Melero meander

The meander of the Melero has been described as a whim of nature. You know it's called meander one sharp bend of any river that leaves a part of land concave and another convex.

But, speaking of the Melero, the curve that the Alagón river it is so sinuous that it almost gives rise to an islet. In any case, create a unique landscape that fits perfectly with the wild surroundings and with nature at its best. If you want to visit this jewel in the province of Caceres, we encourage you to continue reading.

Where is the meander of the Melero

As we told you, this natural wonder is found in the limit of Extremadura with Castilla y León. More specifically, it is located in the Cáceres region of The Hurdes. The closest town is Lower River, in turn belonging to the municipality of Morisco road.

Therefore, the best way to get to the meander is from Ríomalo. In turn, to get to this town, you have two county roads. If you are traveling from the north, the appropriate one is SA-225, while, if you do it from the south, you must take the EX-204. Once in Ríomalo, you have a forest track that will take you directly to the meander of the Melero.

What to do in the meander of the Melero

Logically, the first thing you can do in the meander area is enjoy its wonderful landscape. To do this, the best location point is the viewpoint called La Antigua, from which you have a perfect frontal perspective of this natural wonder.

But your visit to the meander of the Melero also offers you many other possibilities. Shortly after leaving Ríomalo de Abajo, you will find the magnificent natural pool that makes up the river Ladrillar, where you can take a relaxing bath.

Animal sighting: the bellowing

You can then follow the path that runs between pine and chestnut trees to reach the aforementioned viewpoint. Once in this, you will not only be able to enjoy the imposing view of the meander. It is also a reference point to spot species such as the griffon vulture, black stork or booted eagle.

Likewise, it is not difficult for you to appreciate deer drinking on the shore of Alagón. And even, at the right time, it is a magnificent setting to observe the bellowing. As you know, this is the name of the time when the deer is in heat and that coincides with autumn. The males emit guttural sounds and clash their antlers to mark territory, giving rise to a unique spectacle in nature.

You may also want to go down to the meander itself. In this case, before reaching La Antigua, you have a fork that takes you directly to the base of this natural phenomenon. At this point, you can also enjoy a wide panoramic view of the Sierra de Béjar.

Hiking trails

From the town of Ríomalo itself there are several hiking routes that will allow you to enjoy the spectacular landscapes that make up the meander and its surroundings. Among them, the so-called Verea of ​​Aceituneros. Join the mentioned locality with Coils and it is about twenty kilometers. You can not only do it on foot but also by bicycle and even by car. But, in any case, you can enjoy wonderful coniferous forests.

Another magnificent route is the Fishermen's Verea. It is much simpler, as it is barely three kilometers long. It goes, precisely, from Ríomalo to the viewpoint of La Antigua and also offers you spectacular vegetation.

Along with the previous ones, you can go through the Chorreón del Tajo route, which ends in an impressive waterfall; that of La Step of the blackberry, in which you will find rock carvings such as the petroglyph that gives it its name, and that of the Source La Teja. In short, other activities that you can do during your visit to the Melero meander are fishing and going down by canoe or catamaran. All of them in an incomparable environment.

A bit of geology: How was the meander formed?

Although the really interesting thing is to enjoy its unique landscape, it is also curious to know how the meander was formed. There are several theories regarding these natural phenomena. But the one associated with Geology says that its origin has to do with obstacles on the ground. For example, a sandbar. These make the current of the river, to avoid them, be diverted. And erosion does the remaining work to fix that winding water path.

When to visit the meander of the Melero?

Any time of the year is good for you to come to see the meander. However, we advise you to do it in the flood season of the Alagón River, that is, in spring or fall. The reason is very simple: as the river carries more water, the curve and the islet that it almost completes is better appreciated.

What to do around the Melero meander?

As we have explained to you, this natural wonder is in the middle of the region of The Hurdes and more specifically in the municipality of Morisco road. The nearest farmhouse or small rural village is Lower River, where you can visit the church of Our Lady of Sorrows, which houses the image of the virgin of the same name, patron saint of the town.

But the highlight of these Hurdan farmhouses is the popular architecture. The houses are built with slate stones and also the roofs are made of the same material. According to experts, this way of building houses is linked to the palloza of the northwest of the Peninsula and has a pre-Roman origin, more specifically, Celtic.

On the other hand, in other farms in the municipality of Caminomorisco you can also see interesting monuments. For example in Cambroncino you have the church of Santa Catalina or Las Lástimas, built in the XNUMXth century, which is probably the most important artistic building in the entire region.

In conclusion, the meander of the Melero it forms a unique and spectacular landscape, a true whim of nature. And, next to him, you can visit the region of The Hurdes, a land where its traditional architecture stands out. Don't you feel like traveling to this area of Estremadura? It is one step away.