Junta de los Rios

Gorge walks with wonderful river swimming pools and spectacular views.

Distance: From mouth of gorge to ‘Junta de los Rios’ 2.5 kilometers one way

Difficulty: Straightforward walk to the first waterfalls. From here there is a more demanding walk which entails several ascents and descents on stony pathways with several river crossings,(two on cable bridges strung across the gorge) and which may be wet underfoot.

Time of year: All year, especially beautiful in spring. Shaded in parts making for a cooler walk in high summer.
Notes
Take bathing things as there are many opportunities to swim in mountain pools. There is an entrance fee for cars. The area is open from 10.00 to 19.00 on Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday. The key can be obtained from the El Capricchio Bar in Otivar in winter, or from June onwards there is someone on the gate to let you in.

The walk in brief
The Junta de los Rios is where two rivers join. The river continues down the gorge and becomes the Rio Verde which irrigates the entire area of the tropical valley, passing through Otivar, Jete and reaching the sea at Almunecar, close to Velilla beach. It is one of the most beautiful natural places in the region. Whether you walk through the gorge, or drive right up to the ‘Junta’, you will have an unrivalled opportunity to swim in natural pools or walk in an area of stunning beauty.

To reach the start
Take the road to Jete and Otivar. The entrance gate is on the left hand side of the Cabra Montes road, beyond the turning for the Palacete de Cazulas. You will recognize it as there is a gateway (closed) with a small hut behind. The actual ‘Junta’ is accessed by car. It is approximately 5 kilometers from the entrance to the ‘Junta de los Rios’. There is an entrance fee to enter the area. The road, although reasonably maintained, is rough and may present problems if your car is heavily loaded with people. There is a notice at the gate warning you that it is not permitted to take flowers or plants from the gorge, or to light fires anywhere. Pay your entrance fee here.
Follow the road down the valley until you reach the mouth of the gorge. You may want to park here and walk up the gorge, but you can drive on up the gorge rather than walk. There are two parking spots from which you can walk a short distance up to the first waterfall and beyond that to the Junta (joining) of the rivers.

The route
From the mouth of the gorge, follow the track on the left hand side of the river until you reach the waterfall. This will take approx three quarters of an hour. Walk up past the dam and bear right across the river. At this point you will have to ford the river (ankle deep). A trail goes up to the left after you cross the river for the second time, but before you take this track explore the river pools that are just round the bend on the right! Not to be missed! It is fantastic for swimming here from May to October.
You can continue the walk by following the trail up the (steep) slope on the left hand side of the river until you see the rope bridge that crosses the gorge on your right. At this point you could stop and enjoy the pools, or continue the walk onwards to the next waterfall (1 hour).
The path is clearly marked but has steep in ascents and descents. In parts it is wet and slippery and you will walk on stony loose surfaces. The path climbs out of the gorge, then goes down into the gorge again on a path that zig zags down to the river and then crosses and re-crosses it, sometimes by plank bridges, sometimes on elevated cable bridges. The route is shady in places and there are many beautiful pools to sample before you reach the final pool – where a Y shaped waterfall cascades 40 meters downwards into a clear pool. Retrace your steps to return to the ‘Junta’.
Additional:
If you turn left at the ‘Junta’ you can walk up the other river (Rio Negro) which follows a course that is less spectacular but there are pools to explore and the pathway winds through the river bed, taking you inland for about a kilometer before becoming more inaccessible and difficult to negotiate.
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