Stage 2: Quero – Villafranca de los Caballeros

The second stage of the La Mancha Wetlands Nature Trail starts in the town of Quero. It continues along Avenida de Castilla-La Mancha (CM-3130 road) towards the south-west until it gets to kilometre point 27 of the Main Route. When you find a roundabout at the entrance to the town, you must take the dirt path on the left, surrounding the roundabout.

The trail continues in parallel to the CM-3130 road and to the Cañada Real Soriana Oriental, which witnessed the transhumance movements of the livestock for centuries. At the same time, and always on the left side of the trial, you will enjoy the landscape of the Laguna Grande de Quero (endorheic, hyper-saline lagoon with a surface of 72 ha, located south-west of the town of Quero. It was historically exploited for the extraction of salt and brine; currently, the lagoon basin partially preserves the slope of the old pools). At certain times, the salt accumulated in the surface reflects the sunlight, offering a stunning visual spectacle.

A few metres after kilometre point 28 and after crossing a flood-plain pass, the trail is paved. At this point you will also find an interpretation panel.

After leaving the Laguna Grande de Quero behind, you will cross the Madrid-Cádiz railway line by an underpass and reach the Quero wastewater treatment plant (EDAR). Once these facilities have been crossed, the trail becomes a dirt path again and it continues parallel to the CM-3130 road.

The smooth climb which starts after crossing the railway line comes to an end at kilometre point 30. Walking along the trail, flanked by a road on the right and rain-fed crops on the left, you will cross several flood-plain passes and reach, right after point kilometre 32, the Lagunas y Albardinales del Gigüela Nature Reserve.

You must cross the CM-3130 road with the utmost care and go along it for about 200 m, always on the correct side depending on whether you are going on foot or by bicycle.

At kilometre point 34, the dirt path continues and goes parallel to the CM-3130 road on the right side. A few metres afterwards, you must go along the road again for about 125 m towards Quero. Once this section is completed, you must turn left to start an ascending dirt path that leads to the flood-plain area of the Laguna Grande and the Laguna Chica de Villafranca de los Caballeros, as indicated on a panel located in an intersection.

After kilometre point 36, the trail turns left and continues flanked by large-sized tamarisks on both sides, as the species of this genus are well adapted to this saline environment. A new kilometre point marks a turn to the left and, in a southerly direction, a repopulated area of stone pines (Pinus pinea) will accompany you on the left side of the trail.

The track turns left continuing the stone pines area and starts a smooth descent towards the Laguna Chica de Villafranca de los Caballeros (lagoon with a surface of 37 ha that receives water intake from the River Gigüela via the Caz de las Lagunas canal. It contains water almost all year, although its volume is drastically reduced during the summer period. It is connected to the Laguna Grande de Villafranca de los Caballeros. It contains a broad sample of charophytes with reed and cattail formations in its banks, and serves as a shelter for different species of passerine birds).

The trail continues on the right side, but the signposting invites you to turn left and walk the approximately 300 m between the intersection and the bird observatory of the Laguna Chica de Villafranca de los Caballeros, where you can enjoy the richness of the fauna and the beautiful scenery.

Back on the trail, you will continue the route flanked by the Laguna Chica de Villafranca de los Caballeros on the left and cereal crops and vineyards on the right. After kilometre point 39, a repopulated area of Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis) separates the two lagoons. The San Cristóbal Shrine, founded in 1980, marks the beginning of the Laguna Grande de Villafranca de los Caballeros (lagoon with a surface of 72 ha that receives its water intake from the River Gigüela via the Caz de las Lagunas canal, connected to the Laguna Chica de Villafranca de los Caballeros. Since the 18th century it has been a bathing area due to the claimed curative properties of its water. Many second homes, accommodations and different restaurants have been built along its banks, resulting in the creation of an area known as Urbanización de las Lagunas).

A few metres afterwards, you will find two floating fishing posts and, right after kilometre point 40, the Laguna Grande de Villafranca de los Caballeros resting area, where the trail is paved.

The Lagunas Grande y Chica de Villafranca de los Caballeros Interpretation and Education Centre indicates that the trail is entering the residential area surrounding the Laguna Grande. It continues along Avenida de la Laguna Grande until reaching the Abuela roundabout, where an interpretation panel indicates the end of this second stage of the La Mancha Wetlands Nature Trail between Quero and Villafranca de los Caballeros.