La Ruta de Don Quixote

Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
From €850 per person

A week exploring the natural landscapes where Cervantes set the adventures of Don Quixote. Starting from Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we’ll discover windmills, castles, rivers, and lagoons of La Mancha that evoke the feats and misfortunes of the ingenious nobleman. Exceptional landscapes and towns shaped over centuries by a remarkable blend of Roman, Visigothic, Arab, Jewish, and Christian cultures.

Highlights:

• Combines history, architecture, and nature
• Hikes through stunning natural areas
• Visits to iconic Don Quixote locations

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival: Reception at Barajas Airport (Madrid), transfer to accommodation, welcome meeting. Dinner included.

Day 2 – Toledo: Transfer to Toledo. In the morning, we walk around the city via Paseo de Ronda and the Tagus River, followed by a stroll through the narrow city streets. We visit the Cathedral, Santa Cruz Museum, and the Synagogue of El Tránsito among other options. (3 hours walking)

Day 3 – Tembleque, Silos, and Campo de Criptana: We cross the La Mancha countryside near Tembleque, known for its Main Square and 17th-century popular architecture. We also visit the underground homes (“silos”) of Villacañas, the Salicor lagoons, and the windmills of Campo de Criptana. (3 hours walking)

Day 4 – Toboso and Belmonte: El Toboso, home of Dulcinea—the beloved of the knight-errant—is a must-visit stop. The path leads to Belmonte, a city protected by an impressive castle and fortifications, with an extraordinary historical complex. (4 hours walking)

Day 5 – The Ruidera Lagoons: One of the most beautiful landscapes of La Mancha. The Guadiana River originates here, amid limestone cliffs. In Montesinos’ Cave, Don Quixote is said to have traveled through time and broken an enchantment that turned maidens into bats. After exploring the lagoons and visiting the cave, we head to Villanueva de los Infantes, a town rich in churches, convents, and stately homes. Return to the lagoons. (4 hours walking)

Day 6 – Almagro and Las Tablas de Daimiel: We visit Almagro, famous for its Noble Quarter and Main Square. The Corral de Comedias here is the only remaining 17th-century theater in its original form in Spain. Next, we explore Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park, a unique wetland ecosystem for birds and other wildlife. The convergence of the Guadiana and Cigüela rivers and underground aquifers has created lush vegetation and sustained human life connected to aquatic environments since ancient times. We finish the day at Calatrava la Vieja, a former Muslim stronghold and later a Templar castle. (2 hours walking)

Day 7 – Guadiana River: We follow part of the Guadiana River through Mediterranean woodland, once used by shepherds moving flocks from north to south. The route ends in Alarcos, a medieval city and site of historic battles between Moors and Christians. (5 hours walking)

Day 8 – Departure: Return to Madrid and airport transfer.

Availability: May – June and September – October
Group size: 6 to 15 people