Montanejos Thermal Springs and Waterfall, food included

The best part of this day trip is the change of pace. You leave Valencia’s streets behind and spend the day in clear water, rocky gorges, waterfalls, and mountain villages. The main pool at Montanejos stays around 25°C year-round, warm enough to be pleasant but not the hot bath some people expect from the word thermal.

I like the small-group feel, which lets guides such as Miguel, Borja, and Paula adjust the day, help with photos, and keep an eye on swimmers. I also like the two-water-stop plan: Salto de la Novia, known here as the Girlfriend waterfall, comes first, followed by the larger thermal area at Montanejos.

The main drawback is the water temperature. Some people find the pool pleasantly warm, while others find it cool below the surface. Summer crowds can also make the springs busy, and the short hiking route may be canceled during hot, high-fire-risk days.

Key points before you book

• Two different swimming stops: Salto de la Novia is separate from the Montanejos thermal springs, so you get two distinct water settings.
• 25°C water, not a hot tub: The swimming area remains at about 77°F throughout the year.
• Friendly small-group touring: The trip runs with at least two people and uses an air-conditioned bus or van.
• Lunch is included from April through October: You receive one sandwich or tapa, a soft drink or beer, and coffee.
• Arenós Reservoir adds a scenic final stop: After swimming and lunch, you visit the dam area for photos and a walk.
• Bring beach shoes: The thermal spring bed has many pebbles, and footwear can make getting in and out easier.

Leaving Valencia from Mestalla Stadium

The meeting point is easy to identify if you know Valencia’s football stadium. Meet at Mestalla on the side facing Avenida de Aragón, beside gate A3. Your guide wears a Batwalking shirt, so you should not need to search the whole stadium frontage.

The full outing lasts about eight hours. The exact departure time depends on availability, so check the schedule before booking. You return to the same meeting point at Avenida de Aragón, although one guide has sometimes offered a nearby drop-off when practical.

The group has a minimum of two people. That matters here because a tiny group feels more like a private day out than a standard coach excursion. Miguel, one of the frequently praised guides, is known for keeping conversation flowing, sharing local facts, and making solo visitors or couples feel included. Borja has also been praised for arriving early, taking photos, and helping the group share pictures through WhatsApp.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, an important detail for the long return drive in summer. Smoking, food, drinks, and alcohol are not allowed inside. Pack your water and snacks for outside the vehicle, but keep the van clean and comfortable for everyone.

The first 45 minutes: road time with a guide

The first drive takes roughly 45 minutes. This is not wasted time if your guide uses it well. The route leads away from Valencia toward the countryside, and guides often fill the drive with facts about places along the way, local stories, and light conversation.

The trip is not simply a transfer to a swimming hole. The social side is a major part of the day. Guides have been praised for using Spanish music, jokes, and practical help to bring a mixed group together. That can be especially useful if you are traveling alone or as a couple and would rather not spend eight hours in silence.

Still, remember that the outing includes several road legs. After the waterfall, you drive about 45 minutes to Montanejos. The return drive is listed at about 90 minutes, with the reservoir stop before heading back to Valencia. If you get carsick, tell the guide early. One guide kindly moved a passenger to the front of the van for that reason.

Salto de la Novia, the Girlfriend waterfall

The first major stop is Salto de la Novia, or Girlfriend waterfall. The name gives the place a romantic flavor, but the appeal is simple: water, rock, shade, and a chance to cool off before reaching Montanejos.

You have about an hour here for a guided visit, a walk, and, during summer, a swim. The waterfall is not beside the thermal springs, so do not think of it as one continuous pool area. It is a separate stop with its own setting and mood.

This early arrival can work in your favor. A group that reaches the waterfall before the crowds may have a quieter hour for swimming and photographs. The guides often help take pictures with your own phone or camera, which is useful when the whole group wants to appear in the shot.

Bring your swimsuit under comfortable clothing if possible. You will also want a towel, sunscreen, and shoes that can handle a wet, uneven path. You should not expect a long canyon hike here. The stop is about enjoying the water and setting, not completing a demanding route.

Montanejos thermal springs: what 25°C really feels like

After another drive of around 45 minutes, you reach the Aigües Termals de Montanejos. This is the centerpiece of the day, and you get about two hours for swimming and relaxing.

The pool remains around 25°C, or 77°F, in the swimming area throughout the year. That is mild and pleasant, particularly on a hot day, but it is not steaming water. If you are expecting a spa bath, adjust your expectations now. Some people find the water refreshing rather than warm, and one account described the top few centimeters as warmer than the water below.

The setting is the real attraction. The springs sit among rock walls and clear water, giving the area a tropical feel. The water is inviting for a leisurely swim, but you should still treat it as an outdoor swimming area rather than a supervised pool. The guide may bring buoyancy aids, which can help if you are not fully comfortable in unfamiliar water.

A pair of beach shoes is one of the most useful things to pack. The spring bed contains plenty of pebbles, and walking barefoot can be uncomfortable. Comfortable swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes will make the next part of the day much easier.

The two-hour block gives you time to swim, take photographs, and sit by the water. It is not an all-day stay, so you may want to make the first swim count rather than spending too long getting organized. Guides also help watch belongings and point out places to change, but you should still keep valuables to a minimum.

The springs are suitable for all ages according to the activity information, but the tour is not suitable for babies under one year, wheelchair users, or people with heart problems. The swimming area also requires enough mobility to manage uneven ground and pebbles.

Lunch after the swim

Lunch follows the swimming period and lasts about an hour. From April through October, the price includes one sandwich or tapa, a soft drink or beer, and coffee. Water is also included.

This is a modest meal, not a long restaurant feast. Think of it as a practical lunch that keeps the day moving. The guides can reserve tables, which removes the hassle of finding a place after you leave the water. That small bit of organization matters on a busy summer day, when spontaneous seating may be hard to find.

Some people have described the food as tasty and reasonably priced, but you should read the included meal as a simple sandwich or tapa rather than a full regional tasting menu. If you have a large appetite, check exactly what is being served and consider carrying any extra food for stops outside the vehicle. Food cannot be eaten in the van.

There is a slight point to clarify when booking: the supplied tour details specifically include lunch from April through October. If you are visiting outside those months, confirm the arrangement before you pay. The listed package should not be assumed to include the same meal year-round.

Arenós Reservoir and the short walk

After lunch, the group visits the Arenós Reservoir for about an hour. This stop changes the rhythm again. You are no longer sitting in the thermal water or standing beside a waterfall. Instead, you get a photo stop, a visit around the dam area, and time for a short walk with views over the surrounding scenery.

The planned hiking section is about 30 minutes. It is described as moderate rather than strenuous, but you still need proper shoes. The path adds value because it lets you see Montanejos from outside the swimming area and stretch your legs after lunch.

In summer, heat and forest-fire risk can cancel the hiking route. When that happens, more time is spent in the water instead. That is a sensible safety change, but it means the day may feel more swimming-focused during the hottest months. If walking and viewpoints are your main reason for booking, spring or autumn may suit you better than the height of summer.

The reservoir visit is also a useful final stop before the long ride home. You get another chance for photos and refreshments, then return to Valencia in the air-conditioned vehicle.

The guide can make or break the day

The places are attractive, but the guide has an unusually large role in this outing. You spend hours in a van, share swimming and lunch time with a small group, and depend on someone to explain where to go and when to return.

Miguel is repeatedly praised for his warmth, humor, and attention to safety. He has helped visitors connect with one another, answered questions about the countryside, taken photos and videos, and kept the mood relaxed. Borja has been praised for early arrival, route commentary, practical help, and taking group pictures. Paula has also been described as friendly and careful with group safety.

That does not mean every guide will have the same personality. It does mean the company places real weight on friendly hosting. The available languages are English, Spanish, and German. If you have a concern, such as motion sickness, swimming confidence, or needing help with directions, speak up early rather than hoping the problem solves itself.

Tipping is not included. Some people have found it awkward to tip without cash, so carry a small amount if you think you may want to thank your guide at the end.

Is $108 a fair price?

At $108 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Montanejos. You are paying for private transport from Valencia, an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide, insurance, taxes, water, and the convenience of combining several stops in one day.

The value becomes clearer if you want to swim at both Salto de la Novia and Montanejos, visit Arenós Reservoir, and avoid arranging rural buses or rental-car driving yourself. You also save the effort of finding the swimming areas, timing the stops, and locating lunch. A small group can make the day feel more personal than a large coach trip.

The price is less attractive if you only want a few hours in the thermal water. Roughly two hours are assigned to swimming, while the rest goes to driving, lunch, the waterfall, and the reservoir. You should book this as a full countryside day, not as a simple hot-springs transfer.

The included lunch improves the value from April through October, though it is a light meal. The 24-hour cancellation policy and reserve-now, pay-later option also give you some flexibility, but check the final booking terms and departure time before committing.

What to pack for a comfortable day

Pack light, but bring the items that make wet outdoor stops easier:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunscreen and comfortable clothing
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Beach shoes for the pebbly spring bed
• A change of clothes
• Water for time outside the vehicle
• A phone or camera with a secure case if you want photos in the water

You should not bring pets. Alcohol, drugs, fireworks, and explosive substances are forbidden, and alcoholic drinks are not allowed in the vehicle. The lunch offer includes a soft drink or beer, but that does not mean you may carry drinks into the van.

Who should book this Montanejos day trip?

I would choose this outing if you want a break from museums, city streets, and Valencia’s built-up center. It suits couples, families with older children, solo visitors, and small groups who like a relaxed day with swimming, scenery, and conversation.

It is a good fit for you if you appreciate help with logistics. The guide handles the driving, explains the stops, reserves lunch tables, and can help with photos and practical details. You also get several different settings instead of spending the entire day at one spring.

Think twice if you need a fully accessible outing, have a heart condition, are traveling with a baby under one year, or dislike uneven ground. You should also reconsider if your idea of thermal water is a very hot spa. At 25°C, Montanejos is better described as a mild natural swimming pool.

Summer brings the best chance for waterfall swimming, but also more heat and more people. A weekday may feel calmer than a Sunday in midsummer. Outside the hottest period, you have a better chance of keeping the walking section and enjoying the area without quite as much pressure from the heat.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an easy, social escape from Valencia that combines two swimming stops, lunch, a reservoir visit, and a short walk without renting a car. The strongest reason to choose it is the personal guiding. Miguel, Borja, Paula, and the other Batwalking hosts appear to treat the day as more than a series of transfers.

Do not book it expecting a hot bath or a long mountain trek. The water may feel cool, the springs can be crowded in summer, and the hiking route can disappear on hot or high-fire-risk days. For the right expectations, though, $108 buys a well-rounded day in the Valencian countryside and a welcome change from the city.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Valencia?

Meet at Mestalla football stadium on the side facing Avenida de Aragón, at gate A3. The guide wears a Batwalking shirt.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point beside Mestalla Stadium on Avenida de Aragón.

How long does the Montanejos tour last?

The full activity lasts about eight hours. Check availability for the specific starting time.

What is the temperature of the thermal springs?

The swimming area remains around 25°C, or 77°F, throughout the year.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is included from April through October. It consists of one sandwich or tapa, a soft drink or beer, and coffee. Water is also included.

What languages are available?

The live guide is available in English, Spanish, or German.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The activity is suitable for all ages according to the tour information, but it is not suitable for babies under one year.

Can wheelchair users join the tour?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and it is also not suitable for people with heart problems.