Cortes de Pallás

Spain - Valencia
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Spain
  4. >
  5. Valencia
  6. >
  7. Cortes de Pallás – Complete Guide

Cortes de Pallás

Impressive ravine near Cortes de Pallás village with an array of waterfalls and crystal clear pools, in the interior of Valencia (Spain).

The village of Cortes de Pallás is located in a spectacular area between steep mountains such as Pico Martés, Muela de Albéitar and Muela de Cortes. It’s a remote place. When you arrive, it seems as if you have landed in ‘a world apart’ as their slogan says. It’s a beautiful village with an interesting historical-cultural heritage. Next to it is the Júcar River, the river with the biggest flow in the Valencian Community. It feeds the Cortes de Pallás reservoir (250 m. from the village) located in the spectacular Jucar canyon.

The stream ‘Arroyo de Cortes’ in the ‘Barranco de la Barbulla’ ravine, crosses the village before flowing into the Jucar River. This stream has the most crystal clear waters you have ever seen! 1 km from Cortes de Pallás is Fuente Corbinet, a waterfall with a postcard-perfect turquoise blue pool. There are several picnic tables, some tucked into a half cave. To the left of the waterfall is a path. It will take you to a route along ‘Arroyo de Cortes’. This takes you through crystalline pools to the Cascades (of San Andreu and Manantial de San Vicente) and the ‘Cueva el Tejedor’ cave. At some points, you may have to get your feet wet to cross.

Around Cortes de Pallás there are endless things to do and see. Hiking trails, climbing, visiting the Chirel Castle on top of a mountain, enjoying the views from the ‘Tierra Colorá’ viewpoint and watching mountain goats and mouflon on the steep rocks (see below the section Things to Do).

Other amazing swimming spots near Cortes de Pallás are Cortes de Pallás reservoir, Pozas del Ral and Chorrador de Otonel. They are so special that we cover them in other articles.

Fuente Corbinet

Fuente Corbinet is the start of the route along ‘Arroyo de Cortes’. This stream is on the ‘Barranco de la Barbulla’ ravine. It’s a short and easy route. It can be done in about 2 hours (5.6 km).

Fuente Corbinet

There are white stone tables in a semi-cave to the left of Fuente Corbinet, ideal for a picnic. There are 4 public barbecues to the right.

barranco arroyo de cortes start of route

The Cortes de Pallás route starts by climbing the stone path to the left of Fuente Corbinet.

cascada san andreu

After about 1 km, you’ll reach the ‘Cascada de San Andreu’ waterfall.

cascada san andreu

The waterfall is a lovely place to take a dip.

cascada san andreu

There is a small cave next to the waterfall.

arroyo de cortes

Arroyo de Cortes is a magical stream full of crystalline pools.

arroyo de cortes

The vegetation around Arroyo de Cortes is abundant and diverse.

arroyo de cortes river

The river is shallow in most places.

Cortes-de-Pallás-natural pools

All the waterfalls in Arroyo de Cortes have rocks with unique shapes.

cave Cueva El Tejedor

Towards the end of the route is the ‘Cueva el Tejedor’ cave. The bridge to cross the river is nearby.

Cortes-de-Pallás-hiking route

Do you see the bridge and the pool below it? The waterfall has little water in October. In May, there is usually much more water. The ‘Manantial de San Vicente’ spring is nearby, yet, it didn’t have any water when we saw it.

natural pools in river

The water is crystal clear throughout the stream.

natural pools in river

The Arroyo de Cortés’ natural pools are surrounded by breathtaking mountains.

natural pools in river

You can take a dip in many places.

natural pools along the route

The ‘balsa’ was built for irrigation in an area known as the Moorish orchard. Muslims created numerous orchards here.

hiking route

The route goes along the river, and up the mountain. You’ll have spectacular views of the entire ravine.

Wild-swimming-and-Swimming-Holes-About-

Take the plunge!

Discover the most mind-blowing places to swim in nature.

%

DIFFICULTY LEVEL
WILD SWIMMING
IN ALICANTE

 Wild-swimming-in-the-ocean--beaches-and-coves

Check out the best Wild Swimming spots on the COAST!

Cala Granadella
Cala Portitxol
Playa del Carabassí

Swimming Safety

Read these Tips
&
be Safe
when Wild Swimming

DESTINATIONS

UK
Spain
Bali
Belize
Mexico
Trinidad and Tobago
Costa Rica
India
Martinique

SWIMMING SPOTS

Best places to swim in nature in the world

Check out the best places to go wild swimming, by the TYPE of swimming spot

Swimming Holes
Lakes
Rivers
Waterfalls
Sea

Keep it Clean!

The Rules

Clean the swimming holes!

fb-icon Like us on Facebook!

fb-icon Facebook Posts

HOW TO GET TO - Cortes de Pallás

Getting There

Transport Options

The easiest way to get to the village of Cortes de Pallás is by car. You can also get there by bus from Requena and Buñol. From Valencia, there are trains to Yátova and from there you can take a taxi.

To get to the pools and waterfalls, you have to walk from the village to Fuente Corbinet (since access by car is prohibited to ‘Non-Residents’). Then keep on walking along the Barbulla ravine (where the pools and waterfalls are).

Getting There

How to get to the village of Cortes de Pallás

From Valencia city by car take the A-3 and then the CV-425 followed by the CV-428. You will reach the village of Cortes de Pallás in approximately 1 h 17 min.

How to get to the pools and waterfalls

In the village, cross the bridge that goes over Arroyo de Cortes. Take ‘Calle Constitución’. Follow this street until you leave the village. You will walk through crop fields with some houses. After about 10 or 15 minutes you will end up in the swimming hole Fuente Corbinet. From here, the path starts along the ‘Arroyo de Cortes’ stream, taking you to the other pools and waterfalls. See here this route in the Barranco de Barbulla ravine. 

Parking

In the centre of the village, there is little space to park, so we recommend leaving the car on the outskirts. We parked on the road ‘Carretera de la Muela‘. There is space, and it’s close to the hiking route.

There are people who park next to Fuente Corbinet, which is next to Arroyo de Cortes. We do not advise it because, as we explained above, access by car is forbidden to ‘Non-Residents’.

Location

Spain, Valencia

Coordinates

Villages Nearby

Otonel (12 km), El Oro (14 km), Castilblanques (21 km), la Cabezuela (21 km), Venta Gaeta (23 km), Los Herreros (26 km), Viñuelas (23 km)

Difficulty Level

Easy

Walking Time

From the village to Fuente Corbinet it takes around 10 to 15 minutes.

Drinking Water Spots

None

%

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

USEFUL INFORMATION - Cortes de Pallás

Handy Things to Know

When to Go

This place to swim is impressive at any time of the year. Between April and October, the temperature is usually between 14 and 23 °C. In July and August, the temperature can reach 31 °C.
It’s always open and there are no opening hours.

Entrance Fee

None

Activities

Swimming in pools and waterfalls
Hiking
Mountain Sports (climbing, dry or wet canyoning, rappel, etc.)
Picnic

Facilities

Fuente Corbinet has 5 tables with stone benches on both sides of the swimming hole. The 3 on the left are half-tucked into a cave and the 2 on the right are next to 4 public barbecues.

Kids

There are no services or facilities to spend the day with children. It would be best to stay in Fuente Corbinet which has some tables, easy access and you can go with a baby stroller. You can go with children to the Barbulla Ravine if they can stand a long walk. It's not possible to go to the ravine with a baby stroller.

Dogs

Yes

Skinny Dipping

No

Wheelchair Access

No

Restrictions

It’s forbidden to make fires, litter, camp and park in non-authorized areas.

Avoid carrying coolers (and chairs, hammocks, tables) and playing loud music.

Remember that soap and detergents should not be used in rivers and pools.
Also, most sun creams contaminate the water, try to apply them well before taking a dip.

(Scientists have discovered that sunscreen releases significant amounts of titanium dioxide, which damages aquatic life.
Soaps have phosphates, they are also non-biodegradable and harm the environment).

Managed by

Cortes de Pallás City Hall – 96 251 7001/ administracion@cortesdepallas.es – Contact them for latest news & Covid

Things to Do – Cortes de Pallás

Things to Do

Things to do in and near Cortes de Pallás

You won’t be short of things to do here!

Cortes de Pallás village is small with a medieval Islamic layout. It invites you to stroll through its narrow, winding streets. Its steep stairs and slopes offer beautiful views. Check the Church ‘Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles’ and the mosaics scattered around the village. They explain the history of this population. Do not miss the views of the village and the reservoir from the viewpoint ‘Tierra Colorá‘. The stream passing Cortés de Pallás has a route with amazing waterfalls and natural pools.

The Cortes de Pallás Reservoir is 250 m. from the village, fed by the river Júcar, the river with the largest flow of Valencia. The most common access to the reservoir is further away, crossing the 281-meter-long bridge to the jetty. From the jetty, you can practice water sports such as swimming, kayaking, paddle surfing or taking a ride on a boat.

You can enjoy a river cruise along the Júcar. Many say that it’s the most beautiful river cruise in Spain. The route (the stretch between Cofrentes and Cortes de Pallás) is 14 km and takes 1 h. The boat has a capacity of 50 passengers. To navigate, contact ‘Su Aventura‘ which has stops at the Jucar Cofrentes jetty and Cortes de Pallás jetty.

El Chorrador de Otonel is a high waterfall with a deep pool at its feet. It’s located next to the Cávera bridge. To descend this long waterfall, you need climbing equipment and ropes. You can also stay in the swimming hole next to the bridge and take an unforgettable dip there.

A little further away from the village (13 km) is the ‘Barranco del Real’ ravine, where you’ll find ‘Pozas del Ral‘. These are emerald green swimming holes, ideal for a refreshing swim. To get there, you have to walk down a steep path.

The best views of the canyon and village are from Chirel Castle (part in ruins). It’s located next to the reservoir, at an altitude of 654 m. The access to the castle is signposted on the road. From this point, it’s a 2 km walk.

Cueva Hermosa is the deepest cave in Cortes de Pallás. It’s near Chirel Castle. You enter through a narrow mouth that leads to a gallery with stalactites, stalagmites and columns. It’s advisable to use speleological equipment to visit it.

The National Hunting Reserve (36,000 hectares) extends through Bicorp, Millares, Jalance, Jarafuel, Teresa de Cofrentes and Cofrentes. It was created to protect mountain goats, mouflon, wild boar, rabbits, red-legged partridges and golden eagles. It’s very common to see wildlife in this area.

 

Check out other amazing natural pools in the province of VALENCIA!

Where to Eat

There was only one restaurant open when we went there (Bar Emiliano, at the village square). You can eat well, at a good price and it has a very good atmosphere.

You can have a picnic in the jetty area of the Cortes de Pallás Reservoir or at the ‘Tierra Colorá’ viewpoint. It has several tables with magnificent views of the reservoir.

In the neighbouring village of Venta Gaeta is the ‘Venta Gaeta Restaurant‘. It’s very popular with locals, bikers, hikers and cyclists.

The local gastronomy includes ‘gazpachos’, ‘ajo arriero’ and ‘tortas’. Typical products are honey, sausage and meats. “

Accommodation

In the village of Cortes de Pallás, there is only a hostel and a rural house.
There are rural houses in the surrounding villages (El Oro, Castilblanques, Venta Gaeta). It’s also an option to sleep in Cofrentes, Buñol or Valencia. 

Geography

Altitude

474 m. (1555 ft)

Size

The natural pools are very small. The largest is Fuente Corbinet. The waterfalls are medium-sized (between 6 and 17 meters). The waterfalls sometimes have no flow.

Under Foot

Soil and rocks

Maximum Water Depth

It’s shallow in general. The deepest is Fuente Corbinet (1 m).

Minimum Swimming Level

Since it's so shallow even if you don't know how to swim you are safe.

Shade

The ravine Barranco de Barbulla has sun almost all day long. However Fuente Corbinet Corbinet falls sooner into the shade.

How Clean is Swimming Spot?

Spotless

Water

Underwater

Very good. The water is so crystal clear that if there was a good flow you could see hundreds of meters underwater (20 m).

Water Temperature

Cold

Water Colour

Extremely crystalline

How Clean is Water?

Very clean
WILD SWIMMING
IN ALICANTE

 Wild-swimming-in-the-ocean--beaches-and-coves

Check out the best Wild Swimming spots on the COAST!

Cala Granadella
Cala Portitxol
Playa del Carabassí

Keep it Clean!

The Rules

Clean the swimming holes!

Swimming Safety

Read these Tips
&
be Safe
when Wild Swimming

DESTINATIONS

UK
Spain
Bali
Belize
Mexico
Trinidad and Tobago
Costa Rica
India
Martinique

SWIMMING SPOTS

Best places to swim in nature in the world

Check out the best places to go wild swimming, by the TYPE of swimming spot

Swimming Holes
Lakes
Rivers
Waterfalls
Sea

fb-icon Like us on Facebook!

Looking for something in particular?

Share this!

(with people who will keep it clean)