October 2025
I travelled with Álex, discovering corners that weren’t part of the plan. It was a calm trip, through small villages and wide open landscapes.
We visited several natural areas; even if we didn’t always find what we expected, every stop had something special.
We arrived at dusk, right in the middle of the rutting season. From the road we could hear the deer very close, and we crossed paths with wild boar, hinds and other animals that made that first encounter feel magical. We also walked several official trails and visited the visitor centres. Even so, apart from birds and the odd movement in the distance, wildlife was quite shy during the day.
Paths among holm oaks, quiet tracks and a mix of dehesa and gentle hills. A vast and peaceful park, where the autumn light turns everything golden, even when the wildlife hides.
We followed the official boardwalk route over the peatland and its small islands of vegetation. October isn’t the best time: many areas were dry and the flamingos had very little colour, but even so the landscape kept a calm, almost silent atmosphere.
Reduced stretches of water, wooden walkways and scattered birds among the reeds. A place entirely dependent on the water levels, showing its most minimal – yet still photogenic – version in autumn.
We walked several official trails in Cabañeros, through holm oaks, open tracks and small streams; and in Daimiel, following the boardwalks over the peat bog. Easy routes but very different from one another, showing how varied the landscape can be within the same region.
A chain of connected lagoons, each with its own tone and level, linked by small waterfalls. At this time of year the water flow was modest, but the colour remained beautiful and the surroundings very pleasant to walk through.
The Ruidera Lakes reveal a palette of blues and greens that shifts with the light and the water flow. Between calm banks, small waterfalls and dense vegetation, the landscape blends open spaces with more secluded corners that invite you to pause. A perfect setting for an unhurried walk, enjoying water in all its forms.
We visited places that were very different from one another: the prehistoric site of Motilla del Azuer, a unique structure in the middle of the fields; Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón, with its castle and steep streets; and the Cerro Rubio windmill, from where several nearby towns can be seen stretching across the plain.
White, tall and with huge sails, the windmills dominate the landscape. From here you really feel the scale of the La Mancha plain in every direction.
The windmills stand lined up along the top of the hill, perfectly preserved and visible from afar. Walking among them, with the wind pushing the sails, makes it easy to understand why this image has become the region’s most iconic symbol.
Ancient fortifications, prehistoric remains and traditional windmills. Small highlights spread across a very wide territory, where every high point offers a different panorama.
