A walk through Río Mundo in Albacete

Image | sierradelsegura.com

Between the Sierra del Segura and the Sierra de Alcaraz, in Albacete, is the Calares del Río Mundo and La Sima Natural Park. A natural setting full of hazelnuts, pines and oaks where the Mundo River is born, which along its route between karst caves and galleries makes its way to fall in the form of impressive waterfalls of more than 100 meters high.

If you plan to make a trip to Albacete soon to know the treasures of this Castilian-La Mancha province, Write down on your list of places to visit the Calares del Río Mundo and La Sima Natural Park.

Start the visit

A good way to start your visit to Río Mundo in Albacete is to go first to the Interpretation Center of the Natural Park located in the town of Yeste. Here the visitor can make a brief approach to the flora, fauna and habitats, which will be seen later during the excursion, through informative and audiovisual panels, models, showcases, etc.

In this Interpretation Center of the Calares del Río Mundo and Sima Natural Park there is an area dedicated to geomorphology in which one of the caves with stalagmites and stalactites has been recreated. In the main room there is an area dedicated to different ecosystems and two terrariums with reptiles and amphibians.

In addition, in this place the visitor will be able to gather information about all the activities that can be done in this natural space. For this, they provide maps with routes, indicate the recreational areas, the rules to comply with during the visit and some useful tips.

World River

Image | Booking.com

In case you prefer to go directly to the source of Río Mundo without going through the Interpretation Center, you will have to go to the Albacete municipality of Riópar. Once there, take the CM-3204 road until you come across the sign indicating the source of Río Mundo.

There is a network of trails that run through the Calares del Río Mundo, but the main path is the one that leads to the source of the Río Mundo, which can be reached on foot in a few minutes. The route is done through a path between pines, poplars and holm oaks that allows us to see the great diversity of plant species that exist in this Natural Park but also animal, because of the birds, reptiles or insects that we can find in our path .

In the Paraje de los Chorros is where it was born. The water flows through several caves and interior galleries until it exits the Cueva de los Chorros, where the liquid falls down the vertical rocky walls in a series of waterfalls and jumps many meters high, forming new and small ones. falls until the Mundo River is collected in pools of lower altitudes.

Image | By Soleá

The flow can be very variable, so to see the Mundo River in all its splendor you have to choose the moment of the visit well. The most recommended time is spring, with the melting of the mountains, and the rainy season. And also when the El Reventón phenomenon occurs, which occurs a few times a year when an unusual explosion of water (50 liters per second) originates, becoming a spectacle of impressive noise and force.

Another possibility in the Calares del Río Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park is to visit the Cueva de los Chorros, at an altitude of more than 1500 meters, where the riverbed originated. A route that has some difficulty and for which it is necessary to obtain a special permit from the Albacete Environment Delegation.

But this is not all. Another route that can be done in this Natural Park leads us to the Mirador del Chorro. This route has restricted access to avoid its overcrowding, not because of its difficulty. To be able to do it, you must go with an authorized guide. At the Riópar Tourist Office it is possible to hire one.

What to bring for the visit?

To make an excursion of these characteristics in nature it is convenient to wear comfortable clothes and shoes as well as a map with the itinerary, a backpack with water, food, a hat and sunscreen and an extra battery for your mobile.

What to see more on the trip?

Yeste | Image | Wikipedia

Riopar

The town is divided into Riópar nuevo and Riópar viejo, in this last place you can see the ruins of its castle and the church of the Virgen de los Dolores.

Yeste

In case of starting the visit to Río Mundo by going to the Interpretation Center of the Natural Park of the Calares del Río Mundo and de la Sima, You can also take advantage of the trip to get to know Yeste, a medieval town that has a castle, a Franciscan convent, the Church of the Assumption and the hermitage of Santiago.


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