canyoning in montanejos

Descent of the Centenar ravine (Zucaina)

This is an introductory descent during which we will descend several waterfalls using the rappelling technique, that is, equipped with a harness and appropriate equipment, we will be able to go down the safety ropes, always under the supervision of our qualified guides. Without a doubt the star activity if you are looking to do Canyoning in Montanejos and surrounding areas.

During the tour we will also be able to jump into pools of crystal clear water and exciting aquatic zip lines!

The Centenar ravine, a little history.

This beautiful ravine runs through a place known as “the hundred” for its old rye crops. This cereal was ground in a mill (still on site) and its coveted flour was used to make rye bread. Old bridle paths connect the Villar farmhouses and the mill with the surrounding farmhouses and towns.

The course of the ravine, which always provides water to the Villahermosa River, was used to impound water and move the millstone, as well as to irrigate some fruit trees. But it is in its last waterfall or waterfall, known as “el chorrador”, where the inhabitants of the farmhouses of El Salvador built an ingenious water collection system to irrigate their fields. A small irrigation ditch suspended in the immense cliffs took water directly from inside the waterfall.

The sporting use of the ravine.

In 2001, the first sports sketch of the ravine was published with information about its equipment and rappelling. Since then, thousands of canyoners, as well as many companies and guides, have enjoyed its natural pools… but we must not forget that the people of Zucaina, Castillo de Villamalefa and surely other towns, already knew their charms and visited them for different reasons. paths that lead to its best pools, then secret, to take a bath or contemplate its majestic waterfalls.

What are we going to find?

The descent of this beautiful ravine runs through a small gorge of limestone rock which, after five small waterfalls ranging from 5m to 16m, opens into an impressive rocky cirque in which we find the great waterfall of “El Chorrador” 70m high. This last waterfall can only be rappelled by people with previous experience (ask us if you are interested).

Each waterfall can be descended using the rappelling technique, that is, going down a rope that the instructor prepares and thanks to the individual equipment that we provide: neoprene suit, harness, helmet, descender,… Always under the careful supervision of our Guide, who secures you with an additional safety rope. 

Some waterfalls are jumpable, something that is not mandatory and there is always an alternative so that no one feels obligated. We love turning this descent into something surprising and fun, so we will propose different ways to go down the waterfalls: rappelling, jumping, zip line, slide!!

In canyoning activities in Montanejos and surrounding areas it is common to find pools of emerald green water that contrast with the blue of the sky and the gray of the rock, creating landscapes of great beauty in which we will feel as if we were immersed in a watercolor.

Once we have made the descent, we will return to the starting point (where we left the cars) on foot, along a not very difficult mountain path with beautiful views of the ravine as we go up. A great botanical wealth typical of the Mediterranean forest will accompany us on this journey. Sabinas, junipers, rosemary, rusco, boxwood,… are some of the plants that we can discover. 

And if we look at the sky, perhaps we will be lucky and be able to see the majestic griffon vulture that nests in these cliffs, or even a beautiful pair of Egyptian vultures that visit this place from time to time.