SPAIN | At the bottom of the paradisiac canyons of Sierra de Guara

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THE GUARA SIERRA: ARID AND ITINERARY CANYONS IN GRAND SPECTACLE

A map, a GPS point and « It's 3km after a beautiful waterfall, in a pin turn, you'll have a small place under a tree! ». We have an appointment with our guide Exactly nowhere at 8 sharp. We like games, and here we feel like we're going for a treasure hunt in a decor at Indiana Jones! The narrow roads sneak into the arid vastness of the Spanish bottom, the ochre rocks fascinate. Emerging here and there, they climb the ground in an anarchic way. In this singular composition, small villages perched succeed, bold, almost anchored in the stone.

It is always amazing to find in this almost desert environment rios. Yet they are there, the water is translucent and their color bright. No doubt, we're on the right track.

For our part we were already in Spain and chose to find our guide directly at the start of the excursion, but you can quite choose to drive with him from France: this route is almost always taken care of in your canyon exit. In this case the rdv is done a little earlier, you embark in the van of your guide, and forward to cross the border.

CHECK of equipment, rally in JEEP AND MARKET through rosemary: BEFORE THE WATER, THE RANDO!

Little paradises Clean air and fresh water We deserve to be. For us today, it will be a turn in jeep and a short hiking before going down into the throats. So the water won't be right now, but it's part of the adventure! There are easily accessible canyons and others less, you can choose it.

So here we are under our tree, meeting point. And for that, we wait for Patrick (promise, that's the real name of our guide, that's not for the joke). He soon joined us and after a little discussion and briefing, he set out for a 20 minute jeep tour in the Aragonese bush !

The machine is enough... Atypical, since it is a huge 4×4 post-war years, 7 places. It's her baby, and even if he's colossal, watch out for the door! Yeah, if you slam too hard, we'll blow it down. So be careful, okay? So we're gone and we can't really say that we're taking paths. We run a few minutes on a forest trail, then evolve Off the beaten track. The machine progresses through bushes and groves. From craters to bumps, we cross steep passages once dug by water and now dried up... There's nothing against the beast. We're just trying to stand as long as we can and our guide whistles. In fact, after that, we find much more talking about saying that we have « Climbing » in a car that rolled.

But we're stopped by nature, really this time. We'll have to keep walking! Waterproof bag on the back, Headphones on the head, rope Under the elbow, we're leaving. It is not far from 8 a.m. but the heat of the sun is already well present. We evolve on limestone soil where rosemary bouquets have found residence. Here they grow a little everywhere and the heat subtly brings out their smell. We can still find a little freshness in the shade of the trees, the rays stop playing with the branches and Patrick plays with us, he fun to let us find the way. Suffice to say that it took a little longer than expected, but what is it beautiful, the sun rising on Spain.

FRESH WATER IN VOLONTÉ

We've come to the throats and descended to find clear water. Helmet on the head even while walking because some passages are made as a reminder, security obliges (it is abrupt here). Then, as the drops had already begun to be pearling on our foreheads, the treasure of the lost canyon that we had come to seek reveals itself: a splendid río emerald and its translucent waters. Here, it has a place in the hollow of limestone cliffs, they are calm and sparkle in the sun. Patrick didn't lie to us, he's a real little paradise.

Put the shorts down, we put on the combs! We complain about getting neoprene under 35°. Our guide doesn't tell him anything, he just has a smile around the corner. And we quickly understand why: translucent water is very very fresh Hey! At first it's nice, but if you don't move you can quickly find it very cold.

We can reassure you: nothing unbearable. At the slightest break in the sun, you'll be happy to go back! But still. Don't be too smart to say that combis is not life.

It's the start. We start smoothly by a section where the walls are wide and the waters calm. You walk, you swim, you brawl or you let yourself go on your back... Anyway, we're like fish in the water. We'll take the opportunity to talk. Between two rules of good conduct Patrick tells us about these canyons he particularly loves. He knows them like his pocket and tells us about the first times he went through these paradise places. Since then he has made hundreds of them, very practical when you start and you don't necessarily have the right reflexes! Guides often have a lot to tell and teach us, it's a real pleasure to follow them. And even more when they take us to their little secret corners.

CLEAR WATER VASQUES AND BOUILLONANT CASES

Come on. We move on to serious things.. Walls tightened and water flow accelerated. Soon we have to pass slides, these little waterfalls on which just sit and let yourself be carried! We climb huge rocks and wonder why we don't try rather to bypass them, then we understand: at the top of these huge stone blocks, straight down from the top of the cliff that overlooks us (we explain the importance of the helmet in canyon, or not...?) there is like a flaw. At first we can't distinguish anything, but suddenly in the dark stealthly appears a reflection There is a cavity filled with water under our feet. Just give it up and swim for a few seconds under water. We are guided by the passage dug into the rock and the light. At the end, the surface: we emerge in a small lagoon The stones hid us. A little secret passage!

Progress continues. Who knew that it was possible to meet such varied landscapes? Swim, jump, sneak, climb Or we'll let ourselves be carried. From time to time one stops and contemplates. The sun shines more than ever and despite the depth of the gorges it manages to place some rays between the water-drained faults over the centuriess. We then appreciate the light games that seem to change the color water every hour.

Our guide kept the best for the end: A jump contest! We climb on a natural diver 5 meters high. Seen from below it doesn't seem so impressive, but once at the edge the vacuum is much more striking. The clear, turquoise water gives us arms.

In total we will have done 5 hours of exploration, including breaks. The canyons can be huge and the lower part of it measures 4.5km. It takes at least four hours. Longer day trips are possible and the price is generally close to 60€ per person, including equipment. You can do canyons from May to September.

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