The Júcar, the Cabriel, the Guadiela, the Tajo... All rivers that share something in common: they are perfect spots for a canoeing route in Cuenca. This province of La Mancha is a legendary place for active tourism and adventure sports, but when it comes to canoeing this region is surprising, as you'll find all kinds of rivers, from clear waters to emerald green ones, some with the calmest waters for a day of relaxation and even the most exciting rapids to release adrenaline while paddling. To make it a little easier for you, here we tell you about the best places to have a perfect canoeing trip in Cuenca.

You will probably first want to know where to go canoeing in Cuenca, but first you must decide what kind of plan you are looking for in this province: a good white water route, a more serene one to enjoy nature, perhaps one along a reservoir to share a day with the family? To make sure that you choose what suits you best, here are the best places for canoeing in Cuenca.

If you are looking for white water canoeing:

- Júcar River: The long and winding Júcar is an ideal place for a whitewater canoeing descent. This river that runs through Cuenca and reaches Valencia seems to be endless, so there are numerous stretches of white water. It is one of the main places to practice canoeing, so you will be entering mythical waters and you will find several parts of this flow to enjoy some rapids, as in: Cortados de Villalba, in Dos Aguas, with the route of La Torre or Las Cabras. These are all sections of this river that start from different localities that will allow you to enjoy an adrenaline-fuelled canoeing route while you contemplate the surroundings and banks of the Serranía de Cuenca from its depths. The whitewater routes that predominate in the Júcar for canoeing combine the best of this sport, calm waters with many successive rapids, so you can expect a bit of everything.

- River Guadiela: The river Guadiela is a beautiful destination for a white-water canoeing trip. This river is what everyone is looking for, a fantasy environment and a lot of excitement. We dare say that it is even the most unique canoeing trip in this region, because here you will experience a spectacle of rapids and crystal-clear white water. A mythical section that faithfully fits this description is the Merendero section, an area of the Guadiela that alternates gentle parts with fun rapids, but of low intensity, making it a perfect route if you want to get started in this modality and then try other ones, such as the Las Juntas route. Las Juntas is the place for whitewater canoeing par excellence in Cuenca. If you already have experience or if you want to experience a real adrenaline rush from start to finish, this is the route for you. Full of rapids, there are hardly any calm areas and it is full of jumps and natural slides that make these tours even more exciting.

If you are looking for canoeing in calm waters:

- Júcar River: Again, this reiver makes another appearance. Remember that this is an extremely long river that goes across 2 entire Spanish autonomous communities, so it is normal to find an infinite number of canoeing routes on this flow, but with different difficulties, characteristics and landscapes. In this case we have to highlight two places. First, there is the canoeing excursions along the Hoz del río Júcar. This route is a great plan if you would like to go sightseeing in the city of Cuenca and then you are up for a bit of adventure, as it is located next to the city centre itself. It is a magical experience, through calm waters in a beautiful environment full of small marshes and surrounded by trees and bushes. Secondly, we find the Las Grajas route, also immersed in the heart of the Júcar river gorge. It will be an overwhelming sensation because the environment that will receive us is listed as a World Heritage Site. We will navigate through calm waters, surrounded by vegetation and passing through channels surrounded by immense rock walls.

La Toba: La Toba is an impressive reservoir for canoeing. It is in the heart of the Serranía de Cuenca natural park and is a real haven of peace. As the waters are dammed up, the tranquillity is absolute in all senses, especially in terms of silence, where we can hear at most the singing of birds and the splashing of the water when paddling. This is a fantastic place if you want an excursion with the whole family, as its calm waters bring peace and quiet to any parent, as well as discovering breathtaking landscapes, azure waters and huge mountains in the background covered with green pine forests.

Ready for a bit of adventure? Grab your swimsuit, sun cream, a towel and a change of clothes. You won't need anything else and you don't even need to know anything, as it's a very simple water sport and if necessary, you'll almost always be trained beforehand, except for the white-water canoeing routes, for which you do need experience, a certain level of physical condition or to be a certain age. In any case, we can assure you one thing, the fun of canoeing in this province is open to anyone.