That The Rioja is something more than good wine we know everything; however, what you may not know is that it has a imposing nature and with interesting attractions that will fascinate the whole family, and that are best enjoyed with the freedom of movement that travel grants in a camper van or motorhome.
For this reason, to embark on this journey, our first stop is RoadSurfer, the international campervan and small caravan rental website based in Bilbao, Madrid, Malaga, Seville and Valencia.
There we choose the vehicle that best suits the number of passengers (up to five) and the style of our trip. They all have, basically, an equipped kitchen, a dining area and an awning to build a cozy outside porch in minutes.
We, two adults and a child, opted in Madrid for the Surfers Suite, with a bed inside and another on its elevating roof. we fill it with snacks and coloring books and we begin our route, which will take us to enciso , world capital of dinosaurs; a Arnedillo , where we will splash in hot springs; to the fairy tale landscape Sierra de la Hez and to the gastronomic paradise that is Logrono . In addition, we also suggest you make a mini getaway to Soria to visit yanguas , one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Let's start!
- ENCISO, WORLD CAPITAL OF DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS
Curious fact: La Rioja is one of the places in the world with higher concentration of ichnites, that is, of dinosaur tracks. To see them, just follow the Dinosaur Route , which runs a few 140 fossil deposits through 20 municipalities.
Most of these places are decorated with life-size reproductions of the species to which the footprints belong, and they usually have informative posters that display the circumstances in which the traces were discovered or the context in which they developed.
Icnitas in La Rioja
Of course, before launching like a paleontologist to enjoy the surprising millennial finds, it is worth stopping at the Enciso Paleontological Center . The museum, although small, is very complete, and explains from general questions related to the geological history or the extinction of the dinosaurs to more particular ones, such as the natural context of La Rioja during prehistory, that help us understand why and how a territory is so rich in fossil footprints.
In addition, the center also shows the most interesting remains, such as those of a rhinoceros that is millions of years old, or those of the first pterosaur found in Spain.
On the ground floor there is also a laboratory full of fossils on which scientists continue to work, and a film is shown that teaches us everything we need to know to embark on the Dinosaur Route knowingly. Just a few meters from the museum, in fact, we find the site of Virgen del Campo, and just a little further, that of Valdecevillo.
Dinosaur replicas at the Valdecevillo site
2. BARRANCO PERDIDO, AMUSEMENT PARK FOR LITTLE PALEONTOLOGISTS
The small town of Enciso, located in a beautiful natural setting in which the surroundings of the imposing Cidacos River stand out, also has another unique diversion: Lost Ravine, a “dinosaur” park that offers all kinds of activities related to the paleontology -accommodates, even, a Cretaceous Museum - as well as various adventure zones, swimming pools and water attractions. It also has parking and a restaurant with local products.
3. SHORT GETAWAY TO YANGUAS, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN SPAIN
Although our adventure continues in La Rioja, before leaving Enciso, we should take the beautiful path that leads us to Soria . Specifically, until yanguas , the neighboring town, that we will find about 15 minutes by road.
named one of the Most Beautiful Towns in Spain , this medieval municipality of less than 100 inhabitants conserves its architectural treasures, a harmonious set of stone through which it is a pleasure to walk.
yanguas
On the main street, near the Town Hall, you will find a typical products store where to buy delicacies like Cañada Real butter or jam from the Monastery of Santa María de Huerta, with which to sweeten breakfast the next day . In the castle area, you will also find a green area with swings and pediment.
On the outskirts of town, it is a pleasure s follow the path that accompanies the river Cidacos from the picturesque old laundry room, a moss-scented walk that will record on our retinas the beauty of Soriana nature forever.
Path of the Cidacos river as it passes through Yanguas
4. ARNEDILLO, PARADISE OF HOT SPRINGS
To get to our next stop, you have to go through Enciso. Once we leave this town, heading towards the Virgen del Campo site, we can stop at a beautiful picnic area with swings located in a green area at the foot of the road, at the height of Santa Barbara Pub. Raise the roof of your camper to cook comfortably and turn it into your dining room!
When you get back in your camper, don't get too comfortable; ten minutes from Enciso, the stone profile of the church of San Servando and San Germán stands out on the horizon. It is the signal that we have reached Arnedillo , famous since time immemorial for the richness of its hot springs.
To take a dip in them at any time of the year, head to the Cidacos River, in the lower part of the municipality. There, in a spectacular natural environment surrounded by trees, mountains and farmland are the warm public pools, whose waters easily reach the 40 degrees. Only a stone wall separates them from the river, so it is easy to i r bathing in one and another to take advantage of the health benefits of alternating both temperatures.
Arnedillo Hot Springs
At the end, nothing like touring the beautiful path that runs parallel to the Cidacos, that begins in the Church of Santa María, next to the traditional laundry. Along its 625 meters - accessible with baby stroller - you will also pass by the old castle, the medieval bridge and the Romanesque tower of San Miguel, In addition to enjoying the natural environment of the area and a panoramic view of the land that the neighbors cultivate with such care.
And if you feel like more, you can also complete the second stage of the Greenway of Cidacos and Préjano, a walk enabled for hikers and bicycles of about 13 and a half kilometers in length that starts from the old station of Santa Eulalia-Arnedillo to reach Herce, in Arnedo. He enters the space of the Natura 2000 Network Peñas de Arnedillo, Peñalmonte and Peña Isasa , go through the Vico Monastery and throws beautiful views of the area in viewpoints such as the Vulture.
Once in Arnedo, and to regain strength, it is a good idea to stop at the soup restaurant, built under cozy natural caves, with a seasonal menu that pays tribute to traditional flavors based on kilometer zero products. dishes like milk kid roasted in the traditional way with baked potatoes or Arnedano roast croquettes are a good example of this.
Back in Arnedillo (which can be reached by bus -about 25 minutes- or taxi -in ten minutes-), you can stop to sleep in the Arnedillo motorhome area, located in the upper part of the town, with impressive views over the area. He himself has sockets for electricity supply, shower, toilets, picnic area, playground and Wi-Fi.
In fact, with a camper van you can sleep anywhere it is legal to park (it is not, for example, on the coastline or in the National Parks) as long as nothing protrudes from the perimeter of the van itself. Namely, You will not be able to spend the night in a place not expressly authorized for it if you want to do it with the awning extended, for instance. Therefore, if you prefer, you can enter the natural areas of the area to place your “room on wheels” wherever you like!
When you wake up, before continuing your trip, you can stay for breakfast in Arnedillo, where there are numerous bars and restaurants where you can stop for something informal, such as The footprint.
5. SIERRA DE LA HEZ, UNFORGETTABLE HIGH MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE
To enjoy one of the most beautiful places in La Rioja, should go up to Sierra de la Hez. The road is somewhat irregular, but passable, and the best thing is go through it slowly , enjoying a landscape that rises between rocks and ravines that They cast unparalleled panoramas on the horizon.
After passing the picturesque and fascinating landscape of the Arnedillo wind farm -it is overwhelming to drive so close to these giants- comes the best: the beauty of the Sierra La Hez Beech Forest Nature Reserve, a forest that especially shines in autumn thanks to the fall of reddish and golden leaves, that form a fairy bed on the ground. At this point, it is best to get off and get lost among these towering and formidable trees.
After the walk, the picnic area The Wheels of Ocón, about ten minutes by car later, it is A magical place to stop to rest. It is located on the banks of the river and sheltered by trees, and has barbecues, benches and tables.
6. LOGROÑO, A VERY SWEET END OF THE TRIP
To put the finishing touch to our trip, it is possible to continue advancing and put heading to Logrono , a little over half an hour from the picnic area. There you will find where eat very well -and sweeten your palate in signature ice cream parlors like dellaSera, from the "chef of the cold" Fernando Sáenz - and where to feast your eyes with a historical walk through the picturesque Portales street, the old medieval wall of Revellín, the baroque Parliament of La Rioja, the impressive Co-Cathedral...
Logrono
The little ones, in addition, will have fun in The House of Sciences , a former municipal slaughterhouse that today houses temporary exhibitions, talks and workshops that can be accessed from free way. In its outer space it houses a yard dedicated to "experimentation and surprise" thanks to playful and recreational elements with which to become an improvised scientist. Perfect to end a journey full of discoveries!