Hike Through Madrid's Sierra de Guadarrama National Park

Minimally affected by human activity, these mountains are a breathtaking refuge for biodiversity. 1,200 animal species, more than 1,500 native plants, lagoons with glacier origins, alpine meadows, pine forests...there's no limit to where the countless paths of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park will lead you. 

From your hotel or agreed meeting point in the city, our guide drives you to the park. The drive itself exposes beautiful views of Madrid and takes less than an hour. Once we've arrived, we establish the difficulty level of our hike. Depending on you and other participants, we agree on speed and destinations. We usually cover 15-20 km (9-12.5 miles), but we can always move a bit slower for beginners. You are also offered trekking sticks, to make things a bit easier when needed. 

Thanks to the cooler, more humid conditions of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, an array of ecosystems coexist and include 13 endangered species. We explore impressive rocky terrains, alpine meadows, and forests. The many plant landscapes are formed by unique forests of scot pine, the lifespan of which is normally 150–300 years!

Standing at a height of 2,430 m (7,960 ft), the Peñalara summit (the range's highest peak) provides a beautiful backdrop to our walk. It continues northeast, towards the Puerto de Navafría, linking with a mountain range that begins in the Port of Navacerrada and ends in La Morcuera, and extends to the limit of the Natural Park. 

After four to five hours of hiking and breathing in the fresh mountain air, we are transported back to the city and given photos of our adventure. This hike is for the true nature lovers; even if you've hiked dozens of times, you've never seen anything like the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.