Montanejos Thermal Pools & Adventure from Valencia: Hike, Kayak, Raft

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.59 (135 reviews) 73% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/27

Duration8h

GroupUp to 53

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Mountain Thermal Pools & River Adventures Near Valencia

You choose between a guided 8 km hike through canyons and caves, a beginner kayak paddle on a mountain lake, or white water rafting — all with free time afterward at the famous thermal pools where mineral-rich water stays at 23°C year-round. Round-trip coach transfer from Valencia, professional instructors, and equipment are included; you skip the entry line and spend the afternoon swimming and relaxing in the natural spring before heading back to the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Montanejos nature and adventure day

Travel from Valencia to Montanejos
Choose activity: relax, hike, kayak, or raft
Explore Montanejos village and surroundings
Enjoy free time at Fuente de los Baños
Swim and relax in thermal pools
Return to Valencia

The Experience

Our guide Maria met us at the hotel pickup point with a thermos of coffee and a grin — she'd already checked the weather three times that morning. "The water's perfect today," she said, and she wasn't talking about the forecast. Montanejos sits about an hour north of Valencia, tucked into the mountains of Castellón, and it's the kind of place that doesn't announce itself. You drive through pine forests, the air gets cooler, and then suddenly the Mijares River appears below, running clear enough to see the rocks on the bottom. Maria explained that the thermal pools at Fuente de los Baños stay at 23°C year-round because they're fed by natural springs — not heated, just naturally warm. That detail matters because it means the water feels alive, not manufactured.

The day splits into two halves, and you pick your own pace. If you choose the hiking option, you're looking at a guided 7 to 8 km walk through the canyon, past the Black Cave and up to viewpoints where the river bends below you like a ribbon. The path isn't brutal, but it's real — you're moving uphill through forest, and your legs know it. If that's not your thing, the kayak option puts you on a calm mountain lake instead, beginner-friendly, with equipment and an instructor included. Or there's rafting, which is the white water version — still beginner-level, but you're actually paddling through moving water with a professional crew. Maria said most people don't realize you can do all three in one day if you wanted to, though the schedule doesn't quite allow it. The free time at the thermal pools is built in no matter which activity you choose, and that's where the day settles. You float in water that's neither cold nor hot, surrounded by limestone cliffs and forest, and the only sound is the river.

The coach picks you up from your Valencia hotel in the morning and handles the drive both ways, so you're not navigating mountain roads or worrying about parking. Skip-the-line access to Fuente de los Baños means you don't spend your afternoon in an entry queue — you walk straight to the water. If you're traveling solo, you can still book; the company will contact you if group minimums for kayaking aren't met, which is honest rather than a surprise at the trailhead. The whole thing takes a full day, and you return to Valencia in the evening. Bring a towel and water shoes if you have them, though neither is essential.

What’s included

Round-trip air-conditioned coach transfer from your Valencia hotel, skip-the-line access to Fuente de los Baños thermal pools, your choice of guided 7 to 8 km hiking through mountain canyons and viewpoints, beginner-friendly kayaking on a mountain lake with equipment and instruction, or beginner white water rafting with professional instructors, plus free time to swim and relax in the 23°C natural spring waters.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hola Trip

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day away from Valencia without arranging your own transport or paying separate entry fees — the coach pickup and skip-the-line access are what make the whole day feel unhurried, and choosing your activity level means you're not forced into someone else's pace.