Gestalgar

Spain - Valencia
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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.

village of Gestalgar

The town has the River Pool called El Motor de Gestalgar (The Gestalgar Engine).

El Motor de Gestalgar natural pool

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.

river turia passing gestalgar

Turia River has many shallow and crystalline areas as it passes through town.

river turia passing gestalgar

Behind the trees is El Motor de Gestalgar.

walk along riverbed in gestalgar

A breathtaking walk along the riverside.

Peña maria mountain- Gestalgar-

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 bridge over turia river in Peña maria area Gestalgar

Dog crossing the little cement bridge in Peña Maria.

fountain peña maria Gestalgar and climbers of 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.

picnic tables in Peña maria area Gestalgar

There are tables under the mountain, next to the Peña Maria fountain and also a bit further down, next to the river.

Gestalgar - wild swimming in river turia

This area is ideal for a walk and a swim in the river. Do you see the woman in the photo?

Fuente el morenillo - Gestalgar - - Valencia

La ‘Fuente el Morenillo‘ (Fountain Morenillo) is 1 km from Peña Maria mountain.

Fuente el morenillo - swimming hole Gestalgar - - Valencia

It has a small pool of turquoise water surrounded by ferns.

Fuente el morenillo - Gestalgar -swimming holes in rivers- Valencia

It’s not deep at Fuente el Morenillo.

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SWIMMING SPOTS

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Swimming Holes
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Sea

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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

Spain, Valencia

Villages Nearby

Bugarra (9 km), Sot de Chera (11 km), Chulilla (15 km), Valencia (42 km)

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

None

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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

In El Motor de Gestalgar there is a bar-restaurant in summer, a shaded area (both natural and artificial) and a large parking area. In the Peña Maria area there is only the fountain and some picnic tables.

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

None

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).

Managed by

City Hall of Gestalgar – 961 64 90 01 – Call for latest news & Covid

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

There are several good restaurants in the centre of Gestalgar.

Accommodation

There are quite a few hotels and rural houses in and around Gestalgar. Near El Motor de Gestalgar is the Era Cavera Camping.

Geography

Altitude

239 m. (784 ft)

Size

El Motor de Gestalgar is a big shallow natural swimming pool. In the Peña Maria area there are also large shallow swimming holes. Fuente el Morenillo is very small and only around 3 persons can bathe at a time.

Under Foot

Earth

Maximum Water Depth

The natural pools of El Motor de Gestalgar and Fuente el Morenillo are very shallow. At Peña Maria there is only one place that is a bit deep (where the waterfall is).

Minimum Swimming Level

It's no problem if you do not know how to swim as most places are very shallow.

Shade

The natural pool of El Motor de Gestalgar is in the sun almost all day as there are no high mountains or many trees around it. Peña Maria and Fuente el Morenillo are surrounded by mountains so they are in the shade after midday.

How Clean is the Swimming Spot?

El Motor de Gestalgar pool is very clean unless there have been visitors. Many people unfortunately tend to leave garbage behind (that is then cleaned by the town hall). Fuente el Morenillo and Peña Maria are very clean.

Water

Underwater

There is poor visibility at El Motor de Gestalgar (5 cm). In Fuente el Morenillo and Peña Maria, there is better visibility. There are small fish, but if you put on your diving goggles, you hardly see anything.

Water Temperature

Cool in summer, cold in winter

Water Colour

El Motor de Gestalgar has green-blue water. Peña Maria has greenish crystalline water and Fuente el Morenillo crystalline turquoise blue water.

How Clean is the Water?

Very clean and fresh since they come from spring waters.
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

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