The small Valencian town of Buñol is known primarily for its uber-hyped Tomatina festival. Actually, that’s not even accurate … outside of Spain, Buñol is known only for this festival. We’ve never been huge fans of watching drunk British people pretend they’re being cultured by smashing tomatoes in each others faces. It’s just not our thing… weird, I know. But what is our thing: traditional Spanish towns surrounded by beautiful nature. And this is what attracted us to Buñol; specifically, the circular trail known as the Ruta de Aguas.
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We left Valencia in the morning from the Estación del Norte and arrived in Buñol 75 minutes later. Nestled into the foothills of the mountains surrounding Valencia, at an elevation of 440 meters, Buñol was immediately more beautiful than we had expected, and the perfect setting for some easy hill-hikes. To get to the Ruta de Aguas trailhead, we had to cross through the old town, including the medieval castle. We wanted to get an early start, but couldn’t resist charging up on some baked goods from one of the traditional hornos. Okay, and now another stop for a café con leche… and now we’re ready to begin!
Ruta de Aguas Video
This hike is less than eight kilometers long, and you can probably finish the whole thing in less than three hours, if you keep breaks to a bare minimum. But we encourage you to take your time. Along the way, you’ll pass by various waterfalls, caves, little pools, a gorge and you’ll enjoy amazing views of the surrounding mountains and of Buñol itself. In the summer, you could even take a picnic and spend the entire day along the route.
But in general, we don’t bring lunch with us when hiking in Spain… and that’s because we always try to plan our walks so that we’re done right at 2pm, and can enjoy a menú del día, as our well-deserved reward for all that exercise.
Two hours later, legs tired and bellies full, we were on the train back home for Valencia. For nature lovers, Buñol is a perfect day trip away from busy city life. And you don’t have to have your face rubbed in tomatoes to enjoy it.
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Rutas de Agua Drone
Buñol Hike Photos
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Buñol Map
Buñol FAQs
Where is Buñol located?
Buñol is a quaint town located in the province of Valencia, Spain, approximately 38 kilometers to the west of the city of Valencia.
What is La Tomatina?
Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, Buñol hosts La Tomatina, a vibrant festival where participants engage in a playful street fight by tossing overripe tomatoes at each other.
Is Buñol worth visiting outside of La Tomatina?
Definitely! With its gorgeous hiking routes, fascinating historical sites, and a chill atmosphere, the town is a perfect retreat from Valencia.
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