What to do in Albacete

Albacete combines the wide Manchegan plateau with a mountain range that gives rise to rivers. To the south, the Sierra de Alcaraz reaches 1,800 metres and shelters the headwaters of the Mundo and Júcar rivers, reachable by hiking routes through beech and pine forest. The source of the Mundo river — a waterfall dropping from a cave at 1,700 metres — is the endpoint of a half-day excursion with 400 metres of elevation gain. Las Lagunas de Ruidera, on the border with Ciudad Real, form a chain of fifteen lakes connected by natural waterfalls. Kayak and paddleboard let you explore the navigable stretches, where blues and greens shift with the changing light. The village of Alcalá del Júcar, perched above a meander of the river, has a sport-climbing sector in its gorge with mid-grade limestone routes. On the plateau, the Vía Verde del Valle de Alcudia follows 46 kilometres of an old mining railway on gentle gradients suitable for mountain biking and long walks alike. In spring, lavender and rosemary in bloom scent the air along the entire route.