Salto del Gitano Viewpoint

Salto del Gitano is Monfragüe's best-known viewpoint and the first one worth going to. It is on the EX-208, about 5 km from Villarreal de San Carlos heading towards Torrejón el Rubio, with parking next to it. There is no walking: you get out of the car and have Peña Falcón in front of you, with the Tagus in between.

Peña Falcón, three hundred metres of quartzite

The wall opposite is a quartzite cliff of about 300 metres that drops sheer to the Tagus, according to Turismo de Extremadura, which also calls it by that name, Peña Falcón. The river separates the viewpoint from the rock, and that is what makes the place good: you are level with the ledges where the griffon vultures perch and nest, but on the other side of the water, without disturbing them. On the same wall and around it you see, depending on the time of year, black stork, Egyptian vulture, Spanish imperial eagle and eagle owl; the black vulture also passes by.

What to look for with binoculars

Bring binoculars even if the vultures seem close. On the wall there are nests and ledges that to the naked eye are just smudges. Mid-morning, when the air warms up, the birds take off and start to glide; late in the day they perch again. The viewpoint is right by the road, which is narrow: speak quietly, do not step outside the designated area and keep an eye on the children.

With a park educator, free

From March to June and in October, the National Park runs free guided walks that stop to watch birds at its main viewpoints: La Tajadilla, the Portilla del Tiétar and Salto del Gitano. You must register; places open on the last Friday of the previous month and close at 12:00 on the Friday before the outing, at the booking centre or the Villarreal de San Carlos visitor centre (927 199 134).

What you have within walking distance

From the car park two sections of the red trail leave: one climbs to Monfragüe Castle, short and steep, and another goes down towards the Fuente del Francés. If you prefer not to walk, you can also drive up to the castle. To keep watching birds, the Portilla del Tiétar is about 12 km from Villarreal to the east, along the La Bazagona road, and completes a morning of viewpoints like the one in the plan Sunday in Monfragüe.

Starlight sky over Peña Falcón

Monfragüe has had Starlight certification since 2017, and Turismo de Extremadura cites Salto del Gitano among the places in the park that serve for birds of prey by day and for looking at the sky by night. Park only in the viewpoint's space and bring a red-light torch.