Hoces del Cabriel. The rafting mecca between Valencia and Cuenca
What are the Hoces del Cabriel?
Las Hoces del Cabriel is a natural reserve located on the edge of the province of Cuenca next to the border with the Valencian Community.
It was declared a natural park by the Valencian government in 2005. The Cabriel River serves as the boundary between both provinces. It is called "Hoces del Cabriel Natural Reserve".
The nature reserve is located in the region of Requena-Utiel, between Cuenca and Albacete and includes the municipalities of Requena, Venta del Moro and strong>Villargordo del Cabriel.
The sickles form a landscape carved into the rock that has been formed over thousands of years. Other places that stand out are the Cinorrio ravine or the Rabo de la Sartén.
Rafting in the Hoces del Cabriel
Valencia has two areas for rafting: Las Hoces del Cabriel and the Mijares course. The Cabriel is the one with the longest navigable sections and is the most suitable for practicing this sport. It has become one of the reference places for rafting in Spain.
You can do all kinds of water sports, but the most popular in theHoces del Cabrielis rafting for its white waters.
Whitewater rafting is ideal to do with friends and have a good time enjoying the landscapes that the Hoces del Cabriel offers.
To be able to see the Hoces well it is necessary to go down by boat.
Las Hoces has two sections:
- Family rafting section: in which the entire family, including children, can enjoy the descent since it is a simple section without complications or dangers. The difficulty level is low.
- Whitewater rafting section: recommended only for groups that have already practiced this sport and have previous experience in rafting. This section is not suitable for children under 14 years of age. The difficulty level is medium-high.
Rafting is done on the Cabriel River, which has a distance of 20 kilometers. It requires experience in this sport since the level of difficulty is medium-high. The duration of the activity is approximately 4 hours and the best time of the year to carry out this activity is between the months of April to September. It is one of the most popular and fun activities that can be done on the Cabriel River, just one hour from Valencia.
The descent takes place in the Hoces del Río Cabriel Natural Park, where you can observe all its wonders such as the cave paintings and the Cuchillos del Cabriel.
The section begins at the foot of the Contreras Dam entering through Peña Azul and ends at the medieval bridge of Vadocañas.
It has level III and even IV rapids, depending on the water releases. It also has technical steps, wave trains, jumps into pools and clean currents to enjoy the best experience in the Hoces del Cabriel.
The last section of the river is a section with planks that allows you to take a swim after all the descent.
The minimum group of people to make the descent in the boat is 6 people but up to 14 people can go in a boat.
