Montesinos Cave and Quebrada del Toro, with a guide

The Montesinos Cave is the cave into which Cervantes has Don Quixote descend in the second part of the novel, and the place where he sets the enchantment of Ruidera and her daughters, turned into lagoons. It is in the municipality of Ossa de Montiel, near the San Pedro lagoon, a kilometre's walk from the track. Castilla-La Mancha Tourism recommends visiting it with an authorised company, and this Ruidera Activa outing combines it with the Quebrada del Toro, a nearby canyon: two very different landscapes in a single morning or afternoon.

Going down into Don Quixote's cave

Inside, the guide shines light on the stalactites and stalagmites so that the formations can be seen, and tells the story of the cave from four sides: the nature that lives in it, its geology, its history and its place in literature. It is the moment to remember that, in the novel, Don Quixote is lowered on a rope, falls asleep and comes back up telling how he saw Montesinos, Durandarte and an enchanted Dulcinea. If you have read it, here you understand it differently.

The Quebrada del Toro

The second part is outdoors: a canyon with high rock walls, with riverside vegetation, birds and other animals of the park. After the half-light of the cave, it is the open-air part of the outing.

Hours, price and level

There are two departures, at 10:00 and at 16:00, and the activity lasts about three hours in all. It costs €20 per adult and €13 for children under 14. The company provides the necessary equipment. The level is introductory: no caving experience or special fitness is needed. The meeting point is given when you book, on 684 029 344 (also by WhatsApp) or at [email protected]; their office is at Avenida de Castilla-La Mancha 61, in Ruidera.

The website does not publish departure days or cancellation conditions: confirm them when you book, especially out of season.

What to bring and what to combine it with

Non-slip trainers, comfortable clothes and water.

If you have the afternoon free, it goes well with a morning of kayaking on the Colgada lagoon, from the same company. To sleep near the cave, the Hotel Rural Albamanjón is above the San Pedro lagoon, and the Los Batanes campsite is on the same road.