The first heat wave of the season invites you to flee the city in search of places to cool off, beyond the pools.

The sea is not an option (if you want to make a day plan), but the people of Madrid have other alternatives in beautiful natural settings.

In the Community there are several places where bathing is allowed: pools, dams, swamps, streams and, of course, the so-called

Madrid beach

, are fantastic suggestions, in addition to free access, to withstand the high temperatures.

Outside of Madrid, there are also places to take a dip and they are no more than an hour and a half from the capital.

Here we propose some.

The loops (Rascafría)

Las Presillas, in Rascafría.

In the El Paular Valley, different dams on the Lozoya River, as it passes through the Madrid town of Rascafría, an hour and a half from the capital, form a bathing area divided into three natural pools.

The beautiful recreational area, surrounded by large green meadows and trees with unbeatable views of Pico Peñalara, has tables, toilets, kiosks... Access to the site is free (from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. until mid-September), although you have to pay for parking (9 euros).

San Juan Swamp (San Martin de Valdeiglesias)

Marina of the Panatano de San Juan.

It is the closest thing to a beach that we have in Madrid, with 14 km of sandbanks on the waters of this reservoir coming from the Alberche River, a tributary of the Tagus, built in 1955 in San Martín de Valdeiglesias.

The Virgen de la Nueva

beach

is the most popular and has just received the

blue flag

awarded by the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC).

It is located about 40 km from the capital, its access is easy and free and it has all the necessary services, beach bars, toilets... Another of the reservoir's beaches is

El Muro

, where multiple water activities can also be carried out.

Los Villares Beach (Estremera)

Los Villares Beach, Estremera.

One hour from Madrid is Estremera, the easternmost town in the Community of Madrid.

On the outskirts, the Tagus draws a pool that acts as a natural pool suitable for bathing.

Known as Los Villares beach, it is surrounded by forest and has a recreational area with a kiosk, picnic areas and swings for children.

Free and free access.

Alberche Beach (Aldea del Fresno)

Alberche beach.

About 60 km west of the capital, in Aldea del Fresno, there is this sandy beach on the banks of the Alberche River surrounded by forests with picnic areas, playground, beach bar, fountains... Its calm and shallow waters make this beach a perfect place to go with small children.

Access is free and there are parking lots in the surroundings.

The Navafría Jet (Segovia)

The Navafría Jet (Segovia).

In the Sierra de Guadarrama, 34 km from Segovia and an hour and a half from Madrid, this paradise is located nestled in a forest with one of the largest extensions of Scots pine in Europe.

Four kilometers from the town of Navafría is the

El Chorro Recreational Area

, which has beautiful natural pools, picnic tables, barbecues, a beach bar and a green esplanade for sunbathing.

After about 15 minutes walking you will reach El Chorro, a spectacular waterfall with more than 20 m high.

Access to the recreational area is free, but parking is paid.

The Mouth of the Ass (Segovia)

The Mouth of the Donkey (Segovia).

Also in the Sierra de Guadarrama in the heart of the Valsaín Valley is the recreational area of

​​La Boca del Asno,

with numerous pools suitable for bathing among rocks, in a place surrounded by pine forests around the icy waters of the river Eresma that flows down from The hills.

It has picnic areas, beach bars and you can take dogs.

Access is open and free and there is also a car park.

The Buendía swamp (Cuenca)

Buendía swamp (Guadalajara).

A little over an hour and a half east of Madrid, between Guadalajara and Cuenca, lies this swamp on the bed of the Guadiela River, a tributary of the Tagus River.

Bathing is allowed in the areas of

La Cespera

and

Los Romerales,

very quiet places where you have to be prepared if it is very hot, because there is little shade near the water and there are no services.

Free access.

Conforms to The Trust Project criteria

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