Casa Rural Monfragüe

Sleeping in Villarreal de San Carlos is sleeping inside Monfragüe National Park: it is the only village in it and the starting point for all its walking routes. The Casa Rural Monfragüe is a slate building on its only street, opposite the park's information office and interpretation centres. In the morning you set off on the trails on foot, without touching the car.

Six rooms named after birds

The six doubles are named after birds seen in Monfragüe: Collalba negra (black wheatear), Abejaruco (bee-eater), Rabilargo (azure-winged magpie), Golondrina dáurica (red-rumped swallow), Roquero solitario (blue rock thrush) and Oropéndola (golden oriole). All have a private bathroom, television, air conditioning and heating, and are cleaned every day. Four of them can fit an extra bed, and the house has cots for babies.

Seventy euros a double, four hundred and twenty the house

A double costs €70 a night and single occupancy €50, with breakfast and VAT included. An extra bed costs €28 for under-10s and €32 from that age. The whole house, with its twelve places, is rented for €420 a night, which is the option for a group of birdwatchers or a family gathering. From three nights there is a 10% discount, which does not apply on public holidays or long weekends. You book online from the Monfragüe Rural website, on 927 199 002, on the mobiles 669 367 403 and 620 247 987 or at [email protected].

A lounge with a fireplace and bird books

The common area is a spacious sitting room with a fireplace, television and free wifi. It has a nature and ornithology library with books in several languages and the National Park information folder, with routes and natural features to prepare the next day. If you come with a group for a course or a photography talk, they lend a projector at no cost.

Breakfast a few metres away, guides from the door

Breakfast is served at the Restaurante Monfragüe, run by the same family and a few metres from the house, at flexible times: agree the time the evening before if you want to set off early. From the house you can hire binoculars and electric bicycles, and book local nature and ornithology guides. For photographers, the house organises tailor-made outings with a guide who looks for the species and handles the necessary permits.

On foot and by car from Villarreal

On foot from the door you have the yellow trail to La Tajadilla, 8.9 km and easy, the green one to Cerro Gimio and the red trail to the castle, 16 km. The park's free guided walks, from March to June and in October, are booked at the visitor centre right opposite. By car, Salto del Gitano is about 5 km away on the EX-208.

You get here along the EX-208 from Plasencia or Trujillo. From Madrid, take the A-5 and the EX-A1 to exit 29 and the La Bazagona road, which ends at the EX-208 1.5 km from the village.