Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación

The first stage of the La Mancha Wetlands Nature Trail runs across Toledo’s lands throughout almost 27 km. After exploring Villacañas and its typical silos, the traveller will visit the town's lagoon complex, starting with the Laguna Larga and moving forward to the Laguna de Tirez and the Laguna de Peñahueca. Between these last two lagoons, the River Riánsares flows into the River Gigüela forming the Laguna del Taray in the municipality of Quero. Leaving behind the Lagunas y Albardinales del Gigüela Nature Reserve, the trail reaches the town of Quero, escorted by its restored windmill.

The first stage of the La Mancha Wetlands Nature Trail starts at the connection to the Trenillo Natural Trail. Right after, you will cross the CM-410 road, taking extreme precautions, and leave the town of Villacañas on the right.

Then, also on the right side, you will see the beginning of the 900 m detour that leads to the Laguna Larga de Villacañas (endorheic, anthropomorphised lagoon with a surface of 84 ha that receives treated wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant (EDAR) of Villacañas. It contains different species of aquatic flora and numerous species of microcrustaceans and algae that favour the right habitat for a large number of aquatic birds), and in particular to the Flamingo Observatory, where you will enjoy the beautiful landscape and its biodiversity, especially the flamingo community (Phoenicopterus roseus) that resides in this environment.

Back on the main trail, you will be delighted with the landscape that surrounds the right side of the lagoon as you move away, little by little, from this natural environment. A few metres after passing by kilometre point 3, the itinerary reaches the ruins of the Molino en Medio. From this mill, the trail moves forward in parallel to the River Riánsares, always on the left side. This Arab mill used water from the River Riánsares to grind wheat thanks to a cogwheel, a mobile circular stone with a central hole to insert the grain and that was mounted on a fixed stone, and thus making flour.

You will continue your journey throughout the Cañada Real Soriana Oriental that witnessed the cattle’s seasonal mobility for centuries. After leaving the Molino de Abajo behind, you will cross the Madrid-Cádiz railway line by an overpass and reach kilometre point 7 of this stage.

Two kilometres afterwards, the trail continues to the west, leaving the River Riánsares in the proximity of its mouth in the River Gigüeña, forming the Laguna del Taray (lagoon with a surface of 120 ha, formed by the alluvial deposits of the rivers Gigüela and Riánsares. Its sheet of water is permanent throughout the year and its fluvial nature causes its hypo-saline character; it can have a maximum depth of 2.5 m. The vegetation of its banks is mainly composed of reed beds and bulrush that attract numerous water bird species). The ruins known as Las Casas Romanas are located just a few metres before reaching kilometre 10 of this stage. After walking for a kilometre, you will see the Hito de la Costera on the left side, with the cross from the Order of St. John carved in stone, which has served as a territorial limitation since the period of the Reconquista.

Continuing along the Cañada Real Soriana Oriental, you will cross the TO-3077 road, with the utmost care, to immediately reach the Laguna de Tirez (endorheic, hyper-saline lagoon with a surface of 89 ha that receives its water intake from the runoff, being completely linked to rainfall as a result. Saltpetre, which was exploited in the past, gives it a characteristic smell. The high concentration of salt causes the formation of saline efflorescences in summer, when it remains completely dry). You will enjoy its spectacular panoramic view for almost 2 km.

A few metres before reaching kilometre point 15, the trail turns left, leaves the Cañada Real Soriana Oriental behind and crosses the TO-3077 road again, reaching shortly after the Laguna de Peñahueca (endorheic, hyper-saline lagoon with a surface of 120 ha that receives its water intake from the runoff, being completely linked to rainfall as a result. 

The effect of the salt extraction activities, significant in the past, are visible in its basin. It shelters important populations of insect species, whose biological cycle is linked to saline plan species). In this lagoon, you will appreciate the great value of its environment thanks to a small botanical itinerary and the Pagaza observatory. After passing by kilometre point 17, the lagoon will begin disappearing in the distance.

Two kilometres afterwards, you will cross the River Gigüela through a bridge and enter into the Lagunas y Albardinales del Gigüela Nature Reserve. Along the path that surrounds this flood-plain area, you will continue leaving the tamarisks on the right side and rain-fed crops and some vineyards on the left.

At kilometre point 23, the itinerary turns right and crosses the albardines until it reaches a livestock holding that precedes the overpass on the Madrid-Cádiz railway line.

A rest area belonging to the Don Quijote Route and the municipal cemetery indicate the proximity to the town of Quero and the end of this first stage. You will take the wooded Las Viñas street, turn right on Cristóbal Colón street and reach the roundabout to continue through the Ronda Pueblo until its junction with the CM-3130 road that crosses the city or the Castilla-La Mancha avenue, as it is known in the town. At this point, the interpretation panel marks the end of this first stage of the La Mancha Wetlands Nature Trail between the towns of Villacañas and Quero (Toledo).

A less than 1 km branch that draws from the Main Route and continues to reach the Laguna Larga de Villacañas, specifically the Flamingo Observatory, where you can enjoy this natural environment.