Guadarrama and Gredos have a sister mountain range with less tourism but no less charm than them: the Sierra de Ayllón, with deep valleys that change color depending on the time of year, ravines and lonely villages, in some cases abandoned.
There, in Campillo de Ranas, are the Cascadas del Aljibe: two waterfalls chained together in the middle of the forest. Created by a small tributary of the Jarama River, they offer one of the most photographed natural spectacles in the north of Guadalajara.
The best times of the year to visit them are spring and autumn, when the flow of water is greater, the temperature usually accompanies and the landscape becomes postcard: in April the rockroses, typical flowers of the region, sprout. In October, the leaves of the trees turn amber, ochre and yellow.
During the summer, the pools formed by the waterfalls, known as Pozas de Matallana, are used as a natural swimming pool. Those who prefer to go at this time to take a refreshing bath should bring sunscreen handy, as part of the route has little shade.
How to get to the waterfalls?
From Madrid it takes one hour and 33 minutes to get to Roblelacasa, the closest town to the waterfalls. In this town you have to take a 3.3-kilometer trail that passes through two points of interest in the province: the Matallana bridge and the Soto stream. Round trip, the route takes approximately two and a half hours on foot.
An opportunity to get to know the black villages
The Cascadas del Aljibe are located between villages known as ‘black villages’ for their little houses with slate walls and wooden balconies. It is worth being seduced by the traditional architecture of the enclave, especially in towns like Valverde de los Arroyos, from where the famous route to the Chorreras de Despeñalagua, another treasure of nature essential in a first trip through the area.