Cherry Picking on a Jerte Farm

This activity puts you into the harvest that keeps the valley alive: a morning on a cherry farm with a guide who explains how the trees are grown on terraces, how and when the fruit is picked, and then lets you pick your own straight from the tree. It only exists while the season lasts, from late spring to high summer.

A farm inside the reserve

The Garganta de los Infiernos version, the company based in Jerte, has one particular feature: the farm lies inside the Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve, where few cherry plantations remain. After the picking, the morning continues at Los Pilones, the granite pools of the gorge, with a swim if the weather allows. In all it takes about four hours and the level is beginner: you don't need to know anything about farming or be fit.

Two kilos each and a country-style aperitif

It costs €50 per person. It includes about 2 kg of cherries that you pick and take home, an explanation of the cultivation and harvest, a country-style aperitif with a tasting of the valley's liqueurs, the visit to Los Pilones, the official guide and third-party liability insurance. The website does not publish a child price or minimum age: ask when booking if you are coming as a family.

Bring comfortable clothes and footwear, hiking or sports shoes, suited to the weather that day, and a small bottle of water per person. If you plan to swim at Los Pilones, add swimwear and a towel.

Cherries first, picotas after

The valley's harvest begins in May with the cherries and continues in June and July with the picotas, the emblem of the Cereza del Jerte PDO: they come away from the tree on their own and come without a stalk, smaller and dark red. Certification of the picotas usually starts in mid-June. The company places the activity in late spring and summer, and the exact dates depend on each year and on when the farm's fruit ripens: confirm them when booking.

ValleAventura, the other option

ValleAventura, from Cabezuela del Valle, organises visits to cherry farms with an explanation of production and picking: you learn to tell varieties apart and take home the cherries you pick. It does not publish a price, duration or dates; book by phone on 636 631 182, or at [email protected].

They go ahead even if it rains

With Garganta de los Infiernos your place is not confirmed until you pay the full amount. If you cancel, they keep 15% with more than 30 days' notice, 40% with less than 30, 60% at 15 days or less and 100% at 7 days or less. Departures are not cancelled for rain. Dogs can come if you put it in the booking notes.

If you want to know more about the fruit, the Cherry Museum in Cabezuela explains the valley's varieties and the garabato, each picker's basket. And if you want to sleep among cherry trees, El Cerezal de los Sotos, in Jerte, lets its guests, if they ask, pick cherries on its own farm.