# Sunday in Monfragüe: Salto del Gitano, the Castle and Portilla del Tiétar

A morning at the Salto del Gitano and the castle tower, lunch with a view in Torrejón el Rubio and an afternoon at the Tiétar viewpoints. All beside the car and free.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/extremadura/monfrague/itineraries/monfrague-salto-del-gitano-castle-and-portilla-del-tietar

## El día
- 08:45 · Salida: 1 h 15 by car (from Cáceres via the A-58 and the EX-208 · a little over 1 h)
- 10:00 · Salto del Gitano Viewpoint (Peña Falcón and its vultures · 45 min)
  - 10 min on foot
- 11:00 · Monfragüe Castle and Its Tower (drive up to the car park and the tower · 1 h)
  - 10 min by car, 6 km
- 12:30 · Green Trail from the Malvecino Stream to Cerro Gimio (only the stretch of the Malvecino stream, there and back · 45 min)
  - 15 min by car, 15 km
- 13:45 · El Paraíso de los Sentidos Restaurant (in Torrejón el Rubio · open daily · booking) · El Paraíso de los Sentidos Restaurant, €€€
  - 30 min by car, 20,6 km
- 16:30 · Yellow Trail to the Tajadilla Viewpoint (the viewpoint, by car along the Saltos de Torrejón road · 30 min)
  - 8 min by car, 5,2 km
- 17:15 · Portilla del Tiétar Viewpoint (the Tiétar narrows · 30 min)
- 18:00 · Vuelta (you reach Cáceres around 19:15)

Monfragüe can be seen very well on a Sunday and with hardly any walking: the viewpoints are next to the road and the vultures are opposite. From Cáceres you arrive in a little over an hour; from Mérida or Salamanca, in about two. This plan combines the two driving itineraries that the park itself suggests, the castle one in the morning and the Tiétar one in the afternoon, with a lunch with a view in Torrejón el Rubio in between.

## The Day, Hour by Hour

8:45 · Departure. From Cáceres, along the A-58 to Trujillo and the EX-208 towards Torrejón el Rubio. From Mérida or Salamanca, along the A-66 to Plasencia and the EX-208 southwards, passing Villarreal de San Carlos.

10:00 · Salto del Gitano. The park's most famous viewpoint, with Peña Falcón opposite: 300 metres of quartzite above the Tagus and dozens of griffon vultures perched. By mid-morning they begin to glide with the heat. Park at the viewpoint, never on the verge.

11:00 · The castle. Drive up to the car park at the top and continue on foot to the keep: 134 steps to a terrace from which you see the Tagus, the Tiétar and the dehesa. From the top, the vultures pass beneath you.

12:30 · A short walk. At Villarreal de San Carlos, next to the visitor centre, take the start of the green route along the Malvecino stream, the shadiest stretch. If the centre is open, go in for the map.

13:45 · Lunch at El Paraíso de los Sentidos. The restaurant at the Hospedería Parque de Monfragüe, in Torrejón el Rubio, about 15 minutes away. Open daily at midday with picture windows onto the park, set menu of the day, and Extremaduran, vegan and children's menus. Book on 927 455 278.

16:30 · La Tajadilla. Head back towards Villarreal and take the Saltos de Torrejón road. The Tajadilla viewpoint looks at a wall with vultures above the Tiétar.

17:15 · La Portilla del Tiétar. The river passes between two walls of rock. It is the last stop on the eastern itinerary, about 12 km from Villarreal.

18:00 · Return. You reach Cáceres around a quarter past seven; Mérida or Salamanca, around eight.

## With Children and Dogs

It is a plan they put up with well: almost everything is next to the car and they love the castle tower. Take a pair of binoculars for each of them. With a dog, yes at the viewpoints and trails, always on a lead, as the park's rules ask.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
The only reasonable way. The whole route runs along the EX-208 and the Saltos de Torrejón road, with parking at each viewpoint.

### Without a car
There is no bus linking the viewpoints. Without a car, book a 4x4 outing with an authorised company.

## Consejos

### Bring binoculars
Without them you cannot see the nests or tell the black vulture from the griffon.

### Do the castle in the morning
The morning light falls from the side on the Peña Falcón wall.

### In summer, reverse the day
Set off at dawn, eat early and go back to the viewpoints after seven.

## Cuándo no ir

An August Sunday at midday: the viewpoints are left without birds in flight and the heat goes over 35 °C.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take from Cáceres to Monfragüe?
A little over an hour by car to Villarreal de San Carlos, about 90 km.

### How much does the day cost?
The viewpoints, the castle and the routes are free. You pay for fuel and lunch.

### Can you eat inside the park?
Yes, at Restaurante Monfragüe in Villarreal de San Carlos; it does not publish opening hours, so call beforehand.

### Do I need to book anything?
Lunch in Torrejón, better yes. If you want a free guided walk of the park, book beforehand.