Cáceres

Natural Pools in Cáceres

The province of Cáceres is located in the west of Spain, bordering Portugal. It’s the second-largest province in Spain after Badajoz. Cáceres has the largest forest area in the whole of Spain (944,000 hectares). Its climate is ‘Continental Mediterranean’. Hence, it has a greater variation in temperature than the Mediterranean coast.

The province of Cáceres has two mountain groups separated by the Tagus River. The northern part of the province has the Central System and includes the mountain ranges: Sierra de Gata, Sierra de Francia and Sierra de Gredos. The south includes foothills of several other mountain ranges. The plains of the province have been more modified by man, and are pasture.

The Mediterranean forest is thicker in the mountainous areas. The most abundant forest species are holm oak, cork oak and red eucalyptus. Among the conifers, the maritime pine, juniper, and yew stand out.

The extensive network of rivers that pass through Cáceres flow into the Tagus or the Guadiana rivers. Cáceres is a province of the Extremadura region which has the largest freshwater surface in the country, with a total of 1,500 km of ‘coastline‘.

Caceres is full of natural pools. In the northern mountainous area is the Nature Reserve ‘Garganta de los Infiernos’ in the Jerte Valley. The best known natural pools of Extremadura, Los Pilones, are located here. The neighbouring area of La Vera, at the foot of the Sierra de Gredos, is full of gorges. You’ll find stunning crystal clear pools here, such as Garganta de Cuartos and Garganta de Alardos.

Besides the places mentioned above, there are many other spectacular spots and swimming holes in these rivers, reservoirs and lakes for admiring or wild swimming. Yet, you have to know where they are. 

Discover below the best natural pools and places to swim in Cáceres. To find a specific type of spot (e.g. waterfall or river), use the filter below.