I love living in a big city. There is always something to do, always somewhere to go, always people to meet and always places to find. You’re never at a loss for weekend plans in a city like Madrid.
The beauty of living in Madrid is that if you feel like escaping the hustle and bustle of this lively city, even if just for a day, there are just as many things to do. Here in Madrid we are lucky to be surrounded by easily accessible sites begging to be explored.
A few weekends ago I fled the city center for the Manzanares mountains.
It’s hard to believe that just 45 minutes outside of Madrid lies mountain goats and river rapids. The long steep hike to Charca Verde was well worth it. We arrived just in time for our afternoon siesta and eagerly rested our heads in the heavy heat of the sun. No city horns, no noisy neighbors. Only the soothing sounds of fresh water relentlessly pushing its way past ridged rocks.
Go to Manzanares el Real:
Take the 724 bus from Plaza de Castilla (metro lines 1, 9, 10). From Plaza de Castilla it is about a 45-minute ride to Manzanares el Real. Find the time schedules below.
Plaza de Castilla to Manzanares el Real
Manzanares el Real to Plaza de Castilla
** The return schedule reads backwards, so make sure to follow the arrows.
With my monthly Abono a round trip ticket was only around 6€.
**Tip: get to the bus a few minutes early, especially on weekends. There are long lines of hikers and even when the bus seats are full, the drivers won’t hesitate to fill the bus’s standing room. Standing for 45 minutes on a hot crowded bus is not fun. (I learned the hard way)
Once you arrive in Manzanares, there is a sign to direct you to the tourist office. Head there and grab a route map. The people working the tourist office are friendly, helpful and even speak a little English.
Across the street from the bus stop there is a grocery store where you can grab food or snacks for a picnic. We bought some sandwich stuff- pesto, turkey, cheese, baguettes, some chips, and several bottles of water. There are also public bathrooms in the grocery store. It’s a good idea to use them before heading out for the day, as there aren’t many others available.
Further down the street is a fairly large bazaar (chino store) where you can pretty much find anything you may need or may have forgotten. When I had a mini freak-out because I forgot my camera memory card at home, I picked one up at the bazaar for 6,50€.
About a 15-20 minute walk down Calle Pedriza will bring you to the parking lot where the hiking routes begin. Follow the other hikers through the parking lot to the paths on the far side.
We hiked along the river Río Manzanares to Charca Verde.
We had a picnic in a grassy area along the river, but there are also several small rustic restaurants along the different paths where you can stop to have a quick bite.
Post-picnic, we continued to Charca Verde.
After a long day we took the 7:25 (19:25) bus home. This bus stop is across the street, from the arrival stop to the left of the grocery store.
If you have time before you go, check out the quaint little town of Manzanares before or after heading to the mountains.
Happy Hiking 🙂
Dear Wanderlustress, I get so much out of these posts! It is almost like I am right there hiking the Manzanares with you. I feel like I know more about you from just reading your posts than I know about some of the people I talk to almost every day. It’s crazy how much detail is in your writing…. even without the pictures I think your descriptive depictions of the wilderness would allow me a sharp image of the mountains in my head. I truly admire your work and it seems like we would be a great match for each other. When you get back in the US will you go on a date with me?
Very funny KJ…,good post LA
This looks marvelous! I’d love to do this hike sometime this spring. I’ve been craving some more nature and wilderness in my life! How was the hike in terms of difficulty?
Hey Courtney! The hike was pretty easy in terms of difficulty. At the tourist office they have other travels that vary by difficulty. There were a few times that we had to climb steepish rocks, but really nothing too bad and it was fun! If you need any more info don’t hesitate to ask 🙂
Hey!
Thanks for the post! Looking to do it tomorrow or next day.
Quick q…what time does the tourist office open? We like to hike early.
Best!
Larissa
Hi Larissa! The schedule given on the website is:
Horario:
Sábados, Domingos y Festivos de 10:00h a 15:00h horas.
Deseo recibir información turistica del municipio de Manzanares El Real
Or- Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from 10am to 3pm.
The tourist office is known to close at random points in the summer (you know.. Spain), but there should be plenty of other hikers to follow as well!
Thanks for reading and good luck!!
Oh! There is also a company called “Hiking Madrid” that should be able to give more information and can even accompany you on a hike!