Getaways from Albacete: day trips and destinations close by.

A junction of motorways in the middle of La Mancha

Albacete is at the junction of the La Mancha motorways, and each one leads to a different kind of plan. The N-322 to the north-east drops in an hour to the Júcar valley and Alcalá del Júcar, hanging from the crag over the meander. The N-430 to the west crosses the plain to the Lagunas de Ruidera, about 95 km. To the south-west you enter the Sierra del Segura, as far as Riópar and the source of the Río Mundo, about 120 km. To the north is Cuenca, with its old town over the gorges and the Ciudad Encantada in the mountains.

The A-30 to the south leads to the Region of Murcia: to the Ricote Valley, with Archena and Blanca, and further down to Cartagena and Calblanque, about two hours away. The A-31 to the south-east goes to Alicante and, on the way, to the inland Valencian Community: Bocairent and Xàtiva.

The plans from Albacete are done by car. To Riópar, for example, there is no useful bus for a return day trip, and at Ruidera and Alcalá everything is spread along the valley.

Alcalá del Júcar, the plan that comes up most

An hour away is the nearest plan and the one that comes up most: Alcalá del Júcar by canoe, with lunch at Tolosa, caves and castle.

Between one and one and a half hours you choose between fresh water and hot water: rafting on the Segura and the Ojós bridges, at 75 minutes; the Ruidera waterfalls, at 80; the Archena Spa and Bocairent, at 85, and Xàtiva, at 90.

A little further, between an hour and a half and two hours, are Elche (95), the Hanging Houses and the Huécar gorge in Cuenca (100), Caravaca de la Cruz (105), Riópar (110), Villajoyosa (115) and Cartagena with its Roman theatre (120). Cuenca also has its night: the old town on Saturday and the Ciudad Encantada on Sunday.

Past two hours, the trip calls for a night: the Calblanque beaches with a caldero at Cabo de Palos, at 135 minutes; Aranjuez and Chinchón, at two and a half hours; the Sierra de Cazorla and Tabarca, at 160.

Winter is spent at the Archena spa

In winter, the spa: the thermal Sunday at Archena with lunch at Ricote or, with two nights, the thermal getaway to the Ricote Valley, both best from October to April. In the same months the Seu and castle of Xàtiva, Bocairent and its Covetes dels Moros and Elche and its palm grove go well.

In spring the Ruidera waterfalls carry more water: it is the moment for the route through four lagoons with kayaking at La Colgada. From April to June the source of the Río Mundo and Los Chorros are also at their peak.

In summer the river rules. Canoeing on the Júcar and rafting on the Segura work in July and August; at Ruidera it is best to set out early, because the route has stretches without shade. Xàtiva, Bocairent and Aranjuez are not recommended in July and August.

In autumn Riópar returns, in October and November, and Cuenca, until November, and it is the best season for Cazorla.

Two hours of canoeing at the foot of Alcalá del Júcar

• In a day: Alcalá del Júcar by canoe. An hour along the N-322, two hours on the river at the foot of the village, La Mancha lunch beside the water at Tolosa and, in the afternoon, the Cuevas del Diablo and the castle.
• With one night: the Lagunas de Ruidera. 80 minutes along the N-430, waterfalls and kayaking on Saturday, a night beside the water and the Cueva de Montesinos on Sunday.
• With two nights: Cartagena and Calblanque. Two hours along the A-30, for the Roman theatre and the harbour by boat and, the next day, the unspoilt beaches and the caldero at Cabo de Palos.