Ruidera Lagoon Natural Park




The Ruidera Lagoons Natural Park is one of the Iberian Peninsula’s most beautiful wetlands, comprising 15 interconnected lakes over 30 km in the Upper Guadiana Valley, straddling Ciudad Real and Albacete.
Waterfalls & Travertine Barriers
Between some lagoons, water overflows into dramatic waterfalls and streams. Over millennia, deposited calcium carbonate formed the famous travertine barriers separating and beautifying the lakes:
- Laguna Lengua
- Laguna Salvadora
- Laguna Cenagosa
- Paraje del Hundimiento
The total drop from the first lake, La Blanca, to the last, La Cenagosa, is about 120 m.
How to Visit
You can explore the lagoons:
- By the scenic road skirting the park
- On marked hiking and cycling trails
- Via 4x4 guided tours to reach less-accessible areas
The park also offers:
- Active tourism (canoeing, caving, climbing)
- Nocturnal tours to observe wildlife under moonlight
- Permitted swimming in select calm lagoons
At Ruidera village, the Visitor Centre provides maps, route info, and tips for making the most of your visit.
Be enchanted by ever-changing colors and nature’s power at the Ruidera Lagoons Natural Park, a karst landscape of incomparable beauty.
How to get there
Decimal: 38.973889°, -2.887500°
DMS: 38°58'26" N, 2°53'15" O