Don Juan Caves and Júcar River Cruise from Valencia

Stalactites, a river waterfall, and a medieval cave in one morning from Valencia

A guided tour from Valencia to the Don Juan Cave near Jalance, then a boat cruise on the Júcar River to see the Molino de la Chorrera waterfall, with stops in the town of Jalance to visit its 11th-century castle and ceramic panels from the Route of the Moors. Hotel pickup is included, and the guide speaks English, Spanish or German. Lunch is at a local restaurant; the full day runs six hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Don Juan Caves and Júcar River Cruise

• Pick up from Valencia hotel at 8:00 am
• Stop at viewpoints overlooking Júcar River
• Explore Don Juan Cave geological formations
• Boat tour on Júcar River from Cofrentes pier
• Admire Molino de la Chorrera waterfall
• Visit Jalance town and local landmarks
• Lunch at a typical local restaurant
• Return to Valencia hotel

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup at your Valencia hotel at 8 a.m., then heads inland toward the Sierra del Anchovy. Before you reach the Don Juan Cave, the route stops at adapted viewpoints overlooking the Júcar River valley — the landscape spreads out below in a way that frames what you are about to walk into. The cave itself sits 660 meters above sea level in a geological formation packed with stalactites, stalagmites, columns and lava flows shaped over millennia. An hour and a half inside, an audio guide walks you through the formations and the history: the cave was inhabited since the Mesolithic 8000 BC and later sheltered treasures during the medieval struggles between Christians and Muslims.

From the cave, the route moves to Cofrentes to board a boat on the Júcar River. The river cruise passes the Molino de la Chorrera waterfall, a natural drop that is the centerpiece of this stretch. After the boat returns, you stop in Jalance for lunch at a typical local restaurant. The town itself holds the 11th-century castle and the Parish Church of San Miguel Arcángel, completed in 1736. Four ceramic panels embedded in the urban area tell the story of the Route of the Moors — a visual history of the expulsion of the Moors around 1609, with the Don Juan Cave featured as one of the scenes.

The vehicle is air-conditioned throughout, and water is provided during the day. An audio guide is included so you hear the information as the tour moves through each stop. After six hours total, you return to your hotel or pickup location in Valencia.

What’s included

• Audio guides throughout the tour.
• entrance to the Don Juan Cave.
• boat entry for the Júcar River cruise.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• water during the day.
• hotel pickup and return to Valencia.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Valencia Forever

Is this one for you?Pick this shared tour if you want a guided morning or afternoon loop through three sites—a cave with stalactites and stalagmites, a river boat ride, and a medieval town—following one set route with other visitors.

Top questions

What is the Don Juan Cave like inside?

The Don Juan Cave is a geological formation filled with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flags and lava flows shaped by water over thousands of years. The cave has been inhabited since the Mesolithic period around 8000 BC and later served as a refuge during medieval conflicts between Christians and Muslims. An audio guide leads you through the formations and history during an hour-and-a-half walk inside.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You stop at a typical local restaurant in Jalance where you can order and pay separately for a meal.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide is available in English, Spanish or German. You can select your preferred language when you book.

What is the Molino de la Chorrera?

The Molino de la Chorrera is a waterfall on the Júcar River that you see during the boat cruise from Cofrentes. It is described as an authentic natural spectacle and is one of the main sights on the river portion of the tour.

Does the tour include a stop in Jalance town?

Yes, after the river cruise you stop in Jalance, where you have lunch at a local restaurant and can visit the 11th-century castle, the Parish Church of San Miguel Arcángel, and four ceramic panels that are part of the Route of the Moors, a visual history of the expulsion of the Moors around 1609.