Sierra de Guadarrama 7-day hike near Madrid

Follow Vicente, a UIMLA mountain leader, on this incredible 7-day hiking excursion to the impressive Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain.

Iberian System

7 Days

Apr - Nov

Intermediate

All levels

Highlights

Discover the most iconic places in Sierra de Guadarrama in 7 days!
Enjoy 7-relaxing days in a fabulous National Park.
Explore the most important peaks in the area.

Description

Come join me for an unforgettable week-long hike in the impressive Sierra de Guadarrama in Spain! Located very close to Madrid, this place offers some stunning landscapes and easy trails you will surely enjoy.

During this exciting adventure, we’ll go to some of the most famous peaks in the region such as Peñalara, at an altitude of 2,428 meters, and La Pedriza, the most famous granitic range in Europe. You can check the itinerary below for a more detailed description of what we’ll be doing each day.

All hiking levels are welcome on this trip. The routes have several ramps and slopes but none too steep. However, you do need to be physically fit to enjoy this excursion. Additionally, be prepared for dry and hot climate. I’ve provided a list of equipment to bring below, but feel free to ask me for any further suggestions.

If you are ready to spend an incredible week exploring the impressive mountains of the Iberian System, book your trip now! You’re bound to fall in love with this unique landscape.

And, if you are looking for more adventures in Spain, join me for a day trek in La Pedriza or a day hike in Fonda Real.

Price includes

Guiding fee
Personal insurance

Price details

Price to join a group tour. A minimum of 4 people is required for the program to take place.
Price does not transport, lunches, beverages or entrance fee to monastery.

Itinerary

Day 1: Plaza de Castilla - Puerto de Navacerrada

First, we’ll meet in Plaza de Castilla and leave our bags where we’ll spend the night. Then, we’ll do a short circular hike to the Seven Peaks.

Distance: 10 kms. Elevation gain/loss: +430/-430m.

Day 2: Manzanares el Real - La Pedriza

We’ll go to Manzanares el Real, “El Tranco” and La Pedriza.

Distance: 15.5 kms. Elevation gain/loss: +1,020/-1,020m.

Day 3: Peñalara peak

We’ll hike Sierra de Guadarrama’s highest peak (Peñalara) beginning in Puerto de los Cotos.

Distance: 13 kms. Elevation gain/loss: +670/-670m.

Day 4: Puerto de Navacerrada - Guarramillas

First, we’ll hike from Puerto de Navacerrada towards the highest point in the Guarramillas (“la Bola del Mundo” – the ball of the world). From there, we’ll explore the Cuerda Larga, Cabeza de Hierro Mayor, Cabeza de Hierro Menor and the Valdemartín mount.

Distance: 16 kms. Elevation gain/loss: +1,000/-1,000m.

Day 5: Fuenfría Valley

We’ll explore the valley of Fuenfría, in Cerdecilla, towards the mountains of Minguete and Montón de Trigo.

Distance: 10.5 kms. Elevation gain/loss: +800/-800m.

Day 6: San Rafael

On our sixth day, we’ll go to San Rafael to hike from the town to the Cueva Valiente peak. Then, we’ll descend to Hornillo and Salamanca and ascend to Cabeza Líjar.

Distance: 14 kms. Elevation gain/loss: +890/-890m.

Day 7: Last day

After breakfast, we’ll go to the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Then, we’ll hike Monte Abantos. Back to Madrid.

Distance: 10.5 kms. Elevation gain/loss: +720/-720m.

Details

More info

This trip is for a group of minimum 4 people.

Make sure to bring: -30 liter backpack -Long pants for hiking -Hiking boots -Food and 2 liters of water -Waterproof jacket -Hat -Sunscreen -Sun glasses -Flashlight and bateries -Hiking sticks -Trash bags -Backpack cover -Extra change of clothes.

Meeting point

Plaza de Castilla

About the guide

Vicente

Mountain Guide

My name is Vicente Reyes and I am an accompanying mountain guide or also called a Sports Technician in high Mountain qualified by the CFEM de las Rozas (Madrid) in 2016 and also holds the first level of Technician / guide titled in 2015 by EMAM (Madrid High Mountain School) and also associated with the AEGM (Spanish Association of Mountain Guides) with membership number 1073.

As you can see in each of our excursions, I am a big fan of the mountains, I love to breathe fresh air, enjoy nature in all its splendor, and escape from the stress of big cities, and consequently this love for nature and the mountain took me to get my degree as a mountain guide that I currently own.
I love being able to teach people what nature offers us, what we sometimes have so close to our homes, places so incredible that we do not imagine that they exist within a few kilometers, and also teach to respect nature and take care of it as she does do with all of us.

Among my other hobbies you can also check in our trips that I am a great passionate about meteorology and climatology, a hobby that as a mountaineer always comes in handy to foresee possible changes of time in advance.
Without more here I leave this little presentation about me and I hope we will see each other soon learning and sharing a nice time on the mountain. You will not regret it !!

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