Hotel Rural Luces del Poniente
Why we like it: Country hotel with 14 double rooms in Cercedilla, with valley views, a restaurant with a terrace and a heated hydromassage pool in season.
Duration1 night
From Madrid1 h by car or train
Best timeJanuary – March
Budget€150–240 pp
Getting thereBy car, or Cercanías and bus
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving early on Saturday at Valdesquí, sleeping in Cercedilla and spending Sunday on snowshoes or walking the Fuenfría. If there is no snow, swap the skiing for the Camino Schmid and Siete Picos.
Saturday
- 17:30Set off for Valdesquí
Via the A-6, the M-601 and the SG-615, with your parking space booked free on the resort website and chains in the boot. Without a car, the 691 from Moncloa.
- 29:00Skiing at Valdesquí
Pistes until early afternoon. If someone is starting, a Pradera lift pass and a private lesson: €52 an hour for one, €32 per person for two.
- 314:15Lunch at the Venta Marcelino
At the Cotos pass, since 1924: La Granja butter beans and tripe. No bookings.
- 417:00Arrival in Cercedilla
Down the Navacerrada pass to Las Rozuelas or your hotel. Dinner in the village: La Maya is open until 1:00.
Sunday
- 19:30Guided snowshoeing from the pass
With the Escuela Española de Esquí de Navacerrada, a route adapted to the group and the snow. Book beforehand on 918 52 03 59.
- 214:00Lunch at La Maya
Holm-oak grill at weekends, in the centre of Cercedilla.
- 316:00Walk along the Roman road
If there is light left, a stretch from Las Dehesas, next to the Fuenfría Visitor Centre. Back to Madrid before dark.
The Sierra de Guadarrama is the snow Madrid has an hour away: two ski resorts, the National Park for snowshoeing and a town with a train, Cercedilla, where you can sleep without going down to the city. From Segovia it is half an hour away, and from Ávila, Guadalajara or Toledo, under two hours. This weekend splits the snow into two days: Saturday, pistes at Valdesquí; Sunday, guided snowshoeing or, if there hasn't been enough snow, the Fuenfría Roman road.
Where to sleep?
In Cercedilla, a quarter of an hour from the pass. Las Rozuelas is a stone house from 1940 in the Fuenfría valley, with a lounge with a fireplace, a buffet breakfast and its own parking: you set out on foot to the Roman road. Luces del Poniente is a quiet country hotel with a restaurant and terrace, which limits the number of young children it takes. Hostal La Maya, in the centre, minutes from the train, is the option if you come without a car.
Skiing or snowshoeing?
Both. Valdesquí has 29 pistes and 22 km, a school, rental and a snowpark; the adult day lift pass costs €47 in the 2026-2027 season with over 11 km open, and the Pradera pass, for beginners, €26. Snowshoes need no technique: the Escuela Española de Esquí de Navacerrada organises guided routes from the pass, and at Valdesquí they can be rented for €12.50.
| Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|
| With snow | Skiing at Valdesquí | Guided snowshoeing from the pass |
| Without snow | Camino Schmid and Siete Picos | Fuenfría Roman road |
And without a car?
It can all be done on public transport: bus 691 from Moncloa reaches Valdesquí; the Cercanías C-8, Cercedilla; and the bus replacing the C-9 links Cercedilla with the pass and Cotos while the railway works last, except on heavy snow days.
Map
The stops, in order
Plan the trip
Navacerrada Pass and Cercedilla, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Navacerrada Pass and Cercedilla
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
By car, with chains in the boot
A car lets you choose between the two ski resorts, Cotos and the Fuenfría valley in the same day. In return, on snow days you have to fight for parking and check the state of the M-601 before you leave.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepLas Rozuelas, in the Fuenfría…
- Getting aroundMadrid – Navacerrada Pass: A-6…
- Where to eatVenta Marcelino, at Cotos, no…
- ServicesRoad conditions: DGT, website or…
Where to sleep
- Las Rozuelas, in the Fuenfría valley, with its own parking
- Luces del Poniente, in Cercedilla, 10 minutes from the pass
- Hostal La Maya, in the centre of Cercedilla
Getting around
- Madrid – Navacerrada Pass: A-6 and M-601, about 60 km
- From the pass to Cotos and Valdesquí, along the SG-615
- Valdesquí car park with free reservation; Las Dehesas, with reservation and fee
Where to eat
- Venta Marcelino, at Cotos, no bookings
- La Maya, in Cercedilla, every day
Services
- Road conditions: DGT, website or telephone 011
- Cotos car park, free, 250 spaces
Car-free, by commuter train and bus
The sierra is easy to reach without a car, and on snow days it is the calmest way to go: the bus does not have to look for parking. Cercedilla is the base, with a train from Madrid.
60–110 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHostal La Maya, a few…
- Getting aroundC-8 commuter train from Madrid…
- Where to eatLa Maya, next to the…
- ServicesBus and lift-pass package to…
Where to sleep
- Hostal La Maya, a few minutes' walk from Cercedilla station
- Luces del Poniente, in Cercedilla; its website explains how to get there by public transport
Getting around
- C-8 commuter train from Madrid to Cercedilla
- Bus replacing the C-9 up to the pass and Cotos, for as long as the works last
- 691 bus from Moncloa to Valdesquí; free shuttle from Cotos to Valdesquí for skiers
Where to eat
- La Maya, next to the station, every day
- Venta Marcelino, at Cotos, next to the bus stop
Services
- Bus and lift-pass package to Valdesquí from Madrid, €55, when more than 11 km of slopes are open
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hostal La Maya
Why we like it: Guesthouse with 15 double rooms, air conditioning and wifi in the centre of Cercedilla, with a restaurant and terrace, a few minutes from the train.
Hotel Rural Las Rozuelas
Why we like it: A 1940 stone house turned country hotel on the Las Dehesas road, in the Fuenfría valley, with a lounge with a fireplace and a buffet breakfast.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Navacerrada Pass | Beginner skiing and start of routes | |
| Cotos and Valdesquí | The big resort and Peñalara | |
| Cercedilla | Train, sleeping and eating, Fuenfría valley |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Navacerrada Pass and Cercedilla
Venta Marcelino
What to order: the judiones beans from La Granja with chorizo or the Madrid-style tripe, both stewed fresh every day, and rice pudding or fried milk for dessert
La Maya restaurant
What to order: mountain meat over holm-oak embers if it is the weekend, and for tea its pancakes with cream or chocolate with fried bread
Hotel Luces del Poniente restaurant
What to order: ask for a table on the terrace if the day is clear; the menu and the tea menu are on its website
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book the Valdesquí parking
Free on its website; on snowy Saturdays, essential.
- 2Carry chains
The M-601 and the SG-615 require them in snow.
- 3If it hasn't snowed
The Camino Schmid and the Roman road are just as good in autumn or a dry winter.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does the weekend cost?
Between €150 and €240 per person, with lift pass, rental, a night and meals.
Can it be done without a car?
Yes, with bus 691, the Cercanías C-8 and the bus replacing the C-9.
Where to sleep near the pistes?
In Cercedilla, about 15 minutes from the pass.
Are there guided snowshoe outings?
Yes, with the Escuela Española de Esquí de Navacerrada, at the pass itself.