Montanejos

The easiest way is to arrive by car at one of the 2 parking lots (see ‘Parking’ below) and then walk from there.

From Valencia there are 5 buses per week to Montanejos (duration 1h 30 min).
From Castellón de la Plana there are 2 buses per week (lines 323 and 322) to Jérica (duration 1 h 25 min).
From Jérica to Montanejos there are 5 buses per week (duration 21 min).

From Valencia, there is a suburban train to Caudiel and from there you can go by taxi to Montanejos.

How to get to Montanejos

By car from Castellón, it’s 61 km (1h 12 min). You’ll pass through Espadilla, Toga, Torrechiva, Cirat, Arañuel, La Alquería de Montanejos and Montanejos. First, take Avenida de la Alcora and at the roundabout, take the exit for CV-16. Then take the CV-100 and at the roundabout take the CV-20. Cross Onda and take Calle De Vila-Real. At the roundabout, take the exit onto Avenida de Castilla la Mancha (CV-2002). At the roundabout, take the exit that leads to CV-21. Then you come to another roundabout and take the exit that continues into CV-20.

By car from Valencia it’s 89 km (1 h 16 min), passing through Caudiel, Montán and Montanejos. Take the exit from Valencia on Avenida Cataluña to the V-21 highway. Take exit 1A towards Sagunto and take the V-23 highway. Follow direction Teruel. Take Exit 37, direction Teruel, and join the N-234. Follow the N-234 and after about 100 m, take the detour to the CV-195, direction Jérica. Continue in that direction, and you’ll arrive at Montanejos.

Autocares Herca has a bus line from Valencia to Montanejos with these stops:
Valencia > Gilet > Albalat dels Tarongers > Estivella > Torres > Algimia de Alfara > Alfara de la Baronia > Algar del Palancia > Sot de Ferrer > Soneja > Geldo > Segorbe > Jerica > Benafer > Caudiel > Montán > Montanejos.
They leave Valencia bus station on Mondays and Thursdays at 10 am (it takes about 1 h 30 min).
From Montanejos to Valencia, they leave on Mondays and Thursdays at 9 am.

How to get to Fuente de los Baños

From Montanejos you can reach Fuente de los Baños on foot, or by car and then on foot. If you go by car, park in one of the 2 parking lots (see below in the Parking section). From there, walk along the paved path along the Mijares riverbed. This path takes you to both the archaeological remains and the Natural Park of Fuente de los Baños).

In summer, you can also take the Tourist Train from Montanejos.

The nearest car park is about 3 minutes walking from Fuente de los Baños, on the edge of the CV-20.

There is a second car park a little further away (1 km), specifically made to access Fuente de los Baños. It’s near the bridge of Montanejos village. From the CV-20, cross this bridge and then turn left. The parking is next to Mijares river.

The price of the parking is usually around €5 for 4h.

Both parking lots are often full in the high season, especially on weekends. If possible, go during the week and in the low season to fully enjoy the place and also to protect nature.

This place to swim is beautiful all year round. In the high season, the opening hours are from 9 am to 6 pm. In the low season, there are no time restrictions.

In the high season, you must buy a ticket to access Fuente de los Baños. 

Tickets online: €3 
Ticket at the box office: €3,50 
4 to 10 yr old children and over 65 years old pay €2.
Tickets can be purchased at the wooden booths at the 2 entrances or bought online.

There are companies in Montanejos specialized in activities in the areas around the village. These include: rafting, kayaking, climbing, water canyoning, bungee jumping, caving and hydrospeed.

Next to Fuente de los Baños there are toilets, showers, a place to change clothes and a kiosk to have a soft drink or snack (open only in the high season). 

Dogs are not allowed in the high season. Yet, they are free to go to the area 40 m away from Fuente de los Baños (behind the bridge).

It’s forbidden to:
– eat in the bathing areas
– bring household accessories (lunch boxes, cutlery, etc). You are only allowed to bring a snack and a 1-litre drink per person.
– bring camping equipment (coolers, umbrellas, tents, tables, tents, etc)
– bring bathing accessories (floats, mats, boards, inflatables, etc)
– bring pets (see below in the ‘Dogs’ section)

Camping, littering (leaving trash and cigarette butts) and making fires are also prohibited.

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

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

Things to do near Montanejos

Besides Fuente de los Baños, in Montanejos itself, it’s worth visiting:
– Montanejos Spa is in a building in the centre of Montanejos (it uses the mineral-medicinal water from Fuente de los Baños).
– Remains of Montanejos castle
– Ruins of the old flour mill
– Bridge of San José crossing the river Montán (from 1803)
– Arab Tower (inside the village, integrated into the facade of the old Palace of the Counts of Vallterra)
– Parish Church
– Hermitage of the Virgen de los Desamparados (XVII century)

About 1.5 km north of Fuente de los Baños is the huge waterjet ‘El Chorro de Arenós‘. It’s the outflow point (or spillway) of the Arenós Reservoir, through which 41,000 litres of water flow out per second. To access El Chorro you can leave your car here. There is only capacity for about 3 cars. It’s about a 5-minute walk down to El Chorro.

The ‘Estrecho de Chillapájaros‘ is a section of the Mijares River in which it flows through a 25 m wide gorge. The vertical walls are higher than 100m. It owes its name to the sound made by swallows and swifts echoing off the rock walls.
It’s a place with famous climbing areas. It attracts nature and whitewater sports lovers. It’s 1 km upriver from Fuente de los Baños.
A route that passing this impressive place starts at the Cirat Dam, after the tunnel. There is only space to park 3 cars.

Arañuel is a tiny village, 5.9 km east of Montanejos, through which the river Mijares also flows. It has 3 good free bathing areas.
‘El Pozo‘ bathing area, ‘Los Chorros‘ bathing area, and the ‘Arañuel Natural Pool‘.

If you continue east on the CV-20, 8.9 km from Montanejos, you will see the village of Cirat. It’s located in a privileged, green place. It has a free regulated camping area (‘Acampada Libre regulada’) on the edge of the river Mijares. It has several nice natural pools, ideal for taking a dip in nature.
On the south side of the village is the ravine ‘Barranco de las Salinas’. It has various fascinating pools, such as ‘Poza La Bañera’ and ‘La Caldereta’. If you continue walking along this ravine for about 4 km, you could reach ‘Salto de la Novia‘ (an impressive waterfall and natural pool). It can also be reached by following a road for about 4 km. This road leaves Cirat and is the continuation of ‘Calle Rosaire‘. This dirt road is not in a good condition. We had to stop several times to remove stones from the road to be able to pass.

Check out other amazing natural pools in the province of CASTELLÓN.

Montanejos has about twenty restaurants. Most of them are on the CV-20 that crosses the town.

Typical dishes are olla, potaje (stew) and gachas (porridge). Local products include sausages, chanterelles and olive oil.

Being a very touristy place, Montanejos has quite a few large hotels. There are also hostels and rural houses in and around the village.

Camping is not allowed in Fuente de los Baños itself, but there are other options around Montanejos. Camping La Granja is on the other side of the village, 3.4 km from Fuente de los Baños. They don’t have a website. Contact them via Facebook or by calling 633 316 635.

There is a free regulated camping site near the village of Cirat. It’s on the edge of Mijares river, 11.3 km from Fuente de los Baños. It’s not always open. Call the Cirat Town Hall +34 96 4143113 before going.