From Valencia: Montanejos Thermal Springs & Great Waterfall

Montanejos offers a fine change of pace from Valencia’s city streets: warm mineral water, a dramatic waterfall, and a full day outdoors for $69. The water sits at about 25°C year-round, so it feels pleasantly warm rather than steaming hot. You get two very different swims, plus the views between them.

I especially like the chance to visit both Aigües Termals de Montanejos and Salto de la Novia without renting a car. I also like the practical care shown by the guides, who have provided life jackets and pool noodles for swimmers, including children facing deeper sections of the river. The main drawback is the group format. The trip is promoted as a big-group outing, though some departures have used a smaller van, so the pace and atmosphere may vary.

At a glance

• 25°C water all year: Montanejos is warm enough for a comfortable swim even outside the height of summer.
• Two separate swimming stops: You visit the thermal river pools and Salto de la Novia, not just one water site.
• Useful safety gear: Life jackets and pool noodles may be available, which is helpful for children and less confident swimmers.
• Air-conditioned transport: The drive from Valencia includes several road sections, so climate-controlled transport matters.
• English and Spanish guides: The guide adds local context, practical tips, and help during the day.
• Food is not included: Bring your own meal or budget for lunch near the thermal springs.

Montanejos makes a strong escape from Valencia

Valencia is easy to enjoy on foot, but its parks and beaches do not give you the same feeling as a day in the mountains. Montanejos takes you into a more rugged setting, where the main attraction is not a monument or museum but the water itself.

The thermal area is a natural swimming spot rather than a polished spa. You will not be checking into a treatment room or soaking in a private pool. Instead, you swim in open surroundings, take photos, and find a place to sit near the water. That makes the experience more casual and more dependent on weather, crowds, and your comfort outdoors.

At $69, the price is fair if you want a guided outing without arranging a car. The fee includes private transport from Valencia, an air-conditioned vehicle, a local guide, tickets, accident insurance, and taxes. Food and drinks cost extra, and hotel pickup is not included, so the real cost is slightly higher if you need to buy lunch or reach the meeting point by taxi.

The trip has a current rating of 4.9 from 13 ratings, with repeated praise for friendly guides, good timing, safe transport, and the beauty of the two water stops. That pattern matters more than a single perfect score: the strongest part of the day appears to be the people running it and the simple, enjoyable route.

Meeting at Mestalla and getting out of town

The meeting point is at Mestalla football stadium, on the side facing Suecia Avenue, near gate N1 in the corner. The activity details also refer to The Little Corner Café as the starting and finishing point, so confirm the exact pickup instruction before you set off. This is a small detail, but it is the sort that can turn a relaxed morning into a rushed one.

Once everyone is together, expect about 45 minutes of road travel to the first major stop, followed by another 45-minute transfer between the waterfall and thermal area. The return drive is listed at about 75 minutes. A bus or van is used, depending on the departure.

That travel time is part of the bargain. You are not reaching a nearby city beach. You are trading Valencia’s convenience for a day in the countryside. The air conditioning is particularly useful in warm weather, though anyone who dislikes long group transfers should keep the drive in mind.

The group size deserves a realistic note. The experience is described as a big-group tour, but one family outing used a small air-conditioned van. You may get a more intimate ride than the general description suggests, but you should not book it expecting a private tour. The guide controls the schedule, and the day works best when you are comfortable sharing transport and swimming areas.

Salto de la Novia, the waterfall stop

Salto de la Novia translates as Girlfriend waterfall, and it is the more dramatic visual stop of the day. The schedule allows about 1.5 hours for photos and swimming. That gives you enough time to look around, get into the water, and avoid treating the stop as a rushed roadside picture break.

The waterfall is separate from the thermal springs. This matters because the two stops are sometimes described together, which can make them sound like one connected site. They are not. You leave one area, ride onward, and reach the other by road.

The waterfall stop is best for you if you want a refreshing swim and a strong natural backdrop. The water here is not described as thermal, so do not expect the same warm temperature as Montanejos. Think of this as the cooler, more energetic swim of the day, while the thermal river offers the calmer soak.

Bring shoes you can walk in comfortably and swimwear that will stay secure in moving water. The supplied advice also calls for a towel, sunscreen, and comfortable clothes. You may want to keep a dry set of clothing easy to reach rather than buried under a day bag.

The waterfall can also be the most visually impressive part of the route. One family specifically praised the stop and the view along the way. Still, the experience is not a private photo session. You have a fixed window, and the guide needs to gather the group before the next transfer.

The 25°C pools at Aigües Termals de Montanejos

The thermal springs are the heart of the excursion. The swimming area stays at about 25°C, or 77°F, all year, giving you water that feels warm and comfortable without the heavy heat of a hot spring. If you expect a steaming bath, adjust your expectations. This is closer to a pleasant natural swimming pool than a very hot spa.

The water is described as mineral and medicinal, though this tour is not a medical treatment. You come to relax, swim, and enjoy the setting. The temperature is a useful feature for families and for anyone who finds cold mountain water unpleasant.

About two hours are set aside for photos and swimming at Montanejos. That is enough time to do more than take a quick dip. You can swim, sit beside the water, take pictures, and simply let the day slow down. One family found the life jackets and pool noodles especially useful because parts of the river are deeper. Ask the guide about available equipment when you arrive, particularly if a child in your group is not a confident swimmer.

You should still take normal care. Natural water can have uneven depths, and the tour information does not promise that every section is shallow. A flotation aid can help, but it does not replace supervision. Keep an eye on children and stay within your ability.

The thermal area is also where the tour can feel most crowded. Natural swimming sites have limited space, and a large group shares the same water and banks. The guide may help organize the visit, but you will not have the quiet control of a private spa. Go for the setting and the easy access, not for solitude.

Lunch is simple and self-managed

After the thermal swimming period, the schedule allows around 30 minutes for lunch. Food and drinks are not included, and the vehicle rules prohibit bringing food or drinks into the bus or van. Plan to eat at the designated stop rather than assuming you can snack during the drive.

The supplied information does not specify a restaurant, menu, or picnic arrangement. Bring appropriate spending money if you expect to buy food, and ask the guide early in the day where lunch will happen. You can also pack food for the stop, but keep it out of the vehicle.

Thirty minutes is enough for a quick meal, not a long restaurant sitting. If lunch is important to you, treat it as a practical pause between swims. The main value of the excursion is the access to Montanejos and the waterfall, not a food-focused program.

What the guides add to the day

The guide is one of the best reasons to choose this over independent transport. You receive help with the route, timing, swimming areas, and transfers, as well as stories and tips about Valencia and the surrounding area.

The guides speak English and Spanish. Feedback about the service repeatedly highlights friendly, helpful staff, clear organization, and advice about what to do in Valencia. One family also noted that the guide shared stories about the city and nearby areas, turning the drive into more than dead time.

Names of individual guides are not provided, so I would not book this expecting a particular person. The useful point is the role the guide plays: getting you from the meeting point to two separate natural sites, keeping the group moving, and helping people feel safer in the water.

Safety support seems to be handled sensibly. Life jackets and pool noodles have been available on at least one departure, and accident insurance is included. That is valuable for families, though you should still bring your own towel and personal swimming items.

Timing, comfort, and what to pack

The full activity lasts about eight hours. It includes swimming, photo stops, lunch, and roughly three hours of listed driving. You get a complete day away from Valencia, but this is not a slow, open-ended outing. The schedule has fixed departure and return times.

Pack lightly but carefully:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Comfortable shoes
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable clothes
• Food or money for lunch
• A dry change of clothes, if useful

The tour does not allow pets, smoking, alcohol, drugs, or food and drinks inside the vehicle. Those rules are easy to follow, but they affect how you plan snacks and refreshments. You can drink at the stops, but not during the rides.

The activity is described as suitable for all ages. That does not mean every part of the river suits every swimmer. Families should ask about water depth and flotation equipment, and anyone with limited mobility should confirm the physical demands before booking, since no detailed accessibility information is provided.

There is also a small inconsistency in the published sequence. The detailed timetable places Salto de la Novia before the thermal springs, while the general description and one family’s account place the thermal springs first and the waterfall later. The sites and time allocations are clear, but the order may change. That is not a major problem, though it is worth asking at the meeting point if you have a strong preference.

Who will enjoy this Montanejos day trip

I would recommend this excursion to you if you want nature without the work of planning a rural route. It suits families, couples, solo visitors, and friends who like swimming more than sightseeing in formal attractions.

It is especially practical for:

• Visitors without a rental car
• Families who value guided transport and flotation aids
• Swimmers who want both warm and cooler water
• Anyone looking for a full day outside Valencia
• People who prefer a structured schedule

You may want another option if you need privacy, a quiet spa setting, a long restaurant lunch, or complete control over departure times. The big-group format and fixed schedule are part of the deal. So is the chance to meet other people and let someone else handle the roads.

Is $69 good value?

For a full eight-hour outing, $69 is a reasonable price. You are paying for transport to a destination outside Valencia, a guide, entry tickets, insurance, and the convenience of visiting two separate swimming locations in one day.

The value is strongest when you compare it with the effort of arranging your own transport. A rental car would add the vehicle cost, fuel, parking, and the responsibility of navigating an unfamiliar route. Public transport may not provide the same direct access or flexibility for two water stops.

The value is weaker if you already have a car, want to spend all day at one site, or dislike group travel. You will also need to add lunch and drinks, and hotel pickup is not included. Still, the price covers the costly and awkward part, getting out of Valencia and back safely.

Should you book it?

Book this Montanejos trip if you want a straightforward outdoor day with two very different swims, a friendly English- or Spanish-speaking guide, and transport handled from Valencia. The warm 25°C thermal water, Salto de la Novia, and safety equipment make it a good fit for families and casual swimmers.

Skip it if your ideal day means silence, private transport, or a leisurely schedule with no fixed group movements. For most visitors who want to see more of the Valencian Community without renting a car, $69 buys a useful mix of scenery, swimming, and local guidance. Confirm the exact meeting point and the order of the stops before departure, then bring a towel and let the water do the rest.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The stated meeting point is at Mestalla football stadium, on the side facing Suecia Avenue, near gate N1 in the corner. The activity details also refer to The Little Corner Café, so confirm the final pickup instruction before leaving.

How long does the experience last?

The excursion lasts about eight hours, including transport, swimming, photo stops, lunch, and the return to Valencia.

How warm is the thermal water?

The swimming area at Aigües Termals de Montanejos stays at about 25°C, or 77°F, throughout the year.

Will I visit a waterfall?

Yes. The tour visits Salto de la Novia, also called Girlfriend waterfall, for photos and swimming. It is separate from the thermal springs.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. The schedule provides about 30 minutes for lunch after the thermal swimming period.

Is hotel pickup available?

No. Hotel pickup is not included. You need to reach the stated meeting point in Valencia.

What languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and comfortable clothing. You should also plan for your own lunch and drinks outside the vehicle.

Can children join the tour?

The activity is described as suitable for all ages. Some departures have provided life jackets and pool noodles for deeper parts of the river, but adults should still supervise children in the water.