Avenjúcar Restaurant, in Tolosa
What to order: The menu of the week, €28 with dessert and drink; for children, their own at €15.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 39.19° N · 1.43° W
Sunday in Alcalá del Júcar: the river in the morning, the crag in the afternoon.
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.
Leaving from
Part of Alcalá del JúcarUnusual places to stay in Spain
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car1 h each way
WalkingAbout 3 km, with slopes
DifficultyEasy
Cost€50–70 pp
Best timeApril – June · September – October
With childrenYes, canoe from age 2
BookingCanoe and restaurant
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Albacete 1 h by car
From Albacete via the N-322; from Valencia, via the A-3 and Requena
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The old town hanging over the gorge, from the bridge to the bullring
Park by the river and cross the bridge
- 11 min on foot
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Calm-water canoeing on the Júcar, from Alcalá
11:00 slot · €15 · dogs also welcome
+34 967 110 190
- 14 min by car6,5 km
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Avenjúcar Restaurant, in Tolosa
14:00 slot · booking · menu €28
Calle San Roque, s/n, 02211 Tolosa · +34 639 305 731
Restaurant €€Book - 14 min by car6,5 km
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4
Devil's Caves and King Garadén's Caves
€4 with a drink
- 3 min on foot
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5
Alcalá del Júcar Castle
Check the hours at the tourist office
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Back home
In Albacete around 19:30; in Valencia around 20:15
Approximate cost
About €35–50 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
The old town hanging over the gorge, from the bridge to the bullring
Alcalá del Júcar is looked at from below and explored from above. This Sunday starts on the river, in a canoe, with the village hanging from the crag overhead; eat in Tolosa, a quiet hamlet upriver; and in the afternoon go into the crag through the Cuevas del Diablo and climb to the castle. It is an hour from Albacete and an hour and three quarters from Valencia.
The Day, Hour by Hour
9:30 · Departure. From Albacete, along the N-322; from Valencia, along the A-3 to Requena and the N-322. The last stretch winds down into the valley.
10:45 · The bridge. Park below, next to the river, and cross the medieval bridge towards the bullring. The old town is for the afternoon.
11:00 · Canoes on the Júcar. Multiaventura Los Olivos leaves from its landing stage on the river: two hours in a double canoe along a calm stretch, with helmet, life jacket, photos and a picnic at the end. €15 per person, children included, from age 2. Dogs are admitted. Bring swimwear, a towel and water shoes.
14:00 · Lunch in Tolosa. The Avenjúcar restaurant, a few minutes by car, beside the river: the week's La Mancha set menu with several dishes to choose from, dessert and drink, €28 (€15 for children). It is booked by sitting, at 14:00 or 15:30.
16:30 · Cuevas del Diablo. The galleries that cross the crag from side to side and look out over the gorge. €4 with a drink, and it includes the Rey Garadén caves. Free for under-6s.
17:30 · Castle. Climb through the streets of the old town to the tower, with the meander at your feet. Confirm the hours beforehand at the tourist office (967 473 090).
18:30 · Return.
If You Are with Teenagers
Swap the canoe for rafting in the Cabriel gorges, also with Multiaventura Los Olivos: half a day from age 11, with transport from Alcalá. The 9:00 sitting lets you eat in Tolosa at 15:30.
Time1 h 30
Change the route
With teenagers from age 11: rafting in the Cabriel gorges, half a day:
Rafting in the Cabriel gorges, departing from Alcalá
In winter or without a canoe: the trail with the best views of the gorge:
Gorge trails: El Batán, El Morrón and El Corciolico
If you want another cave, with a medieval winery and bar:
Masagó and El Duende Caves
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Masagó Caves Bar
What to order: A drink at the cave exit, looking out at the gorge.
Eliá Restaurant
What to order: A rice dish for the table or a dish of Alcalá from the seasonal menu, with a Manchuela wine from Señorío del Júcar
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Alcalá del Júcar
From spring to autumn, with weather for getting wet in the river. In summer, leave the castle for the end of the afternoon; in winter, swap the canoe for a trail.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book two things beforehand
The canoe, on the Los Olivos website, and the table at Avenjúcar, by sitting.
- 2Bring a change of clothes
You come out of the canoe wet and eat afterwards.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does the canoe in Alcalá del Júcar cost?
€15 per person, children included, with a picnic.
Can I take a dog?
Yes: in the Los Olivos canoes and along the village streets.
Where do you eat on a Sunday in Alcalá del Júcar?
At the Avenjúcar restaurant, in Tolosa, with booking by sitting; or, for an occasion, at Eliá.
How long does it take from Valencia?
Around an hour and three quarters by car.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/alcala-del-jucar/itineraries/alcala-del-jucar-canoe-lunch-in-tolosa-caves-and-castle
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.