Avenjúcar Rural Hotel, in Tolosa

In Tolosa, downriver from the noise

The Avenjúcar rural hotel is not in the old town of Alcalá del Júcar but in Tolosa, a hamlet of the same municipality a few kilometres away, on Calle San Roque, on the bank of the Júcar. That has two sides. The good one: on spring weekends, when the hanging village fills with cars and visitors, here you sleep far from the bustle, with the river in front of you. The other: to see the old town, the caves or the castle you have to take the car, and in the evening you cannot stroll out for a drink along the streets of Alcalá.

It is run by Avenjúcar, a rural and active tourism company that has worked in the gorge since 1993, with its office on Calle Batán in Alcalá.

Thirteen rooms of stone and wood

The house is rustic in style, with wooden balconies on the façade, and has thirteen rooms: 2 suites, 5 doubles and 6 family rooms for three or four people. All have a private bathroom and river views. The family rooms are what make this place practical for travelling with children, because you do not need to book two rooms.

The common areas are the restaurant, an outdoor chill-out terrace used in summer and a lounge-café with a fireplace for winter. The house suggests a glass of Manchuela wine at dusk, with the sun setting over the river.

Prices per person, with breakfast or board

The website gives indicative prices per person per night: €58 with breakfast, €78 with half board and €98 with full board. They are indicative and confirmed when you book; it also has special prices for accommodation plus activities. Meals are taken at the Avenjúcar restaurant, in the same house, with its weekly La Mancha menu.

Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00; you can ask to leave later. Cancellation is flexible according to its website, with conditions in its policy. Book through its online booking engine or by phone and WhatsApp on 639 30 57 31, during office hours.

The website says nothing about pets, parking, wifi or heating or air conditioning: if any of them matter to you, ask beforehand.

What you have to hand

The day is sorted by the Sunday of canoeing, caves and castle, which has lunch right here. From Tolosa you drive back to Alcalá for the castle and the gorge trails, which start from the village itself.