The Charco Azul

The Charco Azul is a calm stretch of the Turia wedged between very high walls, just below Chulilla. Turisme Comunitat Valenciana describes it as a still pool of the river between vertical walls, and the town council highlights it, together with Los Calderones, as one of the two sites of the Los Calderones Municipal Nature Reserve, a 538-hectare area in the Turia gorges, from the foot of the Loriguilla dam to the Valfiguera ravine.

A little history

The popular name hides a weir: according to the town council, the Salto weir was here, from which the valley's irrigation system began, from Islamic times if not Roman. There was a Muslim dam of masonry and clay with a channel on each bank, and later other dams for the mills and irrigation, which the floods of the early 20th century swept away. Today a canal carries water from the Charco Azul to the hydroelectric plant, passing beneath the village.

This narrow was also the hardest point in the timber transport on the Turia, which for centuries floated logs down to Valencia. The log drivers could not follow the logs from the banks, and when they jammed some lowered themselves from the top of the walls. To gain depth they held back the water with timbers, a technique they called "asnado".

How to get there

It is the canyon's short walk: leave the village towards the start of the Pantaneros route, along Calle Maestro Amblar and the road, past the El Altico hostel. Near the start, the Carrucha viewpoint looks over the Charco Azul, and from there a path goes down to the bank. Allow half an hour from the square. It is the part of the canyon that works best with small children, taking care at the edge of the drops.

The access fee for the area, €1 a day with no booking, is paid at the information point at the start of the route; ask there whether it is also charged for going down just to the Charco Azul.

Before you go

Swimming does not appear to be regulated in the official sources we have consulted: ask at the Tourist Info before getting in the water. The town council reminds visitors to bring enough water, protect themselves from the sun and not feed wildlife; in the area there are foxes, wild boar and mountain goats, and on the cliffs peregrine falcons and owls breed. With a dog, watch out for processionary caterpillars. In an emergency, 112.

What to combine

Anyone with the legs for it can continue along the Pantaneros route to the hanging bridges. If not, go back to the village via the old village and the La Peñeta viewpoint.