Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - Embalse de Alcantara
Canoe Tours in Spain: Embalse de Alcantara, Tagus (Rio Tajo)
The Tagus flows from central Spain into Portugal and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. This
tour covers a section of the Tagus north of Caceres in Western Spain. This tour, which is on a section of the
Tagus flooded by the Alcantara Dam, takes you through a remote uninhabited region of the Extremadura of
Spain.
The distance is about 40 km, or 80 km if you paddle back to your starting point.
Start: Take the N630 from Plasencia south towards Caceres. After 60 km you will reach the Tagus. There are
several possibilities for launching your canoe, but I have used the peninsula on the west side of the road just
north of main bridge over the Tagus. There are rough tracks which will take you past a few houses down to sandy
beaches beside the reservoir.
Finish: Either paddle back to your starting point or take the canoe out at the Alcantara Dam.
Transport: The C522 and C523 take you about 50 km from launching point to the Alcantara Dam. There are
no sensible transport options, except hitching unless you have two vehicles. When I have paddled this section I
have always paddled to the dam and back again.
Accomodation: There are no habitations on the route. There are plenty of places suitable for wilderness
camping
Portages: There are no portages
Difficulties: This tour is completely on flat water. However, the steep sided valley tends to funnel the wind and
the strong winds can produce big waves. In sunny weather the wind often builds up in the afternoon, so it is
better to paddle early in the morning.
Route extensions:
1) From the Alcantara Dam it is possible to paddle about 20 km up the flooded Rio Alagon until you reach
the free flowing sections of this river.
2) This tour is part of my suggested tour of the Rio Alagon and Tagus.
3) Your could paddle upstream about 35 km towards the Parque Natural de Monfrague, returning by the
same route. There are restrictions on this section of Tagus during the bird breeding season.
4) You could paddle upstream up the flooded Rio Almonte. I’m not sure how far this river is navigable
The Route:
Start by paddling a couple of kilometres west across the reservoir to reach the main valley of the Tagus. The
river then heads NW for about 15 km, before turning to the west for 12km. Here the Tagus is joined by the
flooded Riv. De Fresnedosa and you continue WSW for another 12 miles to the Alcantara Dam. Return by the
same route.
As with all reservoirs the water level can vary, but as this is such a large reservoir the water level will not
change significantly over a short period.
Information:
I know of no sources of information on canoeing on the Embalse de Alcantara, but I have given sufficient
detail above.
The Tagus flows from central Spain into Portugal and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. This
tour covers a section of the Tagus north of Caceres in Western Spain. This tour, which is on a section of the
Tagus flooded by the Alcantara Dam, takes you through a remote uninhabited region of the Extremadura of
Spain.
The distance is about 40 km, or 80 km if you paddle back to your starting point.
Start: Take the N630 from Plasencia south towards Caceres. After 60 km you will reach the Tagus. There are
several possibilities for launching your canoe, but I have used the peninsula on the west side of the road just
north of main bridge over the Tagus. There are rough tracks which will take you past a few houses down to sandy
beaches beside the reservoir.
Finish: Either paddle back to your starting point or take the canoe out at the Alcantara Dam.
Transport: The C522 and C523 take you about 50 km from launching point to the Alcantara Dam. There are
no sensible transport options, except hitching unless you have two vehicles. When I have paddled this section I
have always paddled to the dam and back again.
Accomodation: There are no habitations on the route. There are plenty of places suitable for wilderness
camping
Portages: There are no portages
Difficulties: This tour is completely on flat water. However, the steep sided valley tends to funnel the wind and
the strong winds can produce big waves. In sunny weather the wind often builds up in the afternoon, so it is
better to paddle early in the morning.
Route extensions:
1) From the Alcantara Dam it is possible to paddle about 20 km up the flooded Rio Alagon until you reach
the free flowing sections of this river.
2) This tour is part of my suggested tour of the Rio Alagon and Tagus.
3) Your could paddle upstream about 35 km towards the Parque Natural de Monfrague, returning by the
same route. There are restrictions on this section of Tagus during the bird breeding season.
4) You could paddle upstream up the flooded Rio Almonte. I’m not sure how far this river is navigable
The Route:
Start by paddling a couple of kilometres west across the reservoir to reach the main valley of the Tagus. The
river then heads NW for about 15 km, before turning to the west for 12km. Here the Tagus is joined by the
flooded Riv. De Fresnedosa and you continue WSW for another 12 miles to the Alcantara Dam. Return by the
same route.
As with all reservoirs the water level can vary, but as this is such a large reservoir the water level will not
change significantly over a short period.
Information:
I know of no sources of information on canoeing on the Embalse de Alcantara, but I have given sufficient
detail above.
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