Exploring the wild side of the Costa Blanca
Exploring the wild side of the Costa Blanca
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“La Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna” translates to The route of the 3 waterfalls.
As the name states, this is actually a short hiking route encompassing three waterfalls beginning in the town of Anna. The waterfalls are…
At the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna I found the most beautiful crystal-clear water, and it is definitely worth the hiking route!
Check out the guided tours to waterfalls here or if you are looking for other types of tours, check out my handpicked Guided Tours in the Costa Blanca.
Looking for ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR GEAR for your mountain adventures?
The Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna starts from the small town of Anna, which is located inland, about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Alicante city.
Anna is part of the “La Canal” municipality, which has the River Cañyoles running through it. As a result, there are so many opportunities to see water which is lacking in other parts of Spain, such as waterfalls, rivers, natural pools, fountains and more.
10 minutes away from the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas, there is the Salto de Chella waterfall, and another 15 minutes away from that are the Los Chorradores waterfalls. I recommend that you visit them all!
Want to go on a GUIDED TOUR of the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna including the Cascada del Salto?
I definitely recommend this trip guided tour of the Anna waterfalls with transport included from Denia or Javea
I know it´s good because I helped the guide create it!
The Ruta de las 3 Cascadas consists of
The Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna is short, but includes some parts that may be difficult for some. Do not be fooled by the concrete path at the start!
There are some steep sections, one with rocky ´steps´ that require good leg flexibility and the use of your hands.
It is also necessary to step over wet rocks, along log ´bridges´ and walk through sections of water.
The Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna is suitable for:
The Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna is not suitable for:
Waterfall
If you want to see big waterfalls in their full glory, then I recommend that you go after it has rained. Waterfall season is generally from October to May.
Swimming
If you want to swim while doing the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna, then summer is a great time to visit.
Therefore, if you want to swim and see lots of water falling, I recommend that you do the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna early in the summer, or as soon as the rain starts in Autumn.
To do the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna, you can park here.
There are two gravel carparks as well on on-street parking on Avenida Diputación.
(Google Maps™ mapping service is a trademark of Google LLC and this blog is not endorsed by or affiliated with Google in any way)
Recommended gear for hiking:
OSPREY HIKELITE 32l backpack (unisex)
7 colours and 2 sizes available
You can follow the official Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna route* here.
*This is not my route. It was recorded in 2021, and therefore there could be some very slight differences. For example, the footbridge now has handrails.
You can, however, see all of the Wild Child Costa Blanca routes here.
Want to visit a RESERVOIR with WHEELCHAIR/”ACCESSIBLE” routes?
To begin the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna route, go to the end of the road (towards the forest-covered mountain) and turn right here.
Concrete road
The Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna begins on a concrete road that descends away from the town.
After about 5 minutes, there is a detour from the path to visit the first waterfall (Gorgo Gaspar). Make sure you don´t accidentally walk past it, because it is easy to miss!
Veer right and go uphill on the smaller path to a picnic area.
Picnic area
This is a good place to relax if you need to escape the sun on a hot day.
There are a couple of picnic benches in the shade of the trees right before the Gorgo Gaspar waterfall.
It is quite close to the road so you could carry a picnic there, and it is situated quite high up so you can enjoy the view of the mountains, and forest landscape below.
The first waterfall on the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna is Gorgo Gaspar.
This is fed from the Albufera de Anna, which is a lake on the outskirts of Anna town.
In the past, this waterfall was used to generate hydraulic energy for a textile factory.
Viewing points
There is a wooden footbridge over the water, from where you can view the Gorgo Gaspar waterfall, but unfortunately this was damaged and had plastic tape on it so didn´t look pretty in a photo.
TOP TIP for Adventurers:
You can also climb down from the picnic area (under/over the fence) to get closer to the waterfall, as well as the interesting rock formations to the right.
Swimming
The Gorgo Gaspar waterfall is not really suitable or appealing to swim due to the small size, the (dark green) colour of the water and lack of easy access, but you should definitely go and take a look!
The waterfall
When I did this Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna in August 2024, there wasn´t enough water to create a visible waterfall. Therefore, it was the least impressive to see.
There was water because I could hear it, but it was hidden by the hanging plants.
I have seen videos of the Gorgo Gaspar waterfall from September 2023 and it looked amazing, so it just needs some good rainfall in order to flourish.
Would you like to visit the ICONIC BEAUTY SPOT with WATERFALL near Planes?
Fábrica de Miguelín
This is an old factory that you will pass just after the first waterfall (you can´t miss it).
The second waterfall on the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna is the Cascada de los Vikingos.
The Cascada de los Vikingos waterfall was a lovely surprise and I was lucky enough to see a rainbow.
This is the path!
To do the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna, you have to pass through the Cascada de los Vikingos waterfall area.
Initially, I was a little confused, as I didn´t realise that this was the actual route due to the exit point is a little hidden by overhanging branches.
Terrain
There are rocks, log ´bridges´ and stepping stones to walk on.
However, some of the stepping stones have sunk under the water so your feet and lower legs will get wet!
Viewing points
Make sure that you look at the Cascada de los Vikingos waterfall from all angles in order to see a rainbow during the morning while the sun is shining on it.
Swimming
The pool of the Cascada de los Vikingos waterfall is a great place to cool off in the water, although it isn´t deep enough to swim or jump.
TOP TIP for Adventurers:
You can climb up the rocks and get in a little pool behind the Cascada de los Vikingos waterfall.
The Cascada del Salto is the grand finale, the biggest and the most famous of the waterfalls on the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna
The waterfall
The Cascada del Salto waterfall is 20 metres high that is fed by water from the crystal-clear Anna river.
There is the main waterfall leading into the main pool, as well as some pretty cascades to the left, which lead from another smaller pool above.
I did this route three times in August and I was impressed the first time I visited the Cascada del Salto waterfall, but the second time I went (a day after it had rained nearby) the waterfall had grown in size and it was breathtaking.
Recommended gear for hiking:
SCARPA MOJITO Adult hiking shoes (unisex)
Breathable, durable and comfortable
10 colours available
The Cascada del Salto is great for adventurers!
You can…
Walk through water
If you want to walk/swim up the river, there is a short section which is walkable, leading you to the end of the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna.
As you are walking alongside the stream, you will see a very obvious gap where you can access the stream, and you will see a cross painted on a rock indicating that this is not the official hiking route (approximate location).
You can enter here, and walk all the way up to the Cascada del Salto. There is one area where the ground underfoot becomes softer, but it is only a few steps. You could do this in either direction.
Tree Swing
If you decide to walk up through the water, you will reach a tree swing, and then a wooden footbridge.
Small pool
There is small hidden pool near the Cascada del Salto. It is just up to the left, and you can climb the rocks to access it – but the pressure from the waterfall leading into it is strong!! (EASY climb) No jumping though!
Cliff Jumping
If you like cliff jumping the “Cascada del Salto” (the third waterfall of the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna) is the place for you!
There are 3 jumps which you can make into the main pool…
Warning!
Make sure that you always jump out and away from the edge, since there are rocks in the pool that cannot be seen in the deeper water.
Read more about Cliff Jumping in this area here.
Wet Canyoning (“Barranquismo”)
Here you will see people rappeling down the waterfall. This activity is called Wet Canyoning (or “Barranquismo” in Spanish). If this looks interesting to you, I have done it and highly recommend it!
It is a route which includes jumping, swimming and rappeling through the river and it´s canyons. You can meet the guide there, or get transport from Valencia…
Scrambling
If you like scrambling/climbing up rocks, there is a top secret route which allows you to access Gorgo de la Escalera that even the locals don´t know about!
It is a route used by the wet canyoning groups, to return back to the top of the rapelling point.
To reach this route, turn away from the waterfall and walk past the tree on the path on your left. Next, look left and you will see a row of rocks leading to the other side of the river.
Walk through the river to cross to the other side, and the path will begin on (up) the right-hand side.
This route is awesome. Enjoy climbing on the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna!
Read more about the Gorgo de la Escalera here.
Prefer to FLOAT DOWN A RIVER of crystal-clear river on a raft?
“Central del Salto”
Central del Salto is an old powerplant.
There is an information board, and it appears as though you cannot enter (since there is a metal fence loosely placed in front of the entrance).
TOP TIP for Explorers:
It is possible to pass behind the loose fence and go inside of the building where there is some interesting stuff to see (but better not to let children enter unaccompanied because it could be dangerous!)
Also, if you scramble up just to the left of the building, you get a better view of it, and will find the secret picnic area!
As well as following the official ruta de las 3 cascadas Anna, you could…
Recommended gear for swimming/cycling/running:
GARMIN Chest Strap
Advanced heart rate technology
Booking is not required to visit the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna if you want to travel there yourself.
However, there are guided tours available, which you can book onto, which have transport included from various locations.
There is no charge to enter this area, in order to do the route, or visit the waterfalls, unless you book a guided tours.
Nope. Go and enjoy the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna at your leisure!
THINGS TO PACK
Get ready to do the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna…
There are no facilities on the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas Anna route.
However, the route begins in the small town of town, which has a few bars.
Why not buy me a coffee
to keep me going on my adventures
so that I can share them with you!
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