Madrid is not just a city with an enviable cultural calendar. Believe it or not, less than an hour and a half from Madrid you can find protected natural parks and spaces, such as La Pedriza or the Sierra de Guadarrama, where you can live together and be in contact with nature, experiencing a different adventure every day. These are the best activities in the Sierra de Madrid!
In this article we offer you a wide range of activities to make the most of the great outdoors with your pupils. The Sierra de Madrid has multiple rope parks, reservoirs for canoeing, climbing activities, various hiking routes for all ages, and much more. Choose the most suitable ones for your school group, according to their tastes, ages and proximity to your accommodation.
1. Rope parks
Rope parks or tree adventure parks are an activity enjoyed by children of all ages. The parks are organised into circuits of different levels, from beginner to expert. Your pupils will be able to progress from circuit to circuit as far as they want to go. It is one of the multiadventure activities most popular with schools and most in demand on this type of trip, as it combines numerous activities in one: zip lines, climbing, and more. Enjoy activities in the Sierra de Madrid on your end-of-year trip!
- Aventura Amazonia: Aventura Amazonia has two multiadventure parks near Madrid: Aventura Amazonia Pelayos and Aventura Amazonia Cercedilla.
- Forestal Park: this park is situated in the mountains, very close to Guadarrama. It has 2 briefing circuits, 4 family circuits (from 110 cm), 5 sports circuits and 1 extreme circuit. It also features a long zip line crossing the Embalse de las Encinillas reservoir.
- De pino a pino: located in Navacerrada, this park has circuits for all ages, from 5 years old up to challenges for the most adventurous, including an extreme circuit suspended 20 metres above the ground.
- Torrelino: closer to central Madrid, in the town of Torrelodones, this is Spain’s first urban tree adventure park, with circuits catering for ages from 4 upwards.
2. Canoeing:
Canoeing is one of the most popular multiadventure activities in Madrid, thanks to its accessibility and affordability. In the Sierra de Madrid there are numerous reservoirs, dams and lakes where you can enjoy paddling and descents by canoe or kayak. Canoeing is suitable for groups from Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form, as it is enjoyed by all ages. If you decide to book your end-of-year trip with us, Natuaventura has the best team of monitors, who will coordinate, supervise and lead the school group. Here are some options you can find very close to the city of Madrid:
- Canoe route on the waters of the Embalse de Riosequillo reservoir.
- Canoe route on the Embalse de San Juan reservoir.
- Canoe outing on the Embalse de Pinilla reservoir.
- Canoe descent through the Serranía de Cuenca and the Alto Tajo.
- Canoe route along the Tagus river in the city of Aranjuez.
3. Hiking:
Madrileños often use their free days to escape to the mountains, where there are countless hiking routes to enjoy nature and the countryside. There are routes for beginners and routes for the most adventurous. At Natuaventura we have a section dedicated to hiking excursions for schools in Madrid.
- Route in Rascafría, to the Cascada del Purgatorio waterfall.
- Route to the Valle de la Barranca: a walk recommended for all ages, starting from Navacerrada.
- Embalse del Villar: route starting in Berzosa de Lozoya to the oldest reservoir in the Community of Madrid.
- The Camino Schmidt: one of the most popular routes in Madrid, linking Navacerrada and Cercedilla.
- The Laguna de San Juan: starts from the town of Titulcia to the Camino del Sotillo.
- Cancho de la Cabeza, beginning the route from Patones de Arriba.
- Canyon of the Guadalix river, especially recommended for those who fancy a swim.
- Route through La Pedriza to the famous Charca Verde pool.
- Cancho de los Muertos, to enjoy the granite landscape of the Parque Regional de la Cuenca Alta del Manzanares.
- La Chorrera de San Mamés: if you love waterfalls, this route features the highest water drop in Madrid, located in the Sierra de Guadarrama.
4. Climbing walls:
Another multiadventure activity your students can try on their end-of-year trip to Madrid is indoor climbing. They will have great fun trying the different routes, equipped with auto-belay systems so there is no danger; or trying the bouldering area, with its different levels and original holds. Moreover, for added safety, all climbing centres have floor monitors responsible for ensuring everything runs smoothly. Some of the most well-known in Madrid are:
- Sputnik (Alcobendas)
- King-Kong (Las Rozas)
- Rock Game (Moralzarzal)
- Tsunami (San Sebastián de los Reyes)
Guide to organising your school trip to Madrid
As you have seen, Madrid is much more than a city of monuments and parks. It has an endless range of possibilities for pupils to spend the best days of the school year in contact with nature. On our trips, we offer a wide range of activities beyond those already mentioned, all organised and overseen by expert monitors: zip lines, archery, horse riding, human foosball… You will not be bored — that much is guaranteed!
Find out more in this special travel guide we have prepared so that teachers can comfortably decide and organise your end-of-year trip. Tell us your needs and preferences and we will tailor the trip to your requirements. Everything about your group trip to Madrid:
