Blasquica - near the bus stop. Excellent food.

• Ansó
• Jaca
• Siresa