# Riópar and the Source of the Río Mundo

The Chorros of the Río Mundo, an 86 m waterfall that comes out of a cave, Riópar Viejo and the Reales Fábricas, in the Sierra del Segura of Albacete.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/riopar · Revisado: 2026-11-12

Riópar is a village in the Sierra del Segura, in the south-west of the province of Albacete, in the Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park. Less than 10 km away the Río Mundo rises, and does so in a way that is hard to forget: the water comes out of the mouth of a cave opened in a sheer wall and falls 86 metres into a rock cirque covered with forest. It is Los Chorros, the most visited place in the district.

There is more around it: Riópar Viejo, the original stone hamlet, with the oldest church in the sierra; the Reales Fábricas, Spain's first brass factory, which gave rise to the present village; and a sky with Starlight certification.

## How do you get there from Albacete and from Murcia?

By car. From Albacete it is about 120 km, an hour and three quarters, the last part along sierra roads with bends. From Murcia, about 160 km, a little over two hours. From Jaén, about two and a half hours. There is a bus from Albacete to Riópar, but only on Mondays and Fridays and with timetables that do not allow a return trip in the day.

## Where to park for Los Chorros?

The Nacimiento has its own car park at the end of the road. On the busiest days, weekends and some public holidays, access by car is regulated by the natural park and a toll must be paid; the car park is small and fills up. The alternative that the town council recommends is to park free at the Puerto del Arenal, which is bigger, and walk down 4 km along a path and a tarmac track between pine woods. If you go by motorhome, Riópar has a free area open all year.

## What to see and do?

Los Chorros. From the car park, a signposted path follows the river past the Calderetas, pools of clear water linked by small falls, to the foot of the waterfall; an adapted track allows you to arrive in a wheelchair. A second, higher viewpoint is reached by a path with rock steps. Mundo Aventura Riópar runs the guided visit for €20, free for under-10s.

The Cueva de los Chorros. It is one of the longest caves in the Peninsula. It can only be entered with a guide, with a single group of seven people a day under park rules: Mundo Aventura Riópar offers it from €70.

Riópar Viejo. 3 km from the village, at the top of a hill: stone houses, the 15th-century Gothic church of the Espíritu Santo, and the ruins of a castle of Islamic origin with views as far as the Nacimiento. At night, its Starlight viewpoint is the place to look at the sky, or you can sign up for an observation with a telescope.

The Reales Fábricas. Founded in 1773 by concession of Charles III, they operated until 1996. Their museum is closed for works in November 2026, but you can do a guided 3 km route through the buildings and the Caz de Cortes.

## How much time?

Los Chorros is seen in two or three hours, more if you walk down from the Puerto del Arenal. With Riópar Viejo and a meal, it is a full day. For stargazing or caving, stay the night.

## When to go?

In spring and autumn the waterfall carries more water; after heavy rain the Reventón can occur, when the flow multiplies. In autumn the forest of Los Chorros changes colour. In summer it is a cool refuge, but very busy at weekends. In winter, with snow, the landscape is beautiful, but the sierra roads call for caution.

## Where to eat and sleep?

In Riópar there are several restaurants on Calle Maestro Galindo Arjona, such as the Mesón La Cuesta or the Restaurante San Juan; they do not publish their hours, so call ahead. For a special meal, La Teja, in Riópar Viejo. For sleeping, Un Tercio de Vida, boutique accommodation in Riópar Viejo; the La Cuesta farmhouses, a kilometre from the village, which admit pets; or the Río Mundo campsite, in Mesones, 12 km from the Nacimiento.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Starry skies in Spain
- Cerca: Lagunas de Ruidera (a 64.5 km), Caravaca de la Cruz (a 65.4 km), Sierra de Cazorla (a 82.9 km), Úbeda and Baeza (a 99.5 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Source of the River Mundo, Los Chorros** (1 h 30 · All audiences): The river Mundo rises in an amphitheatre with vertical walls less than 10 km from Riópar, inside the Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park. The water emerges from the mouth of the Cueva de los Chorros and plunges all at once about 86 metres down the wall: it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Spain and the reason most people come to this range.
What lies behind the waterfall
Above the amphitheatre is the Calar del Mundo, a limestone plateau about 22 km long and 4 or 5 wide, with almost a thousand sinkholes, which swallows the rain and snow and gives it back here. Inside, the Cueva de los Chorros is a labyrinth: since the 1950s almost 50 km of galleries have been explored, and it is the longest underground system in the southern half of the Peninsula and the eighth in the whole of it, with parts still unexplored. At the foot of the fall, the water runs down a succession of transparent pools joined by falls, the Calderetas; the stretch has been a catch-and-release fishing reserve since 1998.
In periods of intense rain, especially in spring and autumn, the flow can multiply a thousandfold: it is the Reventón. It has no fixed date; if you are interested, follow the Los Chorros webcam that the Town Hall links to.
The walk to the foot of Los Chorros
From the car park a waymarked path leaves beside the river, suitable for everyone, and a track for people with reduced mobility reaches the foot of the waterfall. A second viewpoint, higher up and closer to the fall, is reached by a path of some difficulty: take care, especially with children. Between going, returning and viewpoints, allow an hour and a half.
The car, the toll and the Arenal
On the busiest days, weekends and some public holidays, car access is regulated by the park and a toll is charged; the car park is limited and can fill up. That is why many park for free at the Puerto del Arenal, less than a kilometre from the turning, and walk down about 4 km along a path and a paved track among pinewoods, springs and streams: it is the descent from the Puerto del Arenal, and you have to allow for the climb back.
The Sunday of the Source and Riópar Viejo combines the descent from the Arenal, Los Chorros and the climb to Riópar Viejo in the afternoon. If you would rather someone told you about the amphitheatre and the cave, there is a guided visit to the Source.
- **Guided visit to the Source and the Calderetas** (2 h · 3 km · Families · Desde 20 € per person): What it is
A two-hour guided tour of the Hueco de los Chorros: the Calderetas, the Cueva de los Chorros, the ecosystem of the amphitheatre and the climb to the second viewpoint to see the great waterfall up close. It is circular, 3 km with 170 m of climb, with stretches of rock steps with a handrail and uneven terrain. Mundo Aventura Riópar, which organises it, rates it low difficulty and presents it as an activity for the whole family.
What you see
The Source of the river Mundo is the most visited place in the Sierra del Segura, inside the Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park. The water comes out of the Cueva de los Chorros, in the middle of a rock wall, and falls in a waterfall that Riópar Town Hall puts at 86 metres. From there it runs down the Calderetas, pools of crystal-clear water joined by small falls, past which the visit goes.
The guide explains how the cave works, which according to the Town Hall has almost 50 km of mapped galleries and is the longest in the southern half of the peninsula, and the phenomenon of the Reventón: after heavy rain or snowfall, the flow of the waterfall can multiply a thousandfold and change the shape of the river. The flora is also discussed: the amphitheatre holds one of the best-preserved remnants of Atlantic-type forest in the south of the peninsula, which has survived here since the last ice ages, and the greatest concentration of protected species in the park.
The climb to the second viewpoint is what most justifies going with a guide. It is reached by a path of some difficulty, and from above you see the waterfall much closer than from the viewpoint below.
How much it costs and what is included
€20 per person; children under 10 do not pay. The company includes the entrance and parking fees, access to the viewpoint, the environmental guide, insurance and the natural park permits, and lends a rucksack. The minimum group is three people; if there are fewer of you, you can open a group by paying the minimum, and the supplement is not charged if someone joins. Always with advance booking.
There is a longer version, 6 km, 270 m of climb and three hours, which adds the Vega del Mundo, where the river disappears for a kilometre and a half underground and re-emerges: €25, free for under-10s. And a third, only for over-18s in good shape and without vertigo, which climbs to the mouth of the cave with harness and helmet: 6 km, 370 m of climb, four hours and €40. The summary table on the website gives other figures for these options, so confirm the price when you book.
What to bring
Suitable footwear and clothing for the season; in rainy periods, a raincoat or umbrella. A trekking pole helps on the steps. If you prefer to go on your own and walk down, see the route from the Puerto del Arenal; to go into the cave, the caving in the Cueva de los Chorros.
- **Riópar Viejo, its Gothic church and the castle** (1 h · Everyone · Self-guided · free): Riópar Viejo ("Old Riópar") is the original village, at the top of a hill about 3 km from the present one. Its stone houses, many restored as rural accommodation, keep the traditional style, with cobbled or dirt streets and little light at night so as not to spoil the atmosphere. At the top is the church of the Espíritu Santo, from the 15th century, Gothic, with a single nave with diaphragm arches and a timber roof with Mudéjar paintings: the oldest in the Sierra del Segura.
A little history
According to the Town Hall, the settlement of Riópar Viejo was born in the Bronze Age itself, from a Neolithic settlement at the foot of the hill, and was inhabited without interruption by Romans, Visigoths, Muslims and Castilians. In 1213, the year after the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, the troops of Alfonso VIII took its castle. In time, life moved down to the valley, where in the 18th century the brass factories were born around which present-day Riópar grew. The last resident of the old village died in 1995; since 1999 it has had some residents again.
What to see
The church of the Espíritu Santo is the main thing. Inside it has five bays separated by arches and a flat chevet, a wooden choir supported by a central column and, behind the high altar, some old frescoes discovered recently that are being studied and restored. The tower keeps the baptism chapel at its base. The north door, with a pointed arch between two buttresses, opens onto the Plaza de la Iglesia, where La Pita is danced at the festivities, on the third Sunday of September.
At the very top are the ruins of the medieval castle of Islamic origin, which shares the space with the old cemetery: a few tombs among the remains of the wall and the towers. The views reach as far as the Source of the river Mundo. Right there is the Starlight viewpoint, with a panel and a planisphere to recognise the constellations at night.
In the village there is also the Esparto Grass Museum, with esparto pieces and other materials, tools of rural life in the past and demonstrations of manual work. It is open Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 14:00; groups of 20 or more can request a guided visit by email to the tourist office.
On your own or with a guide
The self-guided walk is free and takes an hour: climb the streets on foot up to the castle. If you want someone to tell you about it, Mundo Aventura Riópar runs a two-hour guided visit in the morning, with history and legends of the village and a climb to the castle along a path of moderate gradient; at weekends you can also see the inside of the church. It costs €20 per person and children under 10 do not pay, one per adult, with a minimum group of three.
At night, the sky is of Starlight quality: if you would like to see it with a telescope, see the stargazing. And to understand the lower Riópar, the factory one, continue with the historic site of the Royal Factories.
- **On foot to the Source from the Puerto del Arenal** (3 h · 8 km · Walking families · Self-guided · free): The way to reach Los Chorros without a toll or traffic jams. The Puerto del Arenal car park is free, larger and accessible, and less than a kilometre from the turning to the Source. On the other side of the road a waymarked 4 km route begins: a short path and then a paved track that drops to the valley floor, among great pinewoods, springs and streams. Remember that the way back is uphill: allow about three hours in all with the visit.
Why go on foot
Car access to the source of the river Mundo is regulated by the Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park on the busiest dates, such as weekends and some public holidays. On those days a toll has to be paid, and the car park below has limited spaces and can fill up. That is why more and more people leave the car up at the Puerto del Arenal and walk down, as the Town Hall itself suggests. Besides the saving, the path is pretty in itself: you go from the pinewoods to the valley floor following the water.
What awaits you below
The Source is less than 10 km from Riópar, inside a rock amphitheatre with vertical walls. High up opens the Cueva de los Chorros, from which the water falls in an 86-metre waterfall, one of the most spectacular in Spain. From there the river runs down through pools of crystal-clear water joined by small falls, which in the area they call the Calderetas. From the car park at the bottom a short waymarked path follows the river to the waterfall, and a track for people with reduced mobility reaches its foot. Higher up there is a second viewpoint, closer to the waterfall, reached by a path of some difficulty that must be taken with care.
After heavy spring or autumn rains, or with the thaw, the flow can multiply a thousandfold: it is the famous Reventón, a spectacle with no fixed date. The area around Los Chorros is also the place of greatest biological value in the natural park, with remnants of Atlantic-type forest that have survived here since the last ice ages.
Tips
Take water and something to eat, because the climb back, 4 km uphill, is more tiring than it looks, especially for children. Comfortable shoes; in winter, warm clothes. Respect the natural park's rules: access to the Cueva de los Chorros is also regulated by the park's regulations.
If you want to understand what you see, the guided visit to the Source and the Calderetas climbs with a guide to the second viewpoint. And to know the spot in detail, see the listing for the Source of the river Mundo.
- **Caving in the Cueva de los Chorros** (4 h · Adults in good shape · Desde 70 € per person): What it is
Entering the cave from which the river is born. Just reaching the mouth, 15 by 25 metres in the middle of a 300-metre wall, is an adventure: about 2 km with 270 m of climb along exposed ledges, with stretches where you have to be roped up with helmet and harness. The company insists the approach is high risk. Inside, the cave has more than 40 km of galleries; Riópar Town Hall speaks of almost 50 km mapped and it is still not fully explored. It is the longest in the southern half of the peninsula.
The three levels
Mundo Aventura Riópar offers three routes, always with a guide qualified in caving.

Cave tourism (Espeleo turismo), 4 hours, €70, from age 16. The simplest level: after the approach, you walk the main gallery with helmet and lighting, wading the underground river without needing to get wet, among great chambers and waterfalls. Includes helmet with light, harness for the access, rubber boots and rucksack. Bring hiking boots or sports shoes and warm clothes, even in summer.
Fossil caving (Espeleo fósil), 6 hours, €90, from age 18. A mostly dry route, more technical and vertical, through the galleries hanging above the river, with climbing sections, abseiling and handrails, among stalagmites and other formations. You wear a caving suit and rubber boots. Bring leggings and a thermal or synthetic T-shirt.
Aquatic caving (Espeleo acuática), 6 hours, €90, from age 18, high physical level. A circuit through the underground river and the fossil section, with climbing, abseiling and swimming stretches in cold water. They provide a 5 mm wetsuit, suit, neoprene socks, gloves, harness and descender. You need hiking or sports footwear in perfect condition that will get wet; walking shoes, water shoes and flip-flops are not allowed, and they rent amphibious boots for €5 a pair if you tell them when booking.

At all levels permits and parking fees, insurance and a souvenir photo are included. Bring water and something to eat, and leave spare clothes and footwear in the car for the return.
Quota and booking
No experience is needed, but you must be physically fit and comfortable moving over uneven terrain; if you are unsure, start with the simplest level or ask them. Under park regulations and to protect the cave, only one group of seven people enters per day, and on occasion two, never at weekends or on public holidays. Once a group is opened, others join until it is full, so you have to book far in advance. The activity runs all year, depending on the water flow.
If you do not see yourself inside the cave, the guided visit to the Source climbs to the second viewpoint and has an option up to the cave mouth, for over-18s. And the listing for the Source of the river Mundo explains how to see the waterfall on your own.
- **The Royal Brass Factories and their historic site** (2 h · 3 km · Everyone · Desde 20 € per person): Today's Riópar was born around a factory. In 1773, the Austrian engineer Juan Jorge Graubner obtained from Charles III the concession of a calamine mine, from which zinc is extracted, and of the forests and waters of the area to set up a brass and bronze factory, the first of its kind in Spain. It operated for more than two hundred years, until 1996. The village that grew around it was called Fábricas de San Juan de Alcaraz until the early 1990s, when it became Riópar.
The museum, closed for works
Part of its premises is the Museum of the Royal Factories of San Juan de Alcaraz, an industrial archaeology museum which also houses the tourist office. In November 2026 the Town Hall announces it as temporarily closed for works. When it is open, admission costs €2, and €1.50 for children aged 4 to 12, pensioners and people with disabilities; in winter it opens Tuesday to Sunday mornings, and on Fridays and Saturdays in the afternoon too. Before you go, call the tourist office to find out whether it has reopened.
The guided route
In the meantime, Mundo Aventura Riópar runs a 3 km guided route with a local guide through the factory buildings and along the Caz de Cortes, the system of ponds, channels and waterfalls that powered industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. It lasts two hours, the physical level is low and it is suitable for all ages: €20, free for under-10s, with a minimum of three people. Its listing says the visit begins at the museum and includes admission; with the museum closed, ask when you book how it works now.
On your own: the Factories Trail
The industrial complex of the Riópar Metal Factories has been a Site of Cultural Interest with Historic Site status since July 2010. The Town Hall has waymarked a route, the Riópar Factories Trail (Sendero de las Fábricas de Riópar), which follows the water from the mountain springs to the mills, forge hammers and falls that turned it into motive power and electricity. It has explanatory panels and arrows, low difficulty, and can be done as a family or by bike. It passes through some of the village's best-known streets and then along tracks and paths in good condition, with views of the valley, the river Mundo and the mountains of the natural park. At the tourist office they sell a guide to the trail for €2, and on the municipal website there is a map with the tracks.
If you only have a little time, the Town Hall suggests a walk of less than 1 km from the old town, suitable for everyone, following the Caz de las Fábricas, a long aqueduct that brought water from the Gollizo pond, also called the Molino reservoir. The pond is also a good place to see birds, and on summer nights you can hear the song of amphibians.
To round off the day
Afterwards, go up to Riópar Viejo, the medieval village on the hill, to see the contrast between old Riópar and industrial Riópar. Or go down to the Source of the river Mundo, less than 10 km away.
- **Stargazing with a telescope** (2 h · All ages · Desde 25 € per person): The Sierra del Segura has Starlight certification for the quality of its night sky, and is one of the most outstanding astrotourism destinations in the country. Mundo Aventura Riópar organises, with NaturSky monitors, two hours of guided observation for all ages: you do not need to know anything about astronomy or bring any equipment.
What the night is like
It begins with a participatory workshop to understand what will be seen that night, because the sky changes with the months. It explains how the solar system works and why it is so important to reduce light pollution. Then comes the part about finding your way by the stars and constellations, with the help of stories and mythology, which is the part that hooks children most.
With a long-range laser pointer, the guide points out the planets, the Milky Way and the colours of the stars. And at the end, with a powerful telescope, you look closely at stars, planets, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies. The company includes a local guide with Starlight certification, the telescope, a red-light torch so you are not dazzled and insurance.
Price and booking
It costs €25 per person; children under 10 do not pay. The minimum group is three people, although if there are one or two of you, you can open a group by paying the minimum of three; that supplement is not charged if someone else joins on the day of the activity. The company works with a single group of up to seven people a day, so whoever books later joins yours. They can also put you down without a reservation and let you know whether a group goes ahead, but with no guarantee. Book on its website or by phone. The activity's page on its website marks on a map where it takes place.
What to bring
Comfortable shoes and warm clothes, even in summer: in the mountains it gets very cold at night. They also recommend a folding chair and a blanket or mat to be comfortable lying down looking at the sky. The physical level is low. Moonless nights are the best for seeing the Milky Way; if you are interested in something specific, such as a planet or a meteor shower, ask when you book which dates fit.
On your own
If you prefer to go on your own, the Town Hall has a Starlight viewpoint in Riópar Viejo, next to the castle ruins, with a panel and a planisphere to recognise the constellations. It is a good complement to the guided activity: first you learn to find your way and another night you repeat it alone. By day, the same company runs guided visits of Riópar Viejo and the Source of the river Mundo.

## Dónde comer
- **La Teja Restaurant** (Restaurant, Riópar Viejo, €€€). Qué pedir: The seasonal menu, with local produce from the sierra.
- **Mesón La Cuesta** (Restaurant, Riópar, €€). Qué pedir: Ask about the mountain cooking of the day.
- **San Juan Restaurant** (Restaurant, Riópar, €€). Qué pedir: Ask about the menu of the day.

## By car: By car through the Sierra del Segura
Riópar is deep in the mountains, with no useful public transport for visitors: a car is essential, and the roads have bends.
Presupuesto orientativo: 50–120 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **La Cuesta Country House** (Country house, desde 140 € / night): Two farmhouses a kilometre from the village
La Cuesta is two farmhouses (cortijos) in the countryside, a kilometre from Riópar, with views of the mountains and on the way to the Source of the River Mundo, and an attic apartment inside the village. They share an address and email with Mesón La Cuesta, on Calle Maestro Galindo Arjona in the village. They are rented whole, with a kitchen, so it is accommodation for organising yourself your own way, not a hotel with a reception.
Cortijo La Cuesta 1, for two or four
It has two double bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and a living-dining room. It comes with heating and air conditioning, wifi, a garden and a barbecue, and the firewood is free. According to its website, the weekend costs €140 for two people and €220 for four. Pets are accepted.
Cortijo La Cuesta 2, for groups
It is the big one: it takes 2 to 14 people, with two double bedrooms and a triple, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living-dining room with a fireplace, wifi, a garden and a barbecue, and free firewood as well. The weekend for six people costs €330. Pets are accepted. As the capacity goes up to fourteen, ask how the beds are distributed if there are more of you than fit in the bedrooms.
The village apartment
In Riópar itself there is an attic apartment with two double bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a living-dining room, heating and wifi, 70 metres from the municipal pool. The weekend costs €190. It is the option if you want to walk out to dinner or do not feel like driving at night. Its website does not say whether it accepts pets.
For stays longer than a weekend, the price is by request. The website does not publish check-in and check-out times: agree them when you book on 618 854 633, 681 134 079 or at info@lacuestariopar.com.
What is nearby
From the farmhouses, the car park at the Source of the River Mundo is a few minutes by car; on busy days, it is better to walk down from the Arenal, as the Sunday of the Source and Riópar Viejo suggests. In the village, the Royal Factories complex tells the story of Spain's first brass factory.
- **Río Mundo Campsite** (Campsite, desde 19 € / pitch): The campsite
The Río Mundo campsite is on the riverbank, in the hamlet of Mesones, in the municipality of Molinicos, next to the Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park. The Source of the River Mundo, Los Chorros, is about 12 or 13 km away, depending on which page you look at on its website and on that of Campingred, the network it belongs to.
The pitches are in a large grove of deciduous trees, which gives shade in summer, and most have a 10-amp electric hook-up. The campsite's website gives them 60 to 90 m²; the Campingred listing, 40 to 80 m². There is a service area for caravans, toilets and showers with hot water, adapted toilets, washing machines and dryers, parking and security.
Bungalows
The campsite's website lists five models, Almenara, Calar, Mesones, Molejón and Sabina, for four to six people, with a kitchen equipped with utensils, fridge and microwave, a bathroom with shower, air conditioning and television. The Campingred listing speaks of three models for up to five people: if there are six of you, confirm the model when you book.
Services and activities
It has an adult pool, free to use and with a lifeguard, a bar-café with a terrace, a small supermarket, a playground and a baby bath. Animals are accepted. In summer it organises entertainment for different ages with monitors.
Many activities start from the campsite itself: walking and mountain biking routes such as those of the Celada valley, the Picos del Oso or the Calar del Mundo, fishing, canoeing, horse riding, climbing and birdwatching. Among the attractions of the surroundings, the campsite mentions the Cueva de los Chorros, with more than 25 km of galleries; to go in with a guide, see caving in the Cueva de los Chorros.
Prices and season
In 2026 it opened from 13 March to 2 November, and its website announces the reopening for the next season on 12 March. In early November 2026, the Campingred search gave about €19 for a night on a pitch and about €79 for two nights in a bungalow; these are low-season prices, and in summer they rise. The full rates are in the rates section of its website. Bookings on 967 433 230, at info@campingriomundo.es or through the Campingred booking system.
What is nearby
From Mesones you drive up to the Source and to Riópar Viejo, and in Riópar you can visit the historic site of the Royal Factories. If you come in summer to Los Chorros, remember that at weekends car access is regulated and a toll is charged.
- **Un Tercio de Vida** (Small hotel): The house
Un Tercio de Vida is boutique accommodation with a gastronomic restaurant in Riópar Viejo, the original village of Riópar, at the top of a hill about 3 km from the present one. Its motto sums it up: a place where rest meets haute cuisine. It is on Calle Dolorosa 2, among the stone houses of the hamlet, many restored as rural accommodation, with cobbled streets and little light at night so as not to spoil the atmosphere.
It combines boutique rooms and suites, which the house describes as comfortable, serene and careful in the details, with the La Teja restaurant, which reinterprets the cooking of La Mancha and the Sierra del Segura with seasonal produce. The website suggests it for romantic getaways, restful weekends and stays in nature.
The accommodation
The accommodation listing on its website, La Teja Suites, details a two-bedroom villa for four people, 137 m², with a private outdoor pool, garden, terrace and views, and free wifi. It is the option for two couples or a family who want independence and their own pool. The villa is booked through Booking, as the website itself links; for the rooms and suites, or to book a table at the same time, the phone number is 610 013 302.
The website does not publish the number of suites, their prices, whether breakfast is included, whether pets are accepted or check-in and check-out times: ask when you book.
Why sleep here
What sets Un Tercio de Vida apart is having the gourmet dinner in the same house. La Teja's summer menu included dishes such as pickled partridge salad or a rice in a tin with artichoke and Iberian ham; dining and then going up to your room saves driving at night along the mountain roads.
And then there is Riópar Viejo itself. Up there is the church of the Espíritu Santo, from the 15th century, the oldest in the Sierra del Segura, with a timber roof with Mudéjar paintings, and at the very top, the castle ruins and the Starlight viewpoint, with a panel and a planisphere to recognise the constellations: stargazing is done under this certified sky.
What is nearby
The Source of the River Mundo, with its 86-metre waterfall coming out of the Cueva de los Chorros, is less than 10 km from Riópar, and in the new village you can visit the historic site of the Royal Factories, Spain's first brass factory.

## As a family: A waterfall for everyone

Los Chorros is a family outing: an easy path, water everywhere and an enormous waterfall at the end.

### What works best
The Source trail, with an adapted track up to the waterfall

The guided visit, free for under-10s

Riópar Viejo, with castle ruins

Stargazing, free for under-10s

### Where to sleep
Río Mundo Campsite, with bungalows and a pool

La Cuesta Country House, with a garden

### Where to eat
Picnic in the Source area, and dinner in Riópar

### Bear in mind
Slippery rocks beside the pools

The second viewpoint has rock steps

### Qué hacer as a family
- Source of the River Mundo, Los Chorros
- Guided visit to the Source and the Calderetas
- Riópar Viejo, its Gothic church and the castle
- On foot to the Source from the Puerto del Arenal
- The Royal Brass Factories and their historic site
- Stargazing with a telescope

## With teenagers: Inside the mountain

For teenagers in good shape, the challenge is to enter the cave from which the river is born.

### What works best
Caving in the Cueva de los Chorros, with a roped approach

The descent from the Puerto del Arenal, 8 km there and back

Stargazing with a telescope

The Royal Factories route

### Where to sleep
Río Mundo Campsite

### Where to eat
A sandwich by the river and dinner in the village

### Bear in mind
The caving takes one group a day: book well in advance

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Source of the River Mundo, Los Chorros
- On foot to the Source from the Puerto del Arenal
- Caving in the Cueva de los Chorros
- The Royal Brass Factories and their historic site
- Stargazing with a telescope

## Consejos

### Go midweek
No toll and room in the car park.

### Look at the webcam
The town council has a webcam of Los Chorros: check how much water the waterfall carries before you set out.

### Wear hiking shoes
The rocks of the Calderetas and the path to the second viewpoint are slippery.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Where is the Source of the Río Mundo?
Less than 10 km from Riópar, in the province of Albacete, inside the Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park.

### Do you have to pay to see Los Chorros?
The walk is free; on busy days a toll is paid to drive to the Nacimiento car park.

### Where can you park for free?
At the Puerto del Arenal, and walk down 4 km.

### How long does it take from Albacete?
Around an hour and three quarters by car.

### Is it suitable for children?
Yes: the path from the car park is easy and there is an adapted track to the waterfall.

### What is the Reventón?
A sudden increase in the waterfall's flow after intense rain.