Discover Paracuellos de Jarama through its hiking trails, lagoons and historic sites. Two routes offer concrete guidance for planning your time: a 3.5-kilometer circular route with an estimated walking time of one hour, and a longer 6.3-kilometer loop. Cultural sites and landscapes add different focal points to your stay.
Hiking trails by time and interest
The PR-M 45 El Pinar de los Berrocales is a 3.5-kilometer circular route. The estimated walking time is one hour; this does not include stops. For comparison, the PR-M 41 Lagunas y Belvis de Jarama is 6.3 kilometers long, about 2.8 kilometers longer. Its estimated walking time is 1 hour and 25 minutes. The routes therefore differ in length and time required; check the PR-M 41 details locally before setting out.
The PR-M 41 starts on the Camino de la Veguilla livestock track, near the roundabout at the junction with the M-111 at kilometer 8.2 and opposite the El PicĂłn II residential development. It ends just before the entrance to Parque Colonos in Belvis de Jarama. You can also visit the Museo EtnolĂłgico in Belvis; check opening hours in advance. Another named trail, the PR-M 44 Lavadero y Guindaleras, starts at Plaza de San Pedro. For the PR-M 41 and PR-M 44 routes, it is worth checking the latest trail signs and road conditions.
There is also a time reference for guided hikes: in February 2026, the hiking association reported on the “Marchas de los Senderos de Paracuellos” program, launched in 2025, which organizes guided hikes quarterly. If you would like to include a hike in your stay, check the dates separately.
Lagoons, woodland and views
From the summit of the PR-M 45, the view extends across the Los Berrocales pine grove, the Jarama riverbank landscape and Madrid. Monte El Calderillo is the municipality’s largest pine forest, covering more than 50 hectares. Alongside its circular route, the PR-M 45 therefore has a clear focal point: views from the summit of the forest, riverbanks and city.
The Lagunas de Belvis offer a different natural focus. The Comunidad de Madrid classifies them as wetlands of special interest. The complex consists of 25 ponds and covers a total of 54.4 hectares, of which 3.9 hectares are wetland. A branch of the PR-M 41 leads to a viewing area at the lagoons. One section of the PR-M 41 is designated as a trail in the protected Jarama riverbank zone.
Local history and culture
The original settlement of Paracuellos developed on the slopes of Castillo de Malsobaco. The simple fortification had a single tower and housed a small garrison to defend the surrounding area. Palacio de Medinaceli tells the story of a later era: it was built during the cultural and economic growth of the Early Modern period, thanks to the wealth of the Pardo-de la Cerda family.
A historic washhouse is another place preserved in local memory. It was used until the 1980s and later restored by the municipality together with Fuente Seca. The Museo de Usos y Costumbres Etnográficas de Belvis (MUCEB) was established in 1995 in a former rural dwelling. Its collection includes objects donated by residents.
The Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir at Plaza de la Constitución is accessible. As accessibility information can change, confirm it again before your trip. Corpus Christi is a continuing tradition: altars are set up in the streets for the occasion, although the specific arrangements may vary from year to year. If you would like to plan your visit around it, check the dates and arrangements in advance.
Along the PR-M 45, the Bunker de la Boca de las Zorras is identified as a scenic and historic attraction. The structure is in poor condition and privately owned; do not enter it.
Discover more destinations: Horcajuelo De La Sierra, Ribatejada, Buitrago Del Lozoya, Arganda Del Rey, Fuenlabrada, Piñuécar, Cercedilla, Ajalvir.
For the broader travel overview: Madrid.
