Spain holiday | Spain holiday: Alto Tajo National Park and the Rewilding Spain project

Hospederia Virgen De La Hoz has a spectacular location in Spain's Guadalajara province in the Alto Tajo Natural Park. Rooms are simply but comfortably furnished and equipped with Wi-Fi, heating and a private bathroom with a shower. Meals using fresh ingredients are served in the dining room. From the hospederia, you can visit the Santuario Virgen de la Hoz and take beautiful nature walks. There is also e-bike rental available to further explore the area.

Hotel El Descansillo is located in a small village in the Spanish province of Guadalajara, in the middle of the Alto Tajo Nature Park. The hotel has 7 double rooms, all with views of the countryside and private bathrooms. The hotel's restaurant uses local and fresh ingredients to prepare traditional and innovative dishes based on the 'slow-cooking' initiative. Hotel El Descansillo is a great base for exploring the beautiful Molina de Aragón-Alto Tajo Geopark.

Positive impact
Hotel El Descansillo is a member of several sustainable and local initiatives in Molina de Aragón and the Alto Tajo area, including Slow Food, the Sustainable Tourism Charter, the Molina de Aragón Alto Tajo Geopark. In addition, the hotel is a member of associations for organic products, rural tourism and local development.

Las Casas del Salto is located in the Alto Tajo Natural Park, near the Tagus River. The accommodation has 5 well-equipped houses, which feature a bathroom, a seating area, a dining room, a collection of games, a terrace and a fireplace. You can enjoy breakfast and dinner at the on-site restaurant. The immediate surroundings are perfect for active activities such as hiking, mountain biking, diving and canyoning.

Please note that there is no wifi connectivity at the accommodation, nor do you have mobile coverage (slightly lower down near the river you do have mobile coverage).

Positive impact
Family-run accommodation emphasises authenticity, quality and connection with the environment. By using natural materials and respecting the environment in all activities, it strives to preserve the essence of this natural destination. The accommodation offers genuine and meaningful experiences that leave a lasting impression. The choice not to have wifi connection is part of this.

La Posada de Santa Ana is located in the upper part of the village of Tramacastilla, where you can enjoy stunning views of the village and the surrounding mountains of the Sierra de Albarracín. The hotel offers different room types, all with views of the valley of the Guadalaviar River. La Posada de Santa Ana offers a comfortable atmosphere with Spanish touches, and the restaurant serves a delicious breakfast buffet. You can explore the surrounding area by following several hiking trails from the hotel.

Artiem Madrid is a green city hotel located close to Madrid's Arturo Soria district. The modern hotel rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a TV, Wi-Fi and a private bathroom. You can enjoy breakfast with fresh and seasonal produce at the hotel and mix your own cocktails at the bar. Additional facilities include a fitness centre and an outdoor terrace.

Positive impact
Artiem Madrid is a certified B-Corporation; a company that achieves high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and responsibility. They consider all stakeholders in decisions, not just shareholders.

U bezoekt eerst Finca de Solanillos, een gebied dat in 2005 werd verwoest door een grote brand. De organisatie Rewilding Spain werkt hard aan de herontwikkeling en renaturalisatie van dit gebied. Er worden stieren en paarden ingezet om het herstel van het bos te ondersteunen en de biodiversiteit te bevorderen. Tijdens het bezoek kunt u dit proces van dichtbij bewonderen. Vervolgens brengt u een bezoek aan een van Spanje's belangrijkste landelijke erfgoederen, de Chozones Sabineros. Deze karakteristieke cirkelvormige constructies werden tot voor kort gebruikt voor het hoeden van schapen en geiten. In deze bijzondere omgeving geniet u aansluitend van een picknicklunch. Na de lunch staat de laatste activiteit van vandaag op het programma: een korte trekking naar El Castillo de Alpetea. Deze plek in het Alto Tajo Nationaal Park, waar nog overblijfselen uit de Spaanse Burgeroorlog te vinden zijn, staat bekend als "El Castillo de Alpetea" of "Refugio de Alpetea". Hier vindt u bunkers en loopgraven die dateren uit de Spaanse Burgeroorlog (1936-1939). Dit gebied, gelegen nabij de rivier de Tajo in het nationale park, bevat verdedigingswerken die destijds zijn aangelegd. Locaties zoals deze, met bunkers en loopgraven uit de Spaanse Burgeroorlog, vormen belangrijke herinneringen aan deze donkere periode in de geschiedenis van Spanje.

From Peralejos de las Truchas, you’ll go on a walk accompanied by a professional nature guide. During the walk, you’ll pass various beautiful spots, including the River Tajo and the Cascada El Molino waterfall. The emerald-green colour of the River Tajo is breathtaking and invites you to take a refreshing dip. Along the way, your guide will tell you all about how the river was used by the local people to transport goods and will point out unusual plants and wildlife. Afterwards, you’ll have some free time in Peralejos for lunch (not included) before continuing your journey to the Taravilla Lagoon, a stunning mountain lagoon surrounded by unspoilt nature. From here, you’ll follow a footpath with your guide for about 20 minutes, leading to the viewpoint at the impressive Salto de Poveda waterfall. Enjoy the view here, surrounded by nature.

You’ll stop at the Sima de Alcorón gorge, an impressive natural formation. Here, you’ll descend some 200 steps to the bottom of the gorge, where you’ll be welcomed by a serene and secluded setting. At the bottom, you’ll see a pylon that collects water from a nearby spring. After your visit to the gorge, you’ll continue your journey towards Tramacastilla (around a 2-hour drive). Here, together with your guide, you’ll go on a nature walk through the picturesque Sierra de Albarracín mountains. Famous for its rugged rock formations and dense forests, this mountain range offers breathtaking views and gives you the chance to immerse yourself completely in unspoilt nature.

You’ll go on an adventurous safari in an open-top 4x4, exploring the Frías de Albarracín Rewilding area. Here, you’ll gain a deeper insight into the impressive Rewilding Spain project, including the reintroduction of the Tauros to this area. Rewilding Spain is an organisation dedicated to the restoration of natural ecosystems in Spain, with the aim of promoting biodiversity and supporting rural communities. Their flagship project, the Iberian Highlands, covers 850,000 hectares across the regions of Castile-La Mancha and Aragon. Here, species such as the Iberian lynx and the bearded vulture are being reintroduced, and natural grazing is being restored with, amongst others, Przewalski’s horses and Tauros. These efforts contribute to the restoration of ecological processes whilst also offering opportunities for sustainable economic development in rural areas.