If you’ve been staying in La Iglesuela del Tiétar taking intensive Spanish courses in Spain, I have no doubt that you’re enjoying it – I mean, what’s not to like about mountains, a fun way to learn and quiet village life? But I personally know how exhausted your brain can get from being immersed in the language you’re learning day in and day out. It feels like the mental equivalent of hiking Mount Everest.
So if you need to give your mind a break for a day (which, by the way, is the best way to learn), you might want to think about spending a day soaking in hot springs that the Romans were enjoying 2,000 years ago.
Baños de Montemayor is a tiny spa town in northern Cáceres, famous for its thermal waters and its location on the historic Vía de la Plata. This was the ancient Roman trading route that runs through western Spain linking Mérida (Emerita Augusta) with Astorga (Asturica Augusta).
Getting There from La Iglesuela
By car, the trip is very doable. You can head north from La Iglesuela, heading west through the Valle del Tiétar (Tiétar Valley) and skirting the southern slopes of the Sierra de Gredos (Gredos Mountains). Or you can head south and then west, which takes you out of the valley toward lower, more open land. Either way, it’s a beautiful drive.
The landscape gradually shifts from olive groves and low hills to chestnut and oak forests as you enter the Valle del Ambroz, where Baños de Montemayor sits tucked into the mountains on the old N-630 / Vía de la Plata. Expect the drive to take around two to two-and-a-half hours, depending on the exact route and stops you make to admire the views. (I’ve included Madrid on this map just to give you some perspective.)
If you don’t have a car and can’t convince or bribe anyone to drive you, you can take public transport, but it requires a bit more planning and time. You’ll have to get yourself to Talavera de la Reina, then catch a train to Baños de Montemayor, for which you can easily purchase tickets on Trainline.
Whatever your mode of transportion, the journey itself is part of the pleasure: You watch the terrain unfold from the Tiétar valley to the greener, cooler north of Cáceres, with mountains on the horizon almost the entire way.
Arriving in Baños de Montemayor
You know you’re close when the road starts following the valley floor and the signs for “Baños” and “Balneario” appear. The town is small, with only around 800 inhabitants, and you’ll also start seeing references to the Vía de la Plata everywhere.
A Morning at the Balneario Spa
The star of the show is, of course, the Balneario de Baños de Montemayor. The complex is split between a more modern spa building and the atmospheric Roman baths.
Don’t worry, that picture is not where you’ll be relaxing! This is where you’ll enjoy the therapeutic water.
The baths are comprised of sulfurous, mineral-rich water that gets to about 43°C. These waters have been used for centuries to treat joint problems, respiratory issues and skin conditions.
Before you go, it’s worth browsing the website, especially the section on thermal circuits and promotions, to pick the session that suits you.
A typical visit might start with the “Circuito Romano,” a roughly 90-minute circuit that combines an aromatized thermal bath, dry and steam rooms, heated loungers, a large thermal pool, and a bracing cold plunge to wake you back up. You move slowly from one space to another under stone vaults and soft lighting, half spa, half archaeological site. This is one of the most unique experiences you’ll have!
If you want to make it extra indulgent, you can add a massage or facial—just book ahead, especially on weekends or holidays.
My boyfriend and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We spent an hour just floating and gently swimming in the thermal pool, standing under a power spray to massage sore muscles, and QUICKLY submerging ourselves in an ice cold bath. Cold plunging can help reduce inflammation and muscle soreness, as well as restore balance to the nervous system and improve cognitive function and mood.
Lunch, Coffee and a Little Exploring
After all that soaking in hot water, you’ll probably emerge pleasantly limp and very hungry. Luckily, Avenida de las Termas—the main street that crosses the town—is lined with small cafés and restaurants where you can sit on a terrace and watch the world go (very slowly) by. Typical menus in the area include Extremaduran staples: ibérico pork, migas, local cheeses, and plenty of dishes featuring honey and chestnuts from the surrounding valleys.
For a bit more culture, you can drop into the Centro de Interpretación General de la Vía de la Plata or check what’s on at the local church-turned-auditorium, both mentioned on the town’s tourism portal Vive Baños de Montemayor.
And if you decide to stretch your day trip into a mini-escape, the Gran Hotel Balneario offers rooms with direct access to the spa.
Why It’s a Great Day Trip from La Iglesuela
It’s an easy two-hour drive or a well-planned train trip, and a change of scenery from the Tiétar valley to lush northern Cáceres. A day trip to Baños de Montemayor is the perfect self-care day that will relax and refresh you so that you return to La Iglesuela ready to tackle your semi-intensive Spanish courses in Spain. Just be sure to bring back a souvenir for your host families!
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