If you’re planning a visit to Fuente de Los Banos, this article is for you! In this guide, I share everything you need to know ahead of visiting Fuente de Los Banos, including how to get there, what to expect and more.
Spain is a vast, diverse, and beautiful country. Yet most of us who come here don’t see further than the Costa del Sol.
Since road-tripping in Spain, we’ve realised that we’ve been missing out! There are some extraordinary hidden gems to be discovered here, and we are only just getting started.
We stumbled upon Fuente de Los Banos by accident. Located in a small mountainous town called Montanejos, its name translates to Fountain of the Baths.
A natural hot spring believed to have healing properties nestled between a steep rocky gorge, it’s a magical place. But keep reading, as there are things you need to know when planning your visit.
So let’s get to it – here’s everything you need to know about visiting Fuente de Los Banos.
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Fuente de Los Banos Tips & Advice
Fuente de Los Banos is a wonderful and exciting place to visit. But to make the best of your trip, here are a few more tips to keep in mind.
How to Get There
Fuente de los Baños is one of the main tourist attractions in the town of Montanejos. It is part of the Alto Mijares region in Castellón, which is not too far from Valencia.
From Valencia, you can expect to reach Montanejos in around 1hr 15 minutes by car.
Unfortunately, public transport is limited, but if you don’t have a vehicle, it is possible to organise a day trip to Fuente de los Banos. You can book that here.
Parking
There are various car parks in and around Montanejos, which allow for easy access to the hot springs.
Most of them charge, and it’s not cheap; however, some free spots are available for those who get lucky.
At the time of writing, parking charges are around 5 euros for 4 hours. That’s with a car. With a campervan or motorhome, it’s double that, and you are not allowed to stay overnight.
I suggest visiting out-of-season and finding free parking spots on Park4Night.
When to Visit
The hot springs in Montanejos are accessible all year round and, at a pleasant temperature of 25 degrees C, can be enjoyed at any time of year.
This is lucky because the best time to visit the hot springs is outside of the peak summer season.
While Fuente de Los Banos is somewhat of a hidden gem in Spain, it still gets incredibly busy during the hotter months of July and August.
According to reviews, this makes for no fun at all. There are tighter controls, entrance fees to get in, and a struggle to get parked. We also read that the locals are unfriendly towards campervans.
None of this was the case when visiting in early November. We still enjoyed pleasant weather (20 degrees C and sunshine) but minus the crowds or entrance fees. AND we felt welcome.
The problems arise when there are too many people. So if you can, try to avoid peak season. I promise you will have a much better time if you do.
Entrance Fees
As I mentioned above, there were no entrance fees when we visited in early November. However, in peak season, it’s €3.50 for adults and €2.50 for children.
I’m not entirely sure when the entrance fees start and finish, but the peak months are usually July and August. Outside of that time, it’s quite likely you won’t have to pay.
Fuente de Los Banos Camping
Camping at Fuente de Los Banos is prohibited at any time of year.
While many of the other rules seem not to be controlled in the off-season, we did see patrol cars scouting the area in this respect.
There is a campsite close by – Camping La Fuente, but it looks expensive and is mainly geared towards campervans and motorhomes.
If you’re looking to wild camp in your tent, you may have better luck in the surrounding mountain areas. In a campervan, you’ll find various park up options on Park4Night.
Other Things to Know
- Dogs are permitted but not in the water; you must keep them on a lead.
- No tables, cool boxes, or large bags are allowed in the high season.
- There are public toilets located next to the hot springs.
- No camping or fires.
- Respect nature and wildlife.
- Use the bins provided.
Montanejos Hot Springs
The Montanejos hot springs are one of the most unique and beautiful attractions we’ve encountered during our European road trip.
The water was crystal clear and a striking shade of turquoise blue, which reminded me of Lac de Gaube in France. Then again, with the surrounding rock formations, it could also be compared to Thailand or The Philippines.
It’s a wonderful feeling to navigate through the gorge, studying the marking on the rocks. There’s even a cave you can swim into and a small waterfall cascading alongside it.
History of Fuente de Los Banos, Montanejos
As equally fascinating as the landscapes is the history of Fuente de Los Banos. According to legend, an Arab king had thermal baths built here for his harem of ladies.
Believing that the water had healing and rejuvenating properties, it was to help keep them young and beautiful. You can still see some of the ruins of the baths carved into the rock face.
The tourism industry has thrived off this belief of mineral-medicinal properties, and many believe the water helps with their health and well-being.
I can’t comment on the accuracy of this, but a dip in the springs is certainly revitalising. The water claims to be 25 degrees C all year round; however, we both agreed that it felt colder.
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Montanejos Hot Springs Safety Info
One of the highlights for us was being able to paddleboard through the gorge. An activity that I wouldn’t imagine to be allowed when it’s busy.
That’s because the gorge is far smaller than we imagined it to be. It flows for maybe 200-300 metres before it gets overgrown and unappealing.
So when you imagine hundreds of people there, it just wouldn’t be safe to allow paddle boards, kayaks, etc.
Another great thing about this swimming spot is that it doesn’t get very deep. The water is perhaps a metre or so high throughout.
There’s also a slight current, but nothing to be too concerned about. Naturally, keep an eye on smaller children.
Other Things to Do Near Montanejos
Montanejos is just one of many villages dotted around the mountainous region of Spain. There’s plenty to see and do in the area for those who love nature and the outdoors.
Here are some other activities you can enjoy while visiting Fuente de Los Buenos.
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Kayaking
- White Water Rafting
- Canyoning
- Explore the local villages
Save Time and Book a Tour
For a more local experience, we recommend checking out the guided tours on Get Your Guide:
Enjoy Fuente de Los Banos!
Well that’s it – that’s everything you need to know about Fuente de Los Banos. I hope you’ve found this information helpful.
If you have any questions or feel we have missed anything please let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you! Otherwise, we wish you a fantastic hike.
Stay adventurous and Happy travels.
Planning a trip around Europe? Check out our Europe series for more travel tips and advice.
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2 Responses
What a gorgeous spot! It does look like it could be in SE Asia.
Adding it to my Spain list, which will HOPEFULLY start getting ticked off soon. I’m adding as many hot springs as I can, because this wimpy Australian can’t face water under about 20 degrees.
Thanks!
haha you’re going to LOVE Spain then! So glad you found the article helpful, wishing you a wonderful trip!