An unforgettable weekend destination in Spains own Grand Canyon!

Summer is here in the beautiful Marina Alta! Here at the offices of Jacaranda Spain, we are planning our summer diaries. If you live here in the North Costa Blanca, you will understand that July and August are the two months when the pace of life slows down and, in August, a lot of businesses close down for at least a few weeks. It is important to take time out from the normal pace of life, quite simply, because if you don´t the heat can be overwhelming!

So, with this in mind, we decided to jump in the car with our dog Sunny and head out to explore somewhere new. As we only had the weekend, we didnt want to travel too far and a little bit of research made us choose Castilla La Mancha, specifically a little village, perched on a steep hillside, called Jorquera, within a two and a half hour journey. We were not looking for bright lights, big cities or Michelin Star restaurants. We wanted a complete break and somewhere suitable for dog walks and long siestas, although we didn´t want to compromise on comfort (air conditioning to be precise!), we don´t often get the chance to get away!

The XUQ Lomas de Ruvira Resort is located on the “Hoces del Río Júcar”, a place of outstanding natural beauty, along the banks of the Júcar river, which runs along the bottom of a spectacular gorge aka Spains Grand Canyon.  For once, this place lived up to the hype. 

The gardens of the XUQ Ruvira Resort

Castilla La Mancha is 79,463 square kilometeres of mostly “meseta” ie flat plain. It is the third biggest region in Spain but very sparsely populated. As it is landlocked, it does not attract the huge numbers of tourists, looking for sandy beaches and coastal towns. The drive to our destination was pleasant and uneventful, which about sums up the scenery. Vast flat areas with long roads through mostly agricultural land. Wheat and barley fields, recently harvested and cut for straw, made the views sparse but beautiful. The journey was relaxing and Sunny settled down for a long nap (those of you who have met Sunny will know that this is not a regular occurrence) Just as we began to look forward to OUR siesta the terrain began to change and the landscape became more dramatic. The river Júcar has, over millenia, carved a gorge in the landscape which is nothing short of spectacular. 

The cave houses are a 10 minute drive from the town of Jorquera. The drive along the river is serene and beautiful and we were already feeling like this was one of our better choices. The cave house was perfect. There really is not a lot to do if you want entertainment. We spent our three days walking at 7am, exploring the river and admiring cave houses, most of which looked uninhabited. The river was blissfully cool and Sunny was in his element. 

Jorquera- A village perched on top of a gorge

Jorquera is a sleepy little town with a few bars and shops and not much else. The river is where most of the local people spend their weekend, it is literally the life blood of the town.

The larger town of Alcalá del Júcar is a 25 minute drive from the cavehouses. This town has considerably more going on. There are many restaurants and the streets were full of families congregating outside near the river. The “roman style” bridge and river banks with water falls is really picturesque and there is a castle and the “Cuevas del Diablo” (Devil´s Caves) all worth a visit apparently (not suitable for a hyperactive dog like ours and too hot to leave him in the car, the attractions were put on hold for another trip). The town is protected and named an “Asset of Cultural Interest”. It is also high on the list of Spain´s most beautiful villages.

Alcalá del Júcar

For our final night we decided on El Mirador Restaurant · Alcalá del Júcar

If you go to the area, this experience is NOT to be missed. The food is great, but it is the location and ambience that make it so remarkable. Most of the locals had chosen to sit inside with the air conditioning as it was really hot, and normally we would have followed their example. Sunny once again dictated that we must sit outside and we both had to say, we had the best table in the house… thank you Sunny! We watched the sun go down sitting on the edge of the precipice which overlooked the gorge and the town of Alcalá del Júcar.

The beauty of this incredible area is in how unspoiled by tourism it is. Even on a busy Saturday evening, most of the people were locals. This also means that prices are competetive, the same meal in Moraira would be double, at least. 

We were sad to leave the next day but already wondering when we can go again. If you like nature, swimming in the river and hearing only the Spanish language, this is an absolute must for you!  We will be back soon!