Castile-La Mancha, one of the largest inland regions of Spain, is a great holiday destination if you are travelling with children. Why? Because among the many plans on offer, several are perfect for the little ones. Tell them that you are going to go into a mine, see animals in the wild and take photos next to life-size reproductions of dinosaurs. Present your trip as an adventure. They'll be on board right away! These are just some of the ideas you can enjoy with the whole family.
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Almadén Mining Park
In Almadén, Ciudad Real, you will find the world's oldest mines which are still in operation today. In fact, they are part of the "Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija” World Heritage Site.The tour starts at a 17th-18th century gallery (the only authentic traditional mine that can be visited in Spain). Along the kilometre-and-a-half tour, you will hear fascinating geology facts, learn about mining techniques, ride a mining train and, most importantly, discover what it feels like to be underground in a mine preserved exactly as it was excavated! The children's excitement is guaranteed.The tour inside the mine lasts just over an hour. You can also visit the San Rafael Miners' Hospital and the Historical Archive of the Almadén Mines.
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Puy du Fou theme park
It all started in Toledo in 2019 with an amazing night show called "El Sueño de Toledo". Two years later this theme park also opened during the day with an action-packed agenda. Who will the little ones meet? Historical figures such as El Cid Campeador in the show called "The last song", Lope de Vega in "A feather and sword" and Christopher Columbus in "Allende la mar océana".Period costumes and villages, local delicacies (as well as dishes from banquets of centuries ago), a curated selection of nearby hotels and a large park immersed in the heart of La Mancha nature. All of this is just one hour from Madrid and a few minutes from Toledo old quarter. Give your children a chance to journey back to the past.
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El Hosquillo Park
Is there anything children like more than animals? They get so excited talking about animals, and seeing them even more so. Deep into the Parque de la Serranía de Cuenca you will find El Hosquillo, the perfect place to learn about Iberian fauna, indigenous vegetation and lessons such as caring for the environment and ecosystems. Just over an hour from Cuenca you will find El Hosquillo, near the town of Las Majadas. A kind of "outdoor classroom" spanning almost 2,500 acres, where children can witness what nature has to offer. The guides, who accompany all the groups during the tour, will be in charge of entertainment and answering any questions the little ones have. Rolling hills, rivers, valleys, forests and other landforms await you, where you can spot species such as red deer, roe deer, mouflons, mountain goats, Iberian wolves and brown bears. There is also a museum and visitor centre.
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Castile-La Mancha paleontological museum
In 2015, "Dinosaur Land" was the first exhibition this museum housed. It currently features exhibits that span 550 million years of the history of Earth. The museum's setting is unique. Even just going there to look at the views across the city of Cuenca is worth it.Its main purpose is to preserve and display the most important paleontological findings of Castile-La Mancha. The collection comes from Paleozoic sites in Toledo and Ciudad Real, Mesozoic sites in Guadalajara and Cuenca, and Cenozoic sites in the entire region. With more than 34,000 exhibits, the MUPA wants to teach children about the origins of the planet and its first inhabitants. As well as the exhibitions, the MUPA organises educational activities and workshops. The star attraction is the outdoor area with several life-size replicas of dinosaurs. Do you want your children to experience life in the day of an archaeologist?One tip: make the most of your visit to the city of Cuenca to also visit the interestingScience Museum.
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Ciudad Encantada
While we are still in Cuenca we must recommend one of the most famous places in the entire region: Ciudad Encantada. It is a natural space with a magical feel, because the rocks have acquired interesting shapes following years of erosion (it dates back to 90 million years ago) that are reminiscent of animals, a slide and even a boat. You just have to use a little imagination.If you drive through the town of Villalba de la Sierra you will also come across one of the best viewpoints in the Cuenca mountain range: Ventano del Diablo.
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Las Caras trail in Buendía
In the Cuenca region there is also a trail where you can try to spot a series of faces carved into the rock walls. This trail through pine forests hides different characters such as a nun, Beethoven, elves, a shaman...The trail is also close to the 50 km-long Buendía reservoir, where you can sail or try water skiing and windsurfing.
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Windmills
Windmills, or "giants" as Cervantes called them in "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha", are another of the attractions not to be missed while passing through Castile-La Mancha. The trail known as the Ruta del Quijote runs through some of the towns where you can find these characteristic images. Campo de Criptana, Consuegra, Herencia, Mota del Cuervo and Alcázar de San Juan are some of the places where children will be amazed by these constructions that have been standing for centuries. A photograph of a windmill is the ultimate proof of your visit to Castile-La Mancha. Many of these mills have also been converted into museums that can be visited, and sometimes original activities are organised around them, such as festivals.
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