What to do · Lagunas de Ruidera
Kayaking on the Colgada lagoon, the largest in the park
Information
- From
- €24 per person
- Duration
- 2 h 30
- Season
- Mostly spring to autumn; confirm dates with the company
- Who it's for
- Families and teenagers
The Colgada is the largest lagoon in the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park, between Ruidera and Ossa de Montiel, and the one that gives most when seen from the water: it has waterfalls at its edges, a cave and an island, things you can barely guess at from the road. Ruidera Activa tours it on a guided crossing, which it calls premium, with stops at the key points.
From the office to the water
You meet at its active tourism centre, at Avenida de Castilla-La Mancha 61, in Ruidera, a quarter of an hour before the departure time, to get kitted out. From there the company takes you to the starting point. Before paddling there is a while to adjust the equipment and a short practice. Then you paddle round the lagoon, stopping at the waterfalls, the cave and the island. In all it is about two and a half hours, counting the equipment and practice.
They are punctual: the courtesy wait is five to ten minutes, and anyone who arrives late may be left on shore.
Who it is for
It is introductory: you do not need to have ever sat in a kayak. It costs €24 per person and €16 for under-14s. The website gives no minimum age and does not say whether the kayaks are single or double: if you are going with small children, ask when you book.
There is a shorter option, 1 h 45, through the San Pedro and Tinaja lagoons passing the Chorro de las Minas, for €18 (€12 for under-14s), booked on the Lagunas de Ruidera portal.
What the company provides and what you bring
It includes the kayak, paddle, life jacket and a dry bag for your phone and keys; the wetsuit is optional. You bring swimwear and water shoes, or flip-flops if you do not have any, and a change of clothes for afterwards.
Booking and when
Book by WhatsApp or by phone on 684 029 344. The website does not publish a calendar or season: confirm the date and time with the company before going.
It is the morning of the Sunday of waterfalls and kayaking. For lunch afterwards without going back to the village, the restaurant at the Hotel Matías is on the same lagoons road; in the afternoon, the walk between the Rey, Colgada and Batana lagoons shows you from land what you saw from the water.
Tips
- Ask about the time the day before The website does not publish a calendar: confirm the departure time by WhatsApp.
- Bring a change of clothes Getting in and out of the kayak it is easy to get wet.
- Arrive fifteen minutes early The courtesy wait is five to ten minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does kayaking in the Lagunas de Ruidera cost?
The crossing of the Colgada lagoon, €24 (€16 under 14); the short one through San Pedro and Tinaja, €18.
Do I need experience?
No. It is introductory and starts with a practice.
What is included?
Kayak, paddle, life jacket and dry bag; the wetsuit is optional.
Where do I meet?
At the Ruidera Activa centre, at Avenida de Castilla-La Mancha 61, fifteen minutes beforehand.
Can children go?
Yes, with a reduced price for under-14s; ask the minimum age when you book.
As a familyWith teenagers
Who runs it
- Ruidera ActivaPremium kayak crossing of the Laguna Colgada Visit their website
- Ruidera ActivaKayak on the San Pedro and Tinaja lagoons, via the Chorro de las Minas Visit their website
