Guided visit to the Source and the Calderetas

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.