On foot to the Source from the Puerto del Arenal

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.