Free walking tours in Arenas de San Pedro and what to see

Must-sees

Arenas de San Pedro is the main town on the southern face of Gredos, in the Tiétar valley. In the centre stands the castle of Constable Dávalos, known as the castle of the Sad Countess, beside the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the bridge over the river Arenal. The streets of the old town are easy to walk.

On the outskirts is the Mosquera Palace, built for the infante Don Luis de Borbón in the 18th century. The sanctuary of San Pedro de Alcántara, a short distance away, is also worth a visit. Very close, in Ramacastañas, are the Cuevas del Águila, with stalactites and stalagmites seen along a prepared route.

Free tours and guided visits

Free tours are uncommon in Arenas. The most usual format is the guided visit to the Cuevas del Águila, required to enter, and occasional guided walks of the town. Nature is the other big draw. There are guided hikes in the sierra, walks along the Roman road of the Puerto del Pico and visits to nearby villages such as Mombeltrán, with its castle, or Guisando and El Arenal, starting points for routes up the southern face of Gredos.

How long to spend

One day is enough for the town and the Cuevas del Águila: the morning for the castle, the old town and the Mosquera Palace, and the afternoon for the caves. If you want to walk in Gredos or explore the Tiétar valley at leisure, allow two or three days and give each to a route or a couple of villages.

Where to stay

The most convenient choice is to stay in central Arenas, near the castle, where the services and restaurants are. If you want peace and mountains, there are rural houses in Guisando, El Arenal or El Hornillo, closer to the mountain routes. Either way a car is advisable, because the routes and the caves are outside the town.