# Cerca de Albacete

From Albacete you head for the river and the mountains. To the north-east, the Júcar gorge at Alcalá; to the west, the Lagunas de Ruidera; to the south-west, Riópar and the Río Mundo; to the north, Cuenca, and along the A-30 and A-31, the Segura at Archena and the coast.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/albacete/getaways

## Planes de un día
- [Alcalá del Júcar: canoe, caves and castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/alcala-del-jucar/itineraries/alcala-del-jucar-canoe-lunch-in-tolosa-caves-and-castle.md) (1 h en coche): Two hours' canoeing on the Júcar beneath the village, a La Mancha lunch by the river in Tolosa and, in the afternoon, the Cuevas del Diablo, which cross the crag, and the castle.
- [Rafting from Cieza to Blanca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/region-of-murcia/ricote-valley/itineraries/rafting-on-the-segura-and-ojos.md) (1 h 15 en coche): A raft descent from Cieza to Blanca with instructors and a picnic lunch, from age 6, lunch in Ricote and an afternoon on the suspension and Tibetan bridges of Ojós.
- [Ruidera: waterfalls on foot and kayaking on Laguna Colgada](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/lagunas-de-ruidera/itineraries/ruidera-waterfalls-lunch-kayak.md) (1 h 20 en coche): A circular walk past four lagoons linked by waterfalls, La Mancha cooking at the Hotel Matías and, in the afternoon, two and a half hours of kayaking on Laguna Colgada.
- [Archena hot springs and Ricote](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/region-of-murcia/ricote-valley/itineraries/archena-spa-and-lunch.md) (1 h 25 en coche): The thermal pools of the Archena Spa in the morning, lunch at El Sordo in Ricote, open on Sundays, and a stroll round the Moorish old quarter. Half an hour from Murcia.
- [Bocairent: caves, rock and olleta](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/bocairent/itineraries/moorish-caves-and-bullring.md) (1 h 25 en coche): The medieval old town and the Covetes dels Moros in the morning, Bocairent olleta at El Cancell and the bullring carved into the rock before you head home.
- [Xàtiva: Cova Negra and Gorgo de la Escalera](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa/itineraries/cova-negra-and-gorgo-de-anna.md) (1 h 30 en coche): A flat walk to the Cova Negra before the heat, oven-baked rice facing the Seu and an afternoon swim at the Gorgo de la Escalera in Anna, at the foot of 136 steps.
- [Xàtiva: castle and baked rice](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa/itineraries/xativa-seu-castle-and-baked-rice.md) (1 h 30 en coche): A morning in the old town with the Seu and the upside-down Philip V museum, baked rice on Plaça del Mercat and the castle in the afternoon, with a shuttle in season.
- [Elche Palm Grove and arroz con costra](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/elche/itineraries/huerto-del-cura-and-rice.md) (1 h 35 en coche): The Huerto del Cura and the Palm Grove Museum first thing, the 11:30 guided visit of the basilica and the centre, arroz con costra at Cachito and a stroll beneath the palms.
- [Cuenca: cathedral, Hanging Houses and San Pablo bridge](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/cuenca-hanging-houses-and-huecar-gorge.md) (1 h 40 en coche): Cuenca's old town on foot on a Sunday: the cathedral at opening time, two free museums, the San Pablo bridge facing the Hanging Houses and ajoarriero for lunch.
- [Caravaca de la Cruz on a Sunday](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/region-of-murcia/caravaca-de-la-cruz/itineraries/basilica-and-fuentes-del-marques.md) (1 h 45 en coche): The Vera Cruz basilica and castle, the Wine Horses Museum before it closes at 14:00, lunch and a stroll at the Fuentes del Marqués. An hour from Murcia.
- [Los Chorros del río Mundo and Riópar Viejo](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/riopar/itineraries/rio-mundo-source-los-chorros-and-riopar-viejo.md) (1 h 50 en coche): Park free at the Puerto del Arenal and walk down to Los Chorros, the 86 m waterfall that pours out of a cave; lunch in Riópar and an afternoon in Riópar Viejo, with its Gothic church and castle.
- [Riópar Viejo at sunset and stars with a telescope](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/riopar/itineraries/sunset-dinner-and-telescope.md) (1 h 50 en coche): You go up to Riópar Viejo in the last light, dine in the hamlet and spend two hours with a Starlight guide and a telescope in the Sierra del Segura, five minutes away.
- [Villajoyosa: chocolate factory and coloured houses](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/villajoyosa/itineraries/chocolate-saturday-in-villajoyosa.md) (1 h 55 en coche): Breakfast at the Mercat canteen, the Valor Chocolate Museum visit with a tasting, the coloured houses from the beach, rice by the harbour and the Roman ship at Vilamuseu.
- [Cartagena: theatre, castle and boat](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/region-of-murcia/cartagena-and-calblanque/itineraries/roman-theatre-castle-and-boat.md) (2 h en coche): The Roman theatre first thing, the castle by lift and the air-raid shelter, caldero in the centre and the port by boat in the afternoon. 40 minutes from Murcia, also by bus or train.
- [Calblanque: unspoilt beach and caldero](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/region-of-murcia/cartagena-and-calblanque/itineraries/beaches-without-buildings-and-caldero.md) (2 h 15 en coche): A morning on the unspoilt beaches of Calblanque, among fossil dunes and salt pans, and caldero beside the Cabo de Palos lighthouse. Less than an hour from Murcia.
- [Ciudad Encantada: 3 km among rocks and lunch in Cuenca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/ciudad-encantada-and-lunch-in-cuenca-old-town.md) (2 h 15 en coche): In the morning, the 3 km circuit among the rocks of the Ciudad Encantada, with children or a dog. At midday, a tavern at the top of Cuenca and a stroll across the San Pablo bridge.

## 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](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/alcala-del-jucar), hanging from the crag over the meander. The N-430 to the west crosses the plain to the [Lagunas de Ruidera](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/lagunas-de-ruidera), about 95 km. To the south-west you enter the Sierra del Segura, as far as [Riópar](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/riopar) and the source of the Río Mundo, about 120 km. To the north is [Cuenca](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca), with its old town over the gorges and the [Ciudad Encantada](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/ciudad-encantada-and-lunch-in-cuenca-old-town) in the mountains.

The A-30 to the south leads to the Region of Murcia: to the [Ricote Valley](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/ricote-valley), with Archena and Blanca, and further down to [Cartagena and Calblanque](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/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](/en/spain/valencian-community/bocairent) and [Xàtiva](/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa).

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](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/alcala-del-jucar/itineraries/alcala-del-jucar-canoe-lunch-in-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](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/ricote-valley/itineraries/rafting-on-the-segura-and-ojos), 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](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/cuenca-hanging-houses-and-huecar-gorge) (100), [Caravaca de la Cruz](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/caravaca-de-la-cruz/itineraries/basilica-and-fuentes-del-marques) (105), Riópar (110), [Villajoyosa](/en/spain/valencian-community/villajoyosa/itineraries/chocolate-saturday-in-villajoyosa) (115) and [Cartagena with its Roman theatre](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/cartagena-and-calblanque/itineraries/roman-theatre-castle-and-boat) (120). Cuenca also has its night: [the old town on Saturday and the Ciudad Encantada on Sunday](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/cuenca-enchanted-city-one-night).

Past **two hours**, the trip calls for a night: the [Calblanque beaches with a caldero at Cabo de Palos](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/cartagena-and-calblanque/itineraries/beaches-without-buildings-and-caldero), at 135 minutes; [Aranjuez and Chinchón](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/aranjuez/itineraries/aranjuez-chinchon-weekend), at two and a half hours; the [Sierra de Cazorla](/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/itineraries/sierra-de-cazorla-borosa-weekend-from-jaen) and [Tabarca](/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/itineraries/one-night-tabarca-island-from-alicante), at 160.

## Winter is spent at the Archena spa

In winter, the spa: the [thermal Sunday at Archena with lunch at Ricote](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/ricote-valley/itineraries/archena-spa-and-lunch) or, with two nights, the [thermal getaway to the Ricote Valley](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/ricote-valley/itineraries/thermal-getaway-archena-from-alicante), both best from October to April. In the same months the [Seu and castle of Xàtiva](/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa/itineraries/xativa-seu-castle-and-baked-rice), [Bocairent and its Covetes dels Moros](/en/spain/valencian-community/bocairent/itineraries/moorish-caves-and-bullring) and [Elche and its palm grove](/en/spain/valencian-community/elche/itineraries/huerto-del-cura-and-rice) 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](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/lagunas-de-ruidera/itineraries/ruidera-waterfalls-lunch-kayak). From April to June the [source of the Río Mundo and Los Chorros](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/riopar/itineraries/rio-mundo-source-los-chorros-and-riopar-viejo) 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](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/alcala-del-jucar/itineraries/alcala-del-jucar-canoe-lunch-in-tolosa-caves-and-castle). 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](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/lagunas-de-ruidera/itineraries/ruidera-lagoons-waterfalls-one-night). 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](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/cartagena-and-calblanque/itineraries/cartagena-calblanque-beaches-weekend). 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.