Cave diving in the Alto Tajo and the Serranía de Cuenca

On the uplands between Guadalajara and Cuenca, two cold springs lie in natural parks, with Beteta as your base. Both are for full cave divers only: Fuentenavina in the Alto Tajo, according to its explorers the largest sump in central Spain, with water of 10–11 °C at about 1,205 m altitude, and Fuencaliente near Uña, at around 10 °C all year. In the Alto Tajo groups of up to three may enter a cave without a permit and diving has its own rules, so ask in advance; in the Serranía de Cuenca you need a permit, which can take up to three months. There is no technical fill station nearby, so bring your own gas and a booster, and expect long response times from rescue services if something goes wrong.

Don't miss

• Surgencia de Fuentenavina (Fuente Navina): according to GAEM the largest sump in central Spain, explored since 1995, where the Piedruca gallery connected the sumps in 2023.
• Fuencaliente (Uña): the spring that feeds the La Toba reservoir, at about 10 °C all year, with inner passages that a local outdoor company says are for advanced divers only.

On a rest day

• Hoz de Beteta: The gorge of the Guadiela near Beteta, with steep limestone walls along the river.
• Source of the Río Cuervo: The natural monument at the source of the Cuervo, where the water falls in cascades over moss and tufa.
• Ciudad Encantada (Enchanted City): An 'enchanted city' of limestone rocks shaped by erosion in the Serranía de Cuenca.
• Cuenca: The historic walled town with its hanging houses above the gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.