Enjoy
Walking
El Geco Verde is perfectly situated between the two wonderful natural parks of Castril and Cazorla, which between them form one of the largest protected natural spaces in Europe. A short car journey brings you to the trailheads of some of Andalucia´s best walking routes.
The parks feature clearly designated walking routes for all levels and durations, stunning scenery, and very few people (though you may see the odd shepherd with his flock).
Here the countryside and the nearby mountain ranges remain wild and untamed. There are no crowds, so walkers can enjoy the rare sensation of being totally at one with nature.
The many rivers and lakes bring life to even the most arid terrain, and the area is overflowing with flora and fauna as a result of the sharply contrasting landscapes which provide suitable habitats for a multitude of creatures including wild boar, deer, mountain goats, otters and trout.
Visitors enthuse about the astonishing number of small birds and breath-taking encounters with majestic birds of prey, particularly the large colonies of Griffon Vultures which cruise effortlessly across the skies.
Download our app
Our App offers the necessary navigational tools to access the best routes safely. Link to App Your hosts are also on hand to offer detailed advice, having spent almost 20 years here exploring the region.
Natural Park of Castril
Las aguas frías y claras del río Castril están repletas de truchas y nutrias
The River Castril’s cold, clear waters teem with trout and otters, and its picturesque source is reachable on foot along one of many designated hiking routes.
Flowing south through the park, the river fills the El Portillo reservoir before encircling the town of Castril. A dedicated Visitor’s Centre on the main road near the petrol station just outside Castril provides information about the natural park (in Spanish only) including the many walking routes. Here at El Geco Verde we also have information and maps and can help you get the best out of your visit to the natural park, especially if you don´t speak Spanish. Classic routes such as the Nacimiento del Rio Castril (pictured), Cerro del Buitre and Barranco de la Osa, all in the Natural Park of Castril, are challenging but very rewarding walks in the 3-6-hour category and rightly deserve their place among the top ten walks of Andalucia.
We will help you choose the routes which suit you best and make the most of your holiday time. We also offer a very inviting and comfortable environment in which to fine-tune your plans, including free wi-fi internet access in the hotel´s social spaces.
These fascinating birds have been reintroduced to the mountains via a captive breeding programme in Cazorla, and after being released into the wild, have chosen the Sierra de Castril as their home. More commonly seen in the park (and very often in the environs of the hotel) are groups of Griffon vultures, plus a multitude of smaller birds such as woodpeckers, hoopoes and owls. Also present in the park are wild cats, goats and boars, along with foxes, deer and beech martens. In terms of flora, Portuguese Oak and Maple give way to pines in the highest reaches of the park; particularly the Salgareño pine, which grows up to 40 metres high.
Natural Park of Cazorla
Visitors to the natural park of Cazorla are likely to see foxes, wild goats, wild boar, fallow deer, vultures and a wide variety of birds of prey, including royal eagles, owls and falcons
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Clients of El Geco Verde come into contact with the Natural Park of Cazorla via the nearby reservoir of La Bolera, which boasts a magnificent panoramic viewpoint, a lakeside restaurant and designated swimming and fishing zones.
Here, with the water´s flow controlled by a dam, the river Guadalentín passes through a narrow gorge, creating perfect conditions for canyoning. Woodland and mountains surround the lake, concealing an easy hike to a waterfall in the Arroyo Guatzalamanco plus several other very accessible walking routes, including Mirador Alcantarilla close to the campsite in the woods. Further downstream from the dam is one of only two fly fishing zones in Andalucia to remain open 365 days a year. Ask your hosts for more information about fishing in the region if you are interested.
It was also the last refuge of Los Maquis, guerrilla fighters who defied Franco´s Civil Guard for more than a decade after the end of Spain´s bitter Civil War. Many of the park´s most scenic mountain tracks and trails were mapped out by these remarkable men and grateful hikers are today reaping the benefits.
Wikiloc
Wikiloc is a very useful resource for exploring natural spaces in Spain. On the website and app, walkers with GPS devices record their routes with walk profiles and data, plus commentaries and photographs. Most are in Spanish, but we have translations of the most popular routes here at the hotel. By entering “Castril” or “Sierra de Castril” into the search engine you will find all the information you need, and you will be able to download routes for the ones you like onto your mobile device before you travel.
Swimming
In the foothills of the Castril and Cazorla mountain ranges, surrounded by rivers and reservoirs, Eco Hotel El Geco Verde is well situated when it comes to opportunities for swimming, especially if you like a swim on the wild side!
Wild Swimming: Our closest lake, Embalse de la Bolera, is one of four large reservoirs in the area, and is a short car drive from the hotel.
One of our favorite hiking routes, on the other side of Lake Bolera, is the trail that leads to the Guatzalamanco River (Arroyo Guatzalamanco). The route follows the river, which features several deep pools you can jump into along the way. At the end of the hike, you will reach a beautiful waterfall, providing another opportunity to shower under the waterfall or immerse yourself in the pools formed below it.
Refrescate en plena naturaleza
Ruta Arroyo Guatzalamanco
One of our favorite hiking routes, on the other side of Lake Bolera, is the trail that leads to the Guatzalamanco River (Arroyo Guatzalamanco). The route follows the river, which features several deep pools you can jump into along the way. At the end of the hike, you will reach a beautiful waterfall, providing another opportunity to shower under the waterfall or immerse yourself in the pools formed below it.
Bosque Encantado de las Higueras
Another very cool spot to visit is the Bosque Encantado de las Higueras (Enchanted Fig Forest) just outside Pozo Alcon. First and foremost, it´s very shady and cool even in the heat of summer. And the water in the little pools which flank the river is very, let´s say, refreshing!
It´s a deviation off the A326 at around km1 and is basically a bit upriver from the fly-fishing stretch which is also indicated in the road signs as Coto Intensivo (with a fish symbol) on the road signs. Follow the signs, park and walk upstream.
Río Salvaje
There is another wild swimming spot not far from the A326 road. You have to park on the open ground between the bridge and the Campsite in the woods around Km7 and access a walking route known as the Mirador Alcantarilla. The swimming spot is at the place where the River Guadalentin emerges from a natural tunnel behind the dam of Bolera Reservoir, a stretch of river popular with Canyoners. The water is cold! You may need some more detailed directions to find it, ask at the hotel if you are interested
Municipal Pool of Castril
If you like outdoor pools, get down to Castril as soon as you can and check out the municipal swimming pool. Situated in a bend of the Castril River, it´s enormous and beautifully landscaped with lots of tall trees for shade. There´s a little bar (what they call here a chiringuito) where you can get meals, snacks, drinks and ice creams. Entrance fee is just a few euros for the day per person. The pool is situated in what they call the Area Recreativa, in the river valley, and only a short walk from the start of the Pasarela walk, so these two activities can be combined quite easily. The pool is only open in July and August. It opens from midday, but doesn`t usually get busy until the late afternoon, so the early hours of the afternoon are a good time to go if you like a bit of peace and quiet into the bargain. It´s worth noting that nearly all the main towns of our region have municipal swimming pools and they are all worth a visit.
In fact, the villages seem to compete with each other to see who can build the best one. They are all different and all have their charms. You could visit a different on every day of your stay, if you had nothing else to do! However, we still believe Castril´s is the best, so head for there first!
Fuencaliente of Huescar
There´s another similar Fuencaliente pool just outside the town of Huescar, about ten minutes up the road from Orce. It´s bigger and has more lawned areas, a couple of bar/restaurants and some nice landscaping. However, the pool floor is a bit rough, though the fish don´t seem to mind! If you visit the cave restaurant Alkadima, which we highly recommend, you might as well pop in to visit the Fuencaliente of Huescar as it´s just down the hill from there. And it´s free!
Fuencaliente of Huescar
There´s another similar Fuencaliente pool just outside the town of Huescar, about ten minutes up the road from Orce. It´s bigger and has more lawned areas, a couple of bar/restaurants and some nice landscaping. However, the pool floor is a bit rough, though the fish don´t seem to mind! If you visit the cave restaurant Alkadima, which we highly recommend, you might as well pop in to visit the Fuencaliente of Huescar as it´s just down the hill from there. And it´s free!
Thermal Bath of Zújar
If you like properly hot thermal pools, get yourself along to the far shore of Lake Negratin and take the waters in the specially made pool beside the restaurant overlooking the lake (buy your ticket in the bar. It´s just a couple of euros). The hot spring comes from the Jabalcon mountain which dominates the lake. When the lake is low the thermal water bubbles up out of the ground forming muddy pools, so if a mud bath or mud mask is more your thing, go for it!
El Geco Verde
Last but not least, we mustn´t forget about swimming at the hotel! In previous years we have installed a large above-ground pool on a sun terrace below the hotel (pictured). This year, if all goes according to plan, we will have a new permanent pool for guests to use. We will update the website with new pictures as and when that happens!
Experience VIP
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Ever dreamed of seeing the world from a hot air balloon? Fancy seeing the stars as never before? How about paragliding over an azure lake or kayaking upriver and glamping overnight in a natural park? At El Geco Verde, we are at your service, with the contacts and skills to help turn your dreams into reality! If you have a landmark occasion, anniversary or birthday to celebrate, let us know and we´ll make sure it’s a day to remember! Contact: [email protected] (0034) 647136120 (Ilaria)
Excursions
CASTRIL is an enchanting mountain village with a beautiful river running around it. From a distance, many of the houses seem to magically hang off a vast rock jutting diagonally above and across the town, known as la peña. Remote and inaccessible in years gone by, Castril is a kind of living time capsule, with many of its rural traditions still intact, including a thriving gastronomy and an annual fiesta which sees bulls running in the streets in early October. One or two of the allotment owners with land at the bottom of the town´s steep hills still find donkeys to be the most efficient mode of transport. The building of a large dam above the town at the end of the last century put an end to the periodic flooding of the valley, enabling its transformation into a tree-lined leisure zone (Area Recreativa) complete with picnic and play areas and a wonderful, enormous outdoor swimming pool (July and August only) complete with its own little bar. Roads and infrastructure have improved immensely in Andalucia in the past 30 years.
Algunos de los residentes que tienen tierra al pie de las empinadas colinas del pueblo todavía consideran que los burros son el medio de transporte más eficiente.
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As a result, Castril now attracts many visitors from the bordering provinces and beyond, especially for its fiesta and its suspended walkway, known as the Pasarela de la Cerrada, which conducts hikers safely through a narrow gorge above the Castril river. La Pasarela is a wooden walkway bolted onto a sheer rockface, making it possible to follow the river Castril´s course through a narrow gorge below the town, formed by massive slabs of limestone. Stop to paddle at the water´s edge, then cross the river on an Indiana Jones-style swing bridge and enter a cave where a lovely waterfall awaits you. When you come out of the tunnel, cross the river and see if the restored mill is open for drinks and tapas before winding your way back up to town following the asphalt road up through the olive groves and vegetable gardens. Keep your eyes peeled here, you may spot a donkey!
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The walk itself takes around an hour if you do it as a loop by parking in the village and walking down to the river, along the Pasarela and back up again the back way. Alternatively, you can park in the Area Recreativa and do the Pasarela as a there-and-back walk in 25 minutes.
The Castle
Up in the village itself, behind the church, you will find a Tourist Information Centre. If it is open, you will be able to buy a ticket to visit the castle ruins, which have been partially restored. Great views are to be had from up there, but you have to pass through the Information Centre office to get to the access path. Moorish in origin, the castle was ransacked and destroyed by Napoleonic troops, but the footprint which remains is still impressive. The highest point is occupied by the statue of Christ overlooking the town, which was gifted to Castril by Franco in the 1950s. With quaint cobbled streets and potted plants galore lining the walls, Castril is a lovely little town to wander around, and it´s almost impossible to get lost.
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In practical terms, there are two cashpoints, three small supermarkets, a couple of bakeries and four or five bars, at the last count. The hostel on the main road has a very nice restaurant if you fancy a blow-out. Better value are the little bars, especially Bar Emilio, which has a wonderful outdoor terrace facing the mountains. Traditional meals of the region are still offered here, but it´s worth booking ahead if you fancy anything more than tapas. Duration: You can do all of the above in one full day, but you may find yourself visiting the town two or three times during your stay, particularly if you enjoy an outdoor pool! Entry Fees: Expect to pay €2 or €3 euros to enter the Castle, the Pasarela or the Municipal Pool. Top Tip: There is no charge for the Pasarela on Tuesdays.
Galera & Orce
El Geco verde > Castellón Alto
Castellon Alto: This full-day trip from El Geco Verde takes in the amazing Bronze Age village of Castellon Alton, two gorgeous cave towns and some really mind-bending scenery.
An unusual natural swimming pool (full of trout) the Fuencaliente de Orce provides a relaxing break from the cultural trail.
Then it´s on to Orce, where you can stand back and admire the Castle of the Seven Towers, before visiting the Museum of Prehistory and Palaeontology, to find out why they call this area the cradle of European civilisation
There is also a museum in the centre of Galera, dedicated mainly to finds made at Castellon Alto, including the famous mummified Man of Galera.
También hay un museo en el centro de Galera, dedicado principalmente a los hallazgos realizados en Castellón Alto, incluido el famoso Hombre de Galera momificado.
Another archaeological marvel near the village of Galera is the Necropolis of Tútugi, the largest dedicated funeral site of the Iberian culture, with more than 130 graves and tombs.
Remember: Castellon Alto, Tútugi and all local museums are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Duration: Full day. Allow for a one-hour car journey each way through stunning scenery. Aim to arrive at Castellon Alto by 11am. Orce´s Prehistory Museum is open 5pm to 9pm (summer) or 4pm to 6pm (winter) and is closed Mondays, except bank holidays.
Cost: Entrance fees to sites and museums are around €3pp. The natural pool Fuencaliente de Orce is free.
Top Tips: In summer, aim for the 10 or 11am tours of Castellon Alto or Tútugi and wear a hat, to avoid the heat (the sites are quite exposed).
Go on a Saturday if you want to see inside Orce´s Moorish Castle of the Seven Towers (it´s only open to the public on Saturday mornings). Ask your hosts to show you the round-trip route before you leave, so you can make the most of the wildly contrasting scenery on the journeys there and back.
Granada
City of romantics, adventurers and poets, Granada was the last bastion of an advanced Islamic civilisation which ruled southern Spain for more than 700 years.
The astonishing Alhambra Palace, which towers over the city, is a constant reminder of those bygone days. The imposing towers, intricate tile and plaster work, dazzling geometric designs and innovative garden landscaping – all backed by the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada - are central to Granada´s unique appeal. But there is much more to this vibrant city, including a fantastic interactive Science Park, a fascinating troglodyte quarter (complete with cave museum) a thriving flamenco culture and great gastronomic diversity. City segway and walking tours include tapas routes, explorations of historic barrios such as the Albaicin or Sacramonte, or guided walks in the footsteps of the city´s most famous son, the poet and playwright, Federico Garcia Lorca. Granada is a 90-minute journey by car from El Geco Verde. If you plan to visit the Alhambra, book tickets as a matter of priority (before travelling to Spain if possible) as visitor numbers are strictly limited and tickets sell out for some dates months in advance. You can find lots of information about things to see and do in Granada here: https://www.lovegranada.com
If you´d like to extend your holiday, why not spend a few nights at our self-catering holiday apartments just outside Granada? For further details, send us an email or give us a call! El Geco Verde: [email protected] (0034) 647136120 (Ilaria)
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