Gestalgar
Popular natural pool on the edge of the village of Gestalgar. Includes a wilder area amidst mountains, 6 km away with several natural pools in the river. Located in the interior of Valencia (Spain).
Gestalgar, a town of 700 inhabitants is 50 km inland from Valencia capital. It lies in a privileged place near Chulilla and Sot de Chera. It has several natural pools that are very different.
El Motor de Gestalgar river pool is in Gestalgar itself, where the Turia river passes. It has a very characteristic white mill. It’s shallow and has services in summer, parking, a shaded area and a bar restaurant.
About 6 km from there, following an unpaved road, you will reach the area of Peña Maria mountain which is very steep. At its feet is the Fuente de la Virgen de la Peña (spring source). It has stone tables and benches and there are several pools in the river with crystal clear water.
1 km from the Fuente de la Virgen de la Peña is Fuente el Morenillo. It has a small pool with crystalline turquoise water and a small waterfall to take a dreamy dip.
The town has the River Pool called El Motor de Gestalgar (The Gestalgar Engine).
El Motor de Gestalgar has a white mill next to the swimming hole in the river and is not very deep. This area is ideal for a refreshing swim in summer. It has a shaded area and a bar-restaurant.
Turia River has many shallow and crystalline areas as it passes through town.
Behind the trees is El Motor de Gestalgar.
A breathtaking walk along the riverside.
About 9 km from town, following a dirt road, you reach Peña Maria mountain (on the left of the photo). This river area is mostly shallow. It’s only deep where the waterfall is.
Dog crossing the little cement bridge in Peña Maria.
At the foot of Peña Maria mountain is ‘Fuente de la Virgen de la Peña‘ (Fountain of the Virgin de la Peña). Climbers of all ages usually come to climb this mountain.
There are tables under the mountain, next to the Peña Maria fountain and also a bit further down, next to the river.
This area is ideal for a walk and a swim in the river. Do you see the woman in the photo?
La ‘Fuente el Morenillo‘ (Fountain Morenillo) is 1 km from Peña Maria mountain.
It has a small pool of turquoise water surrounded by ferns.
It’s not deep at Fuente el Morenillo.
Discover the most mind-blowing places to swim in nature.
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DIFFICULTY LEVEL
SWIMMING HOLES
IN VALENCIA
Check out the best Swimming Holes & Places to Swim INLAND!
Pou Clar
Salto de Chella
Bolbaite
Chorradores de Navarrés
Salto de Millares
Cortes de Pallás - Reservoir
Cortes de Pallás - River
Gorgo de la Escalera
Charcos de Quesa
Cueva Turche
Bugarra
Gestalgar
Azud de Tuéjar
Pozas del Ral
Barranco Otonel
SWIMMING HOLES
IN ALICANTE
Check out the best Swimming Holes & Places to Swim INLAND!
Algar Waterfalls
Toll Blau
Barranco de la Encantada
Salt de Jijona
Guadalest Reservoir
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
Check out the best places to go wild swimming, by the TYPE of swimming spot
Keep it Clean!
The Rules
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HOW TO GET TO - Gestalgar
Getting There
Getting There
From Valencia, take Ademuz CV-35 highway to Lliria. Take the Pedralba detour (CV-376) and then continue towards Bugarra and Gestalgar (CV-377). You can also take the A3, taking the Manises detour to Pedralba (CV-370) and then towards Bugarra and Gestalgar (CV-377). Finally, you can also get there by taking the A3 to Cheste. Then the CV-384 and CV-379 or the A3 to Chiva. From there the CV-379 towards Gestalgar.
These 3 regional roads pass through town: CV-377, CV-379, CV-395.
Once in town, go to the river, and you will find the natural pools. To get to Peña Maria, you’ll need to cross the river and walk or go by car on a dirt road for about 8 minutes.
Transport Options
You can get to Gestalgar by car or bus and from there go walking to the swimming hole. Peña Maria can only be reached with your vehicle or on foot from Gestalgar.
Parking
There is a fee in summer for the public parking next to El Motor de Gestalgar. Cars and motorhomes €5, motorcycles €3 and buses with more than 30 seats €40. The road to the car park is blocked when it’s complete between June 15 and September 15. Hence, you might have to walk for about 10 minutes. In the Peña Maria area, you don’t pay to park. There is a large car park amidst nature, next to the river. Climbers often stay here a couple of days and sleep in their small vans.
Location
Coordinates
Villages Nearby
Difficulty Level
Easy. It’s signposted on the CV-379 road. Once you enter Gestalgar look for the river. Getting to Peña Maria is more complicated since it’s not paved and not signposted.
Walking Time to Swimming Spot
If you arrive by car, it will be less than a minute walk to get to either Motor de Gestalgar or Peña Maria.
Drinking Water Spots
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DIFFICULTY LEVEL
USEFUL INFORMATION - Gestalgar
Handy Things to Know
When to Go & Opening Times
El Motor de Gestalgar has a schedule from June to September. Peña Maria and Fuente el Morenillo do not have opening hours.
Entrance Fee
From June to September, there is a fee to access El Motor de Gestalgar (except residents). Access to Peña Maria and Fuente el Morenillo is free since it is wilder and there are no facilities of any kind.
Activities
Wild swimming, river swimming, picnic, hiking, climbing Peña Maria
Facilities
Kids
El Motor de Gestalgar is ideal to go with young children as there are many services. It’s not deep and it’s easy to keep an eye on children. Peña Maria and Fuente el Morenillo are also suitable to go with children. They have shallow waters and plenty of space to run around.
Dogs
Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash at all times at El Motor de Gestalgar. In Peña Maria, they can run around and swim.
Skinny Dipping
No
Wheelchair Access
Restrictions
Camping, littering, making fires and diving head first (as most areas are not deep enough) are not allowed.
Respect the environment and use rubbish bins.
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, are also non-biodegradable and harm the environment).
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Things to Do – Gestalgar
Things to Do
In Gestalgar you can see the Palace of the Lordship, the Parroquiallos church and the remains of the castle walls which crowns the town and offers impressive views over the valley.
Hiking routes: enjoy a walk on the left bank of the river. This will take you along a beautiful hiking route that leads to Chulilla. Other good areas for hiking are El Barranco del Regajo, La Sierra de los Bosques and La Tierra de Roya. You could also check the cave paintings of Clochas shelter and The Devils cave.
Check out other amazing natural pools & places to swim in the province of VALENCIA.
El Salto de Chella is an awesome 25 m cascade. There is a viewpoint that at the top of the village of Chella. The views of the waterfall, swimming hole, countryside, and surroundings are impressive. You can visit the historic centre of Moorish origin, called Barrio de la Peña. It’s in the highest part of Chella, where the old Muslim fortress (currently Calle el Castillo) is.
In the village of Anna, there is a beautiful and well known Lake called ‘La Albufera de Anna‘. There are also 3 waterfalls at the other end of Anna, which can be enjoyed doing the 3 waterfalls hiking route. The best waterfall for swimming is the Gorgo de la Escalera, an awesome waterfall.
For wild swimming, check out the impressive Chorradores de Navarrés waterfall. It’s on the outskirts of Navarrés. It also has a signposted route that is easy to do on foot with young children.
To take a dip in the natural pools of Valencia’s rivers, check out Bolbaite, Pou Clar, and Bugarra.
The province of ALICANTE is to the south of the province of Valencia. Check out these swimming holes!
Toll Blau, El Barranco de la Encantada or the Algar Waterfalls, close to Benidorm.
Where to Eat
Accommodation
Geography
Altitude
Size
Under Foot
Maximum Water Depth
Minimum Swimming Level
Shade
How Clean is the Swimming Spot?
Water
Underwater
Water Temperature
Water Colour
How Clean is the Water?
SWIMMING HOLES
IN VALENCIA
Check out the best Swimming Holes & Places to Swim INLAND!
Pou Clar
Salto de Chella
Bolbaite
Chorradores de Navarrés
Salto de Millares
Cortes de Pallás - Reservoir
Cortes de Pallás - River
Gorgo de la Escalera
Charcos de Quesa
Cueva Turche
Bugarra
Gestalgar
Azud de Tuéjar
Pozas del Ral
Barranco Otonel
SWIMMING HOLES
IN ALICANTE
Check out the best Swimming Holes & Places to Swim INLAND!
Algar Waterfalls
Toll Blau
Barranco de la Encantada
Salt de Jijona
Guadalest Reservoir
Keep it Clean!
The Rules
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
Check out the best places to go wild swimming, by the TYPE of swimming spot
Like us on Facebook!
This post is also available in Español.