# Sierra de Gredos The Plataforma to Laguna Grande route, the Cuevas del Águila, Arenas de San Pedro and horse rides, an hour from Ávila and two from Madrid. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sierra-de-gredos · Revisado: 2026-11-12 The Sierra de Gredos is the great granite massif of southern Ávila and the roof of the Sistema Central: Almanzor tops 2,500 metres. For a traveller it has two very different faces. The north, that of the Tormes valley, is high and cold, of pine woods and broom scrub, with Hoyos del Espino as the base village and the road that climbs to the Plataforma, from where the sierra's best-known route starts: that to the Laguna Grande, at the foot of the glacial cirque. The south, that of the Tiétar valley, looks towards Toledo and Extremadura; it is milder, of chestnut trees, fig trees and gorges, with Arenas de San Pedro, its castle and the Cuevas del Águila. The N-502 joins them over the Puerto del Pico. ## How do you get there from Madrid? To the north face, along the A-6 and the AP-51 to Ávila, and then along the N-110 and the N-502 towards Arenas de San Pedro until you turn off along the AV-941 towards Hoyos del Espino: Paradores calculates 170 km from Madrid to Navarredonda de Gredos, about two hours. To the south face, along the A-5 to Talavera de la Reina and the N-502 to Ramacastañas: the Cuevas del Águila are about 170 km and around an hour and a half or a little more. From Ávila, the north face is about 60 km away, an hour, and from Toledo, the south face is less than two hours via Talavera. Without a car, Gredos is not practical: the scheduled buses do not reach the Plataforma. ## Where to park? At the Plataforma, at the end of the road that climbs from Hoyos del Espino. In July, August, the first week of September and at weekends all year round, access by car is regulated from kilometre 7, with a barrier and ticket office, and the car park fills early: arrive before nine. In Arenas de San Pedro, leave the car on the outskirts and walk to the castle, which is in the centre. ## How much time do you need? The Laguna Grande is a day: five hours' walking there and back plus the journey. If you come from Madrid in the day, it is the only thing you will do, and it is enough. With a night, add a horse ride through the Tormes valley or the Aguas de Gredos spa for your legs. With two nights you can cross the Puerto del Pico and devote a day to the south face: the cobbled road from Cuevas del Valle, the Cuevas del Águila and the castle of Arenas de San Pedro. ## When to go? The Laguna Grande route is from May to October. June brings snow on the peaks and water in the streams; September and October, fewer people and good light. In July and August there are many people and access is regulated. From November to April the cirque has snow and ice and the route calls for crampons, an ice axe and experience. In winter, the south face is the alternative: Arenas is milder and the cave is at 17 °C all year. Bear in mind that the Parador de Gredos, in Navarredonda, is closed for works from October 2026 until June 2028. ## What to eat The sierra is a land of Ávila beef, with a geographical indication, and of El Barco beans. Ask for patatas revolconas with Vera paprika and pork scratchings, and for chargrilled meat. ## Dónde está - Zonas: The Central System, Horse riding routes in Spain - Cerca: Ávila (a 52.6 km), Jerte Valley (a 56.6 km), Hervás and the Ambroz Valley (a 58.7 km), Salamanca (a 79.9 km) ## Qué hacer - **From the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande de Gredos** (5 h · 13.6 km · Walkers in reasonable shape; children used to walking): The path from the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande is the most popular route in the Sierra de Gredos and the most direct way to see the glacial cirque: the lake, at 1,947 metres, at the foot of Almanzor and the peaks surrounding it. It can be done in a day, there and back by the same path, with no technical difficulty in summer, but with steep ramps and loose stone. By the road to Los Barrerones It leaves from the Plataforma car park, at the end of the road that climbs from Hoyos del Espino. The first stretch follows a cobbled road to the Cavadores spring, at 3 km and an hour and a half. It keeps climbing to Los Barrerones, at 4.4 km, and the pass, at 2,178 metres: the highest point of the day. From there you see the Laguna Grande all at once with Almanzor behind it. The descent to the lake From the pass you go down to the shore: in all, 6.8 km and about two and a half hours from the car. Beside the lake is the Elola refuge. It is the place to eat and rest before retracing your steps. On the way back you must climb to the Los Barrerones pass again before descending to the Plataforma. Distance, ascent and what to take It is 13.6 km there and back, about five hours of walking and 741 metres of cumulative ascent, of moderate difficulty. Take water, food, a waterproof and warm clothing even if it is hot below: in fog, the path is lost. In winter you may need crampons and an ice axe, and experience. With a dog it is demanding because of the distance and the stone, and on the path there is livestock and the mules that go up to the refuge. Spanish ibex are often found beside the path: do not feed them. The Plataforma road, regulated In July, August, the first week of September and at weekends all year round, car access to the Plataforma is regulated with a barrier and ticket booth. In 2026 the regulation operates from 8:00 to 18:00 from October to June and from 8:00 to 20:00 from July to September. A car pays €3 a day; motorhomes, vans and vehicles with trailers, €5, and buses, €12. Arrive early: the car park fills up. Picnic and lunch on the way back If you stay at La Mira de Gredos, in Hoyos del Espino, they prepare a picnic for the route if you ask the night before. On the way down, La Galana, at the foot of the Plataforma road, serves lunches until 17:30. To stay nearby, the Hotel Rural Cuarto de Milla, in the same village, and to rest your legs the next day, the Aguas de Gredos circuit. - **Cuevas del Águila** (40 min · Everyone; there are steps · Desde 12 € per person): The Cuevas del Águila (Eagle Caves) lie beneath the Cerro del Águila, also called Romperropas, in Ramacastañas, next to Arenas de San Pedro, in the Tiétar valley. From outside it is a hill of holm oaks; inside, a limestone cavity 50 metres deep and a kilometre long, with stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and curtains coloured by minerals in the water. It can be visited every day of the year. A Christmas Eve in 1963 The cave was found by chance by five young men on the afternoon of 24 December 1963: they saw steam coming out of a hole in the hill, because it was warmer inside than out. They went in with ropes and torches through an opening about 60 centimetres wide, crawled some 50 metres to the great vault and were lost for almost five hours before finding the way out. After being prepared, it opened to the public on 18 July 1964, and it is open every day of the year. The tour The visit lasts about 40 minutes and is on foot, in small groups, with a guard who explains the discovery and how the cave was formed. You go down a paved path, with steps to get past the changes in level, among lit galleries. The limestones are Cambrian, more than 500 million years old, and the formations grow about a centimetre every 150 years; in some chambers you can see columns broken by an ancient collapse of the floor. Inside it is 17 °C all year round and almost 100% humidity: a jacket in summer and shoes with good grip. Opening hours and tickets From 22 September to 20 March: 10:30 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00. From 21 March to 21 September: 10:30 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00. Tours leave every half hour. Admission costs €12 for adults and €8 for children aged 6 to 10; under-5s do not pay. School groups, €8; agencies and associations of more than 20, €9. You do not need to book: buy on the website or at the ticket office, and a ticket bought online must be validated at the ticket office before going in. If you cannot go on the day of your ticket, the money is not refunded, but it is valid for another day. Telephone: 920 377 107. By the A-5 and Ramacastañas From Madrid it is about 170 km, an hour and a half: A-5 to exit 123, near Talavera de la Reina, and the N-502 to Ramacastañas. More in the valley In Arenas de San Pedro, a few kilometres away, is the castle of the Triste Condesa. If you stay overnight in southern Gredos, the Los Galayos campsite is on the same slope. - **Castle of the Triste Condesa, in Arenas de San Pedro** (45 min · Everyone · Desde 3 € per person): The castle of Arenas de San Pedro was begun by the Constable of Castile Ruy López Dávalos, lord of the town since Henry III granted him its lordship in 1393. It is called the castle of the Triste Condesa (Sad Countess) after Juana de Pimentel, widow of Álvaro de Luna, to whom John II left the town after her husband's execution in 1453: the townspeople began calling her that, and the name passed to the castle. It is a square granite fortress next to the bridge over the Arenal, at Plaza del Condestable Dávalos, 5. What you see It is a Gothic castle, built between the late 14th and early 15th centuries, which served both as a fortress and a watchtower over the valley. Outside it keeps its granite walls; inside little of the original remains, because fires in several wars destroyed the interior. It later had very different uses: it was a prison and even a cemetery. It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931 and today is the municipal auditorium. The guided tour tells the story of the constable, that of Doña Juana and the later uses of the building, and climbs to the top, from where you see the rooftops of Arenas and the Sierra de Gredos to the north. Allow about 45 minutes. Opening hours and tickets It is visited with a guide during the tourist office's hours, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00; it is closed on Mondays. General admission €3, reduced €2, free up to 5 years old. As there are events in the auditorium, it is worth confirming the hours first on 920 370 245 or 663 440 799, or at turismo@aytoarenas.es. Getting there and what to combine It is in the centre of Arenas de San Pedro, on the southern slope of Gredos. The castle is next to the Arenal bridge and a hundred metres from the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, which can be seen on the same stroll. A few kilometres away, in Ramacastañas, are the Cuevas del Águila, a visit that works well with children on the same day. If you are heading north, the Puerto del Pico road starts from Cuevas del Valle, in the same Tiétar valley. - **Horse ride through the Tormes valley** (2 h · Beginners; children from 8 or 9 · Desde 45 € per person): Gredos a Caballo sets out from Hoyos del Espino any day of the week. All its routes include a fully equipped horse, a guide and accident insurance, and cover the upper Tormes valley with the sierra and the Gredos cirque always ahead of you. The two-hour ride, to start It is designed for those who have never ridden or ride little, or for those who want to combine it with other activities on the same day. It goes through Scots pine woods, broom scrub, country lanes, moorland and the bank of the Tormes. It costs €45 and admits children from 8 or 9 years old, so it is the option for families. No experience is needed: just a willingness to learn and enjoy the horse in the countryside. If you already ride The half day (€60) is for those who ride regularly and are fit enough to spend half a day on horseback. It goes through the Tormes valley, among Scots pine, rowan, broom scrub and pasture, along old bridleways, muleteers' routes and village tracks; if the weather is good, it stops for a rest at a bar or kiosk in the pinewood. The full day (€115) follows the same valley and includes lunch, in a restaurant in the area or in the countryside if the weather allows. The company also organises weekend and multi-day rides, such as the Jerte valley, the Gredos valleys or the Camino de Santiago, full-moon night rides in summer and tailor-made routes for groups. The dates of the longer rides are in its calendar of scheduled routes. What to bring and how to book Ideally riding boots or gaiters and a helmet; if you do not have them, long trousers with trainers or boots will do. The helmet is optional and they lend you one. Times change between summer and winter and depending on the groups formed, so they are fixed when you book, through the form on their website. No weight limit is published: if you have doubts, ask when requesting a place. Where to sleep and what to combine With the Hotel Rural Cuarto de Milla they offer two-night packages in a double room with breakfast: with a two-hour ride, €105 per person; with a two-hour ride each day, €140. They are valid any day except long weekends and weekends in July and August. After riding, in Hoyos del Espino you have the Aguas de Gredos spa circuit, and the next day, the walk up to the Laguna Grande. - **Spa circuit at Aguas de Gredos** (1 h 30 · Adults and children, with their own rate · Desde 38 € per person): Aguas de Gredos is a rural spa in Hoyos del Espino, at 1,500 m altitude, using mountain water. It is a good way to round off a day in the mountains: after climbing to the Laguna Grande, an hour and a half in hot water makes a difference to your legs. What the circuit includes The hydrothermal circuit lasts between 60 and 90 minutes and takes in a jet pool, a jacuzzi pool, a toning plunge pool, a foot bath, a Turkish bath, a Roman thermal bath and bithermal and tropical showers. It also gives access to the heated pool, with a relaxation lounger. Besides the circuit, they offer massages and treatments of various kinds (therapeutic, hydrotherapy, body, energy and beauty) and there is an individual Niagara-type bath for €35. On the website they publish packages combining spa and treatment, such as a spa with full body treatment for €79; offers change, so check them before booking. Prices and opening hours The 90-minute circuit costs €38 per adult and the 60-minute one, €29. Two adults pay €65 from Sunday to Friday. Children pay €20 (90 minutes) or €15 (60 minutes), and over-55s €20 from 10:00 to 14:00. There are special prices for groups, to be enquired about. From September it is open every day from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 21:00, except Tuesdays. Children can only enter from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00, and on Sundays all day: if you go as a family, plan the afternoon so as to arrive early. Before you go You must always book, because capacity is limited: do it through the website, with a form, or by calling 920 349 047 or 610 085 398. The email is info@aguasdegredos.com. Swimwear, a swimming cap and flip-flops are compulsory. A towel is not included, but can be hired for €1, and the changing rooms have free lockers. If you arrive straight from the mountain, bring a bag with dry clothes. How to combine it Hoyos del Espino is the village from which the road to the Plataforma de Gredos starts, the beginning of the route to the Laguna Grande, so the spa is on the way back. In the same village starts the horse ride through the Tormes valley: a morning on horseback and an afternoon at the spa is a good plan for anyone who does not want to walk much. - **Puerto del Pico Roman Road** (3 h · 8 km · Walkers; steady climb): The Puerto del Pico road crosses the sierra between Cuevas del Valle and the pass, and for centuries was the route linking the Northern Meseta with the Tiétar valley and, beyond, with Toledo and Extremadura. It is one of the best-preserved stretches of cobbled road in Spain, and climbing it on foot means walking where muleteers and livestock passed for centuries. A road two thousand years old Turespaña attributes it to the Romans, who used it to link Ávila with Mérida, move troops and take out the metals of Gredos. From the Middle Ages it was above all a transhumance route: flocks went up to the sierra at the start of summer and came down to winter pastures when the cold arrived, and today it is still a livestock route. Muleteers and merchants coming from Andalusia, Talavera and Extremadura towards the Meseta also passed this way. On the climb you will be walking almost always on the original paving. The route You walk up from Cuevas del Valle to the pass, about 4 km of steady climb, and come back down the same way: allow about three hours in total. The pass is at 1,389 m, according to Turismo de Castilla y León. The path leaves from the upper part of the village and much of the stretch is cobbled, so wear mountain footwear with a good sole; in the rain the stones are slippery. Hiking guides rate it as moderate difficulty: suitable for children used to walking. From the top you see the Tiétar valley at your feet. In summer set out early: it is a sunny slope. Bring water and something warm for the time at the pass. Getting there Cuevas del Valle is on the N-502 road, between Ávila and Arenas de San Pedro, just below the pass. Park in the village and look for the start of the path in the upper part. If you only want to walk down, another option is to leave one car at the top, at the pass, and another in Cuevas del Valle. For local information, Cuevas del Valle town hall can be reached on 920 391 004. What to combine Heading down the valley you soon reach Arenas de San Pedro, with the castle of the Triste Condesa, and the Cuevas del Águila, in Ramacastañas. On the other side of the pass, on the north slope, you head towards Hoyos del Espino and the Laguna Grande. ## Dónde comer - **La Mira de Gredos Restaurant** (Restaurant, Hoyos del Espino, €€€). Qué pedir: patatas revolconas with La Vera paprika and torreznos, El Barco beans with their sacramentos, and Ávila beef. - **La Galana** (Restaurant, Hoyos del Espino, €€). Qué pedir: at midday, patatas revolconas and Ávila veal chuletón; in the afternoon, a stone-oven pizza. - **Camping Navagredos Restaurant** (Restaurant, Navarredonda de Gredos, €). Qué pedir: the menu of the day: €16.50 on weekdays and €20.50 at the weekend. ## By car: Gredos by car Gredos has two faces and a single road joins them, the N-502 over the Puerto del Pico. The north, Hoyos del Espino and the Plataforma, is reached from Ávila by the N-110 and the N-502; the south, Arenas de San Pedro and the Cuevas del Águila, from Madrid by the A-5 and Talavera. Between one and the other there is nearly an hour of bends. Presupuesto orientativo: 70–120 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **La Mira de Gredos** (Small hotel): The house A small hotel on the edge of Hoyos del Espino, on the AV-941 road towards El Barco, about ten minutes by car from the Plataforma. It has ten renovated rooms, all facing the Sierra de Gredos. The five on the ground floor have direct access to the garden and a terrace with a fan and parasol; the five on the second floor have a terrace, air conditioning and awnings that open in the sun and retract at night or in wind. Downstairs is the restaurant, one of the three in Ávila recommended by the 2026 Michelin Guide. The rooms There are doubles, superior doubles, junior suites and suites. All have beds up to 2 × 2 m, television up to 55 inches, a safe, fridge, desk, free wifi and spacious bathrooms; there are adapted bathrooms and a lift to all three floors. Breakfast is included. It has parking and does not accept pets. The website does not publish prices openly: book through its online engine, on 920 349 023 or at info@lamiradegredos.com. Eating and dining in The restaurant is run by César Hinojal, Cocinero del Año prizewinner, with traditional cooking such as patatas revolconas, Ávila entrecôte or cod loin. In winter hours, from 15 October to 15 March, it opens at midday from Thursday to Sunday, from 13:30 to 15:30, and closes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday except on public holidays, long weekends and Christmas. Dinners, from 20:30 to 21:30 and by reservation, are for hotel guests only from Sunday to Friday, with their own menu of Iberian meats, cheeses, omelette, cod and chargrilled Ávila beef; on Saturday they are open to everyone. On Sunday night you can order a cold dinner in your room. The restaurant closes for a fortnight between September and October and another in January. More details on the page for the La Mira de Gredos restaurant. For the walk It prepares a picnic for the Laguna Grande or Almanzor: a sandwich of your choice, fruit, water, nuts and a chocolate bar for €16, ordered the night before. Its website recommends, to round off your stay, the horse ride with Gredos a Caballo, the Aguas de Gredos spa and hiking and astro-tourism guides in the area. From Sunday to Thursday, outside public holidays, Easter, Christmas, July and August, it has one- or two-night offers, and a 5% discount on stays of two nights or more booked on its website. - **Hotel Rural Cuarto de Milla** (Small hotel, desde 70 € / night): The house The rural hotel of Gredos a Caballo, the horse-riding company that has worked in Hoyos del Espino since 1981. It is a three-storey house, simple and warm. Downstairs are reception, toilets and the dining room, with big windows onto the porch and a stone fireplace. On the first floor, the double rooms, with a double bed or twin beds, simple and modern in design, each with a bathroom and television. Upstairs, a shared attic with a television area, pouffes, a big table for board games and a corner for reading and chat, useful on rainy or snowy afternoons. Prices and packages A double room with breakfast costs €70 a night, and €50 for single use. The house's special appeal is the packages with horse riding: 2×1 on horseback: two nights in a double with breakfast and a two-hour ride, €105 per person. 2×2 on horseback: two nights in a double with breakfast and a two-hour ride each day, €140 per person. They are valid any day of the week except long weekends and weekends in July and August; the single-use price must be requested. The rides cover pine woods, country lanes, broom scrub and the Tormes bank, with the sierra in the background. Hotel bookings on 615 946 025. The website does not publish check-in and check-out times, parking or a pet policy. On horseback, without a package Guests can also book Gredos a Caballo's rides separately: the two-hour one, for beginners, costs €45; the half-day, for enthusiasts, €60; and the full day, for riders who ride regularly, €115. There are weekend and multi-day rides, full-moon night rides and tailor-made rides for groups, all year round. They are booked on 645 387 927. If you travel with your own horse, the house offers to stable it. More details in the horse ride through the Tormes valley. What to do nearby Hoyos del Espino is the gateway to the Plataforma de Gredos, where the route to the Laguna Grande starts. In summer and at weekends access is regulated: check the Plataforma access before going up. In the same village are the Aguas de Gredos spa and, for eating, La Galana or the La Mira de Gredos restaurant. ## On foot: Gredos on foot Gredos is walking country. The Laguna Grande from the Plataforma is the classic route, five hours there and back; from the lake continue the climbs up Almanzor and the crossings of the cirque, only for experienced mountaineers. On the south face, the Puerto del Pico road climbs from Cuevas del Valle. Presupuesto orientativo: 50–100 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're on foot - **La Mira de Gredos** (Small hotel): The house A small hotel on the edge of Hoyos del Espino, on the AV-941 road towards El Barco, about ten minutes by car from the Plataforma. It has ten renovated rooms, all facing the Sierra de Gredos. The five on the ground floor have direct access to the garden and a terrace with a fan and parasol; the five on the second floor have a terrace, air conditioning and awnings that open in the sun and retract at night or in wind. Downstairs is the restaurant, one of the three in Ávila recommended by the 2026 Michelin Guide. The rooms There are doubles, superior doubles, junior suites and suites. All have beds up to 2 × 2 m, television up to 55 inches, a safe, fridge, desk, free wifi and spacious bathrooms; there are adapted bathrooms and a lift to all three floors. Breakfast is included. It has parking and does not accept pets. The website does not publish prices openly: book through its online engine, on 920 349 023 or at info@lamiradegredos.com. Eating and dining in The restaurant is run by César Hinojal, Cocinero del Año prizewinner, with traditional cooking such as patatas revolconas, Ávila entrecôte or cod loin. In winter hours, from 15 October to 15 March, it opens at midday from Thursday to Sunday, from 13:30 to 15:30, and closes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday except on public holidays, long weekends and Christmas. Dinners, from 20:30 to 21:30 and by reservation, are for hotel guests only from Sunday to Friday, with their own menu of Iberian meats, cheeses, omelette, cod and chargrilled Ávila beef; on Saturday they are open to everyone. On Sunday night you can order a cold dinner in your room. The restaurant closes for a fortnight between September and October and another in January. More details on the page for the La Mira de Gredos restaurant. For the walk It prepares a picnic for the Laguna Grande or Almanzor: a sandwich of your choice, fruit, water, nuts and a chocolate bar for €16, ordered the night before. Its website recommends, to round off your stay, the horse ride with Gredos a Caballo, the Aguas de Gredos spa and hiking and astro-tourism guides in the area. From Sunday to Thursday, outside public holidays, Easter, Christmas, July and August, it has one- or two-night offers, and a 5% discount on stays of two nights or more booked on its website. - **Hotel Rural Cuarto de Milla** (Small hotel, desde 70 € / night): The house The rural hotel of Gredos a Caballo, the horse-riding company that has worked in Hoyos del Espino since 1981. It is a three-storey house, simple and warm. Downstairs are reception, toilets and the dining room, with big windows onto the porch and a stone fireplace. On the first floor, the double rooms, with a double bed or twin beds, simple and modern in design, each with a bathroom and television. Upstairs, a shared attic with a television area, pouffes, a big table for board games and a corner for reading and chat, useful on rainy or snowy afternoons. Prices and packages A double room with breakfast costs €70 a night, and €50 for single use. The house's special appeal is the packages with horse riding: 2×1 on horseback: two nights in a double with breakfast and a two-hour ride, €105 per person. 2×2 on horseback: two nights in a double with breakfast and a two-hour ride each day, €140 per person. They are valid any day of the week except long weekends and weekends in July and August; the single-use price must be requested. The rides cover pine woods, country lanes, broom scrub and the Tormes bank, with the sierra in the background. Hotel bookings on 615 946 025. The website does not publish check-in and check-out times, parking or a pet policy. On horseback, without a package Guests can also book Gredos a Caballo's rides separately: the two-hour one, for beginners, costs €45; the half-day, for enthusiasts, €60; and the full day, for riders who ride regularly, €115. There are weekend and multi-day rides, full-moon night rides and tailor-made rides for groups, all year round. They are booked on 645 387 927. If you travel with your own horse, the house offers to stable it. More details in the horse ride through the Tormes valley. What to do nearby Hoyos del Espino is the gateway to the Plataforma de Gredos, where the route to the Laguna Grande starts. In summer and at weekends access is regulated: check the Plataforma access before going up. In the same village are the Aguas de Gredos spa and, for eating, La Galana or the La Mira de Gredos restaurant. - **Camping Navagredos** (Campsite, desde 10.5 € / pitch): Navagredos is a campsite in the pine wood of Navarredonda de Gredos, about a hundred metres from the source of the River Tormes, near the Valdeascas pools and with views of the Gredos cirque. It stands at 1,500 metres altitude, on the Navatormes road, km 2.5, about four kilometres from Hoyos del Espino and the Plataforma road. It has been open for almost thirty years and has, besides pitches, bungalows, mobile homes and static caravans. 2026 season and prices It opens from 1 March to 30 September. High season is Easter, the May long weekend and from 15 June to 15 September; the rest is low season. In low season, a pitch without electricity costs €10.50 and with electricity €17.50, and includes a car and tent, or a motorhome, or a car and caravan. Add €5.50 per adult, €3.50 per child aged 2 to 14 and €2 per dog. Without a pitch, an individual tent pays €4.50 and a family tent €5.80; a motorhome, €6.80. In high season: €12.50 and €19.50 for the pitch, €6.50 per adult, €4 per child and €2.50 per dog. There are monthly stays and annual passes for caravans and mobile homes. Showers, washing machines and shop It has a toilet block with twelve showers and, at the entrance, another with two adapted showers; they are cleaned daily. There are two washing machines, at €3 a wash, and a barbecue area (ask about availability in high season). Reception and the small shop are open from 9:00 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00; in high season the shop has basic goods and local artisan products, and the bar sells the day's bread. Check-out is at 12:00. Bar and restaurant The restaurant is open from March to September. Breakfasts from 9:00 to 11:30, lunches from 14:00 to 15:30 and dinners from 20:00. There is a menu of the day: €16.50 from Monday to Friday and €20.50 at the weekend, as well as rice dishes and roasts to order and stews. On the terrace you pay 10% more. Tables are booked by WhatsApp, on 622 716 852. For families and for the mountains In summer they organise activities: outdoor yoga, painting classes for children, English with native speakers and crafts. In Hoyos del Espino is the Pinos Cimeros adventure park. For the mountains, the walk to the Laguna Grande starts from the Plataforma, and for eating out, La Galana is at the foot of that road. Altitude: watch the weather At 1,500 metres temperature changes arrive without warning: check the forecast and bring warm clothes even in summer. In the cold months, the campsite advises snow chains or winter tyres. ## Camping: Camping in Gredos There are campsites on both sides of the sierra: in the Navarredonda pine wood, beside the Tormes, for the north face and the Laguna Grande, and in Guisando for the south face. The one at Navarredonda closes from October to February. Presupuesto orientativo: 30–60 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're camping - **Camping Navagredos** (Campsite, desde 10.5 € / pitch): Navagredos is a campsite in the pine wood of Navarredonda de Gredos, about a hundred metres from the source of the River Tormes, near the Valdeascas pools and with views of the Gredos cirque. It stands at 1,500 metres altitude, on the Navatormes road, km 2.5, about four kilometres from Hoyos del Espino and the Plataforma road. It has been open for almost thirty years and has, besides pitches, bungalows, mobile homes and static caravans. 2026 season and prices It opens from 1 March to 30 September. High season is Easter, the May long weekend and from 15 June to 15 September; the rest is low season. In low season, a pitch without electricity costs €10.50 and with electricity €17.50, and includes a car and tent, or a motorhome, or a car and caravan. Add €5.50 per adult, €3.50 per child aged 2 to 14 and €2 per dog. Without a pitch, an individual tent pays €4.50 and a family tent €5.80; a motorhome, €6.80. In high season: €12.50 and €19.50 for the pitch, €6.50 per adult, €4 per child and €2.50 per dog. There are monthly stays and annual passes for caravans and mobile homes. Showers, washing machines and shop It has a toilet block with twelve showers and, at the entrance, another with two adapted showers; they are cleaned daily. There are two washing machines, at €3 a wash, and a barbecue area (ask about availability in high season). Reception and the small shop are open from 9:00 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00; in high season the shop has basic goods and local artisan products, and the bar sells the day's bread. Check-out is at 12:00. Bar and restaurant The restaurant is open from March to September. Breakfasts from 9:00 to 11:30, lunches from 14:00 to 15:30 and dinners from 20:00. There is a menu of the day: €16.50 from Monday to Friday and €20.50 at the weekend, as well as rice dishes and roasts to order and stews. On the terrace you pay 10% more. Tables are booked by WhatsApp, on 622 716 852. For families and for the mountains In summer they organise activities: outdoor yoga, painting classes for children, English with native speakers and crafts. In Hoyos del Espino is the Pinos Cimeros adventure park. For the mountains, the walk to the Laguna Grande starts from the Plataforma, and for eating out, La Galana is at the foot of that road. Altitude: watch the weather At 1,500 metres temperature changes arrive without warning: check the forecast and bring warm clothes even in summer. In the cold months, the campsite advises snow chains or winter tyres. - **Camping Los Galayos** (Campsite): The place A campsite in Guisando, on the southern slope of Gredos, among pines and with the mountain above. It has reopened in a new phase after renovating its facilities, with wooden cabins and bungalows for those who do not carry a home on their back, pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, and a bar, restaurant and beach bar in the heart of nature. It is a good base for the south face of the sierra, milder than the north: the Cuevas del Águila and the Castle of the Triste Condesa in Arenas de San Pedro are close. Accommodation and rates Its website publishes a rate per night, VAT extra: Small bungalow, for 1 to 3 people: €70 a night. Large bungalow, for 4 to 6 people: €120 a night. Pitch, small, medium or large, for a tent, caravan or motorhome: €15 per adult per night, €12 for ages 6 to 12 and free up to 5. Water and electricity are included. Large pitches pay €5 more per night for the car. The bungalows require a €20 deposit for damage. The website does not detail how many rooms they have or whether they have a kitchen, nor does it publish opening dates, check-in and check-out times or a pet policy. Who it suits For families who want the sierra without giving up a bed, for groups of friends who fill a large bungalow and for those travelling by motorhome who want a socket and water on the south face. In the same valley, from Cuevas del Valle, starts the Puerto del Pico Roman Road, a cobbled road that climbs to the pass, and in Arenas is the tourist office to plan walks. Before booking As it is in the middle of reopening, confirm dates and prices by phone. Bookings on 920 234 760; to check availability, also on 690 306 733. The email is info@campinglosgalayos.com. The website has a contact and booking form. ## By campervan: Gredos by motorhome With a motorhome, sleep at a campsite and go up to the Plataforma early: in summer and at weekends access is regulated with a barrier at kilometre 7 and the car park fills up. Presupuesto orientativo: 30–60 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir in a campervan - **Camping Navagredos** (Campsite, desde 10.5 € / pitch): Navagredos is a campsite in the pine wood of Navarredonda de Gredos, about a hundred metres from the source of the River Tormes, near the Valdeascas pools and with views of the Gredos cirque. It stands at 1,500 metres altitude, on the Navatormes road, km 2.5, about four kilometres from Hoyos del Espino and the Plataforma road. It has been open for almost thirty years and has, besides pitches, bungalows, mobile homes and static caravans. 2026 season and prices It opens from 1 March to 30 September. High season is Easter, the May long weekend and from 15 June to 15 September; the rest is low season. In low season, a pitch without electricity costs €10.50 and with electricity €17.50, and includes a car and tent, or a motorhome, or a car and caravan. Add €5.50 per adult, €3.50 per child aged 2 to 14 and €2 per dog. Without a pitch, an individual tent pays €4.50 and a family tent €5.80; a motorhome, €6.80. In high season: €12.50 and €19.50 for the pitch, €6.50 per adult, €4 per child and €2.50 per dog. There are monthly stays and annual passes for caravans and mobile homes. Showers, washing machines and shop It has a toilet block with twelve showers and, at the entrance, another with two adapted showers; they are cleaned daily. There are two washing machines, at €3 a wash, and a barbecue area (ask about availability in high season). Reception and the small shop are open from 9:00 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00; in high season the shop has basic goods and local artisan products, and the bar sells the day's bread. Check-out is at 12:00. Bar and restaurant The restaurant is open from March to September. Breakfasts from 9:00 to 11:30, lunches from 14:00 to 15:30 and dinners from 20:00. There is a menu of the day: €16.50 from Monday to Friday and €20.50 at the weekend, as well as rice dishes and roasts to order and stews. On the terrace you pay 10% more. Tables are booked by WhatsApp, on 622 716 852. For families and for the mountains In summer they organise activities: outdoor yoga, painting classes for children, English with native speakers and crafts. In Hoyos del Espino is the Pinos Cimeros adventure park. For the mountains, the walk to the Laguna Grande starts from the Plataforma, and for eating out, La Galana is at the foot of that road. Altitude: watch the weather At 1,500 metres temperature changes arrive without warning: check the forecast and bring warm clothes even in summer. In the cold months, the campsite advises snow chains or winter tyres. - **Camping Los Galayos** (Campsite): The place A campsite in Guisando, on the southern slope of Gredos, among pines and with the mountain above. It has reopened in a new phase after renovating its facilities, with wooden cabins and bungalows for those who do not carry a home on their back, pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, and a bar, restaurant and beach bar in the heart of nature. It is a good base for the south face of the sierra, milder than the north: the Cuevas del Águila and the Castle of the Triste Condesa in Arenas de San Pedro are close. Accommodation and rates Its website publishes a rate per night, VAT extra: Small bungalow, for 1 to 3 people: €70 a night. Large bungalow, for 4 to 6 people: €120 a night. Pitch, small, medium or large, for a tent, caravan or motorhome: €15 per adult per night, €12 for ages 6 to 12 and free up to 5. Water and electricity are included. Large pitches pay €5 more per night for the car. The bungalows require a €20 deposit for damage. The website does not detail how many rooms they have or whether they have a kitchen, nor does it publish opening dates, check-in and check-out times or a pet policy. Who it suits For families who want the sierra without giving up a bed, for groups of friends who fill a large bungalow and for those travelling by motorhome who want a socket and water on the south face. In the same valley, from Cuevas del Valle, starts the Puerto del Pico Roman Road, a cobbled road that climbs to the pass, and in Arenas is the tourist office to plan walks. Before booking As it is in the middle of reopening, confirm dates and prices by phone. Bookings on 920 234 760; to check availability, also on 690 306 733. The email is info@campinglosgalayos.com. The website has a contact and booking form. ## As a family: Gredos with children With children, Gredos divides between the cave, the castle and the horses of the south and north faces, and the Laguna Grande for those who already walk well. ### What works best The Cuevas del Águila, 40 minutes underground; under-5s, free A two-hour horse ride from Hoyos del Espino, from 8 or 9 years old The castle of Arenas de San Pedro, with a guided visit The Laguna Grande, only with children used to five hours in the mountains ### Where to sleep Hotel Rural Cuarto de Milla, with a games attic Camping Navagredos or Los Galayos, in summer ### Where to eat La Galana, with pizzas in the afternoon ### Bear in mind The Laguna Grande path is stony: not suitable for pushchairs In the cave it is 17 °C all year ### Qué hacer as a family - From the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande de Gredos - Cuevas del Águila - Castle of the Triste Condesa, in Arenas de San Pedro - Horse ride through the Tormes valley - Spa circuit at Aguas de Gredos ## With teenagers: Gredos with teenagers Gredos is a good first taste of high mountains: a pass at 2,178 m, a glacial lake, ibex that come close and a real refuge. ### What works best The Laguna Grande from the Plataforma, five hours there and back A half day on horseback through the Tormes valley, if they already ride The Puerto del Pico road, a steady climb The Cuevas del Águila ### Where to sleep Camping Navagredos, in the pine wood ### Where to eat La Mira de Gredos picnic for the lake ### Bear in mind In fog at Los Barrerones the path is lost: do not split up ### Qué hacer with teenagers - From the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande de Gredos - Cuevas del Águila - Horse ride through the Tormes valley - Puerto del Pico Roman Road ## Consejos ### Reach the Plataforma before nine In summer and at weekends access is regulated by a barrier. Early on there is room and there is no sun on the climb. ### Bring a coat even if it is warm below At the Barrerones pass, at 2,178 m, it is windy and cold almost all year. ### Book for lunch In the low season many restaurants in the sierra open only from Thursday or Friday to Sunday. ### Combine the two faces with a night Going and coming back over the Puerto del Pico in a day is a lot of driving. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Madrid to the Laguna Grande? About two hours by car to the Plataforma and two and a half hours on foot to the lagoon. ### Is the Laguna Grande route difficult? Moderate: 13.6 km there and back, about five hours and 741 m of cumulative ascent on a stone path. ### Do you have to pay to park at the Plataforma? In summer and at weekends access is regulated with a barrier and ticket office at kilometre 7. Check the fee on arrival. ### How much do the Cuevas del Águila cost? €12 for adults and €8 for children aged 6 to 10; under-5s, free. ### Can you take a dog to the Laguna Grande? Yes, but it is demanding for the dog, and there are livestock and mules on the path. ### What is there to do in Gredos in winter? The south face: Cuevas del Águila, Arenas de San Pedro and the Puerto del Pico road. And the Aguas de Gredos spa.