- Region: Castilla la Mancha
- Province: Albacete
- Declared a Natural Park: 2005
- Park surface area: 19,192 hectares
- Place of Community Importance (SCI)
- Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA)
- Towns and villages: Yeste, Cotillas, Molinicos, Riópar, Víanos, Villaverde del Guadalimar and Veste
Points of interest
A mountainous terrain, the Calares del Rio Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park is marked by several watercourses that have eroded and created karst landscapes of great beauty across the Sierra de Alcaraz, Campo de Montiel and the Sierra del Segura . This park is close to the neighboring Natural Park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas in Andalucia.
The Mundo river is well known for its picturesque source. The river originates from a cave in the middle of a tall cliff and forms a waterfall with a height of almost 100 meters. Subsequently, it forms a series of smaller cascades and pools.
The area has also become famous as a starlight destination. The Starlight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 to promote the protection of the night sky and the development of “astrotourism” and there is an ever growing list of starlight destinations in Spain to visit.
Promo for Yeste and the Calares del Rio Mundo y de la Sima in Albacete, Castilla la Mancha
There are more than 35 endemic plant species in the area and the park is a haven for classic Iberian wildlife such as Otter, Wildcat, Spanish ibex, Griffon vulture, Golden and Bonellis eagle
The humidity of the area makes the vegetation lush and varied with more than 1,300 cataloged species. The entire park has a high forest density, where the Mediterranean forests of holm oaks and gall oaks intermingle in the lower areas, to give way to conifers such as black pine and resin pine depending on altitude.
Find a hotel in the Calares del Rio Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park
Booking.comThe waterfalls and the source of the Mundo River plus various caves in the area are well worth visiting.
- Barranco de los Marines
- Estrecho del Infierno
- Cueva de los Chorros (You need a permit for this cave, ask in the info centre)
- Nacimiento del Río Mundo
- Valle del ríoTus
- Sierra del Cujón
- Calar de la Sima
Information/Visitors Centers
Centro de Interpretación del Parque Natural de los Calares del Mundo y de la Sima “Monte Ardal”
Located in the street called Fuensomera in the town of Yeste this information centre for the Calares del Rio Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park consists of a reception area, audiovisual room, interpretive exhibition room, reproduction of a cave, offices, toilets, parking, and a viewpoint on the roof over the spectaular Segura river valley.
There are exhibitions detailing fauna / flora, geology / mountains and river environments.
Ronda Today
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The Caminito del Rey
Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/
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Iberia Nature Forum
Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum! https://iberianatureforum.com/