Source of the River Mundo, Los Chorros

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.