Our blog post today is not focused on some fancy travel destination or a dream surf trip… it is something much more achievable for our colleagues living in Madrid.

So many times we get asked for nice hikes near Madrid to do on a Saturday, whether it be with your friends or with your date… Truth be told, most of the hikes we like to do are mountaineering-oriented, meaning they involve some sort of elevation gain. For us, it’s not only about the physical challenge, but also about getting the best views and reaching places where most people are not willing to go.

So, today’s recommendation is something pretty much anybody can do while still enjoying some very nice views. Cárcavas de Burujón, located near Toledo (about a one-hour drive from Madrid city center), is perfect for a Saturday or Sunday. Setting aside the differences, this place might remind you of spots like the Grand Canyon in the USA—though they are different in scale and origin. While the Grand Canyon was carved by a river over millions of years, Burujón is a set of clay gullies (cárcavas) formed by water erosion from rainfall on much softer sediment.

Geologically, this is a classic “badlands” landscape. Because the soil is composed of soft sedimentary rocks and clay, the rain carves deep, dramatic “pipes” and sharp ridges that look like something out of another planet.

Regarding the route, you can choose how far you want to go or how much time you want to spend walking. The one I’ve linked below consists of 10km and 173 meters of elevation gain. It is a loop trail, but you can also choose to just walk along the edge of the “Cárcavas.”

We encourage you to plan accordingly when heading out there. For lunch, we recommend Cervecería El Palacio in the town of Burujón itself. However, with such views, it is also highly recommended to have a picnic-style lunch right on the spot.

And, if you are not near Madrid but are still looking for that Badlands kind of landscape—and a feeling closer to a Western movie—you should check out Bardenas Reales in Navarra. This is one of the most impressive badlands in Europe, shaped by a unique climate of sudden, torrential rains and the dry Cierzo wind.

It is so cinematic that it has been a favorite for Hollywood directors for decades. It famously served as the backdrop for the Dothraki Sea in Season 6 of Game of Thrones, and you might also recognize it from the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough or Ridley Scott’s The Counselor.

We recommend visiting at sunrise; not only is the light better for photos, but it can also get very crowded later in the day. Just bear in mind that you need to use the designated parking spots, as most of the area is protected and there is an active military zone right in the middle of the park. Also be aware of were you watch your step. There are areas where the ground is very fragile and unstable; it's not always clear how safe the edges are. There are no railings or safety barriers to catch you if you slip, and since the park is quite remote, getting medical assistance wouldn't be easy.

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