The Valle del Jerte, in northern Cáceres, offers one of Spain's most beautiful natural spectacles: the blossoming of more than a million cherry trees which, for a few days each spring, turn the hillsides of the valley white. But the Jerte is much more than its cherry trees: water-filled gorges, hiking and mountain villages. Here is the guide.
The cherry blossom: the great spectacle
Around late March or early April (it varies each year depending on the weather), the cherry trees blossom almost all at once and the valley turns white. It is a brief phenomenon (barely one or two weeks) and very much in demand, so it is worth following the blossom forecast and booking ahead; the sites and campsites fill up. [Note: check the exact blossom dates published each year by the local authority.]
Beyond the cherry trees
- The Garganta de los Infiernos and its "Pilones": spectacular natural pools for summer.
- Hiking throughout the valley and the nearby Sierra de Gredos (see Gredos).
- Mountain villages such as Jerte, Cabezuela del Valle and Tornavacas.
- The nearby Valle del Ambroz, spectacular in autumn.
Practical tips
- For the blossom: follow the forecast, book ahead and go midweek if you can (weekends get very busy).
- For the gorges: summer.
- Autumn: the neighbouring Valle del Ambroz bursts into colour.
- With autonomy you depend less on sites that fill up during peak blossom (see calculator).
In short
The Valle del Jerte delivers the spectacle of the cherry blossom in spring, plus gorges and hiking. The step to take today: if you want to see the blossom, follow the date forecast (it is brief, late March or April), book ahead and go midweek; the rest of the year, the valley is worth it for its gorges and trails. Pair it with the routes through Extremadura.