Balneario de Lanjarón

What it is and who runs it

The Balneario de Lanjarón is at the entrance to the village, on avenida de Madrid, the road that climbs from Granada to the Alpujarra, within the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. It is run by the Relais Termal group, based in Santander, which also brings together the spas of Termas Pallarés, Cestona, Acuña, Cervantes, Graena, Grávalos, La Albotea and Liérganes. It is listed in the Andalusia tourism register under number H/GR/01374.

Its reason for being is the waters. The village sits on the Lanjarón fault, between Sierra Nevada and the Alpujarra, and the spa uses six mineral-medicinal springs with different waters: El Salado, chloride and ferruginous, is used for bathing for its sedative effect; Capuchina, Salud I, Salud II, Capilla and San Vicente are drunk, at the time and rate set by the spa doctor, for digestion, liver or kidney depending on the case. In the restaurant Salud I and San Vicente are served straight from the spring.

What it offers visitors

There are two ways to use it. The first is as a health spa, with treatments and thermal programmes supervised by the medical team on the basis of a questionnaire; programmes of more than three days require a medical consultation. The second, the easiest for passers-by, is Aquatherma, the leisure water circuit open to non-guests. It has a water bar at 30 °C with a hydromassage bench, a contrast tunnel with cold and hot pools, an active pool at 28 °C with jets, a steam bath at 45 °C, a dry heat cabin with benches at 30, 60 and 90 °C, a Scotch shower, an aroma shower, a jacuzzi at 34 °C and thermal loungers. The Aquatherma page speaks of 60-minute sessions and the thermal area page of 50; confirm when booking. For couples there is also the private Termas al Lanchar circuit, of 60 minutes, with contrast baths and a hammam.

For accommodation, the group has three hotels in Lanjarón: the four-star Hotel Balneario, opened in 2012, with 122 double rooms connected internally to the bath building; the three-star Nuevo Palas, with 32 rooms and a seasonal outdoor pool, about 300 m away; and the two-star El Sol de Lanjarón, with 47 rooms, also about 300 m away. Pets are allowed on request.

Prices, hours and rules

Aquatherma costs €33.50 for adults and €21 for children aged 6 to 12 per session. There are passes of three sessions (€85.50 and €54) and five (€127.50 and €75). The website does not publish a minimum age apart from that children's rate. The thermal area is open from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:30. A swimming cap is compulsory in the circuits and can be bought at reception. The website does not give the months of opening, so in winter it is best to call first.

How to book and languages

All treatments and techniques are booked at the thermal reception, days in advance, by phone (958 770 454) or by email ([email protected]); there is also a booking button on the website. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice are charged in full. The website is in Spanish and does not say in which other languages they serve guests.