To the northwest of the city of Madrid we find the oldest protected space in the Community: Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park. It is one of the most emblematic of the Madrid mountains and constitutes a large nature reserve that joins the limits of the city with the Sierra del Guadarrama. Up to 18 municipalities in the north of the Community of Madrid depend on this space, which have grown together with it and allows them to be in contact with nature thanks to the environment.
Discover everything about the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park and the best routes.
From the heart of Madrid to the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park there is an hour by car, so it is well worth getting to know this natural jewel if you are visiting the city.
Hotel Cortezo is an unbeatable option for this, given that its location next to the Puerta del Sol will allow you to get to know Madrid, enjoy total flexibility during your stay and take an excursion to this beautiful green corridor so close to the capital, the door to submerge into nature and leave the city for a few hours.
Activities and routes through the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park
Biosphere Reserve
In 1992, this Regional Park became part of the International Network of Biosphere Reserves thanks to the harmony achieved between the development of local populations and the conservation of the natural environment. The main interests for its conservation are the presence of endangered species, proximity to a large urban nucleus, the existence of traditional agrosystems and unique representative landscapes.
Hiking, biking or running
The orography of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park offers a great variety of paths and possibilities for running, biking or hiking in the mountains, on rock, on flat sand paths or on asphalt. The level of effort is chosen by you, although in any modality you can experience touring the unique natural and historical landscapes that this space houses.
There are almost a hundred possible routes in the park, of different levels of difficulty, although the most popular are La Pedriza - Canto Cochino - Charca Verde, about 12.1 km long; the Covacho Waterfall, 8.0 km long; o La Pedriza - Collado de los Pastores Viewpoint, about 25 kilometres.
Climbing
The most famous rocks in the Community of Madrid are found in the Sierra de Guadarrama, and the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park is the cradle of mountaineering since the end of the 19th century.
Numerous walls, plates and walls offer an enormous diversity to practice bouldering, artificial climbing, sticking or bouldering.
Bird watching
The special formation of this natural space and its variety of meadows, wetlands, mountains, cliffs, vegetation and fauna offer all kinds of birds an ideal place to live and proliferate. All of them are protected unique species: black stork colonies, kingfishers, eagle owls, black vultures, vermilions, shrikes, booted eagles or royal herons. The park has several viewpoints from where you can observe and enjoy them, always respecting their space and conservation.
Towns
Beyond active and nature tourism, this excursion will allow you to discover some of the most charming towns in the Community of Madrid, since this park includes up to 18 municipalities: Alcobendas, Becerril de la Sierra, Cercedilla, Collado-Villalba, Old Colmenar, El Boalo, Galapagar, Hoyo de Manzanares, Las Rozas, Madrid, Manzanares El Real, Miraflores de la Sierra, Moralzarzal, Navacerrada, Rascafría, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Soto del Real, Torrelodones and Tres Cantos.
Plan a getaway to the capital to get to know the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park and stay at Hotel Cortezo, a family hotel in the heart of Madrid where you will find more than you can imagine to fully enjoy your stay, such as a private garage or solarium terrace for sunbathing. Book from our web and get from a 5% off on all rates, because at our hotel, everything is an advantage!