Stargazing Destinations

Castilla-la Mancha

More than 290 municipalities with STARLIGHT certification

Optimal stargazing conditions.

Quality skies.

Guadalajara Toledo Ciudad Real Cuenca Albacete Cuenca Highlands Alcudia Valley and the Sierra Madrona Segura Mountains Alcaraz Mountain Range and Campo de Montiel Guadalajara Skies La Manchuela Cabañeros Campos de Hellín Monteibérico-Corredor de Almansa Júcar-Mancha Centro Castilla-la Mancha

STARLIGHT Tourist Destination Region

Starlight Tourist Destinations are places to visit, which boast superb attributes for stargazing and, protected from light pollution, are perfectly suited for tourism activities based on this natural resource.

La Manchuela

Further Information

What is Starlight?

Starlight is an institution with backing from UNESCO, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which certifies, using criteria jointly developed by professionals from various international organisations, the best places in the world for astronomical observation.

To certify a Starlight Tourist Destination -as in the case of the Serranía de Cuenca Astronomy Park-, the area must pass an exhaustive astronomical audit on the quality of the sky and the means to guarantee its protection, and a further tourism assessment accrediting the infrastructures, activities, and integration in the night-time environment suitable for offering quality astrotourism.

Further Information

Sky forecast

Tonight December 30, 2024
Serranía de Cuenca

Next days

Tonight December 30, 2024
Valle de Alcudia y Sierra Madrona

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Tonight December 30, 2024
Sierra del Segura

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Tonight December 30, 2024
Sierra del Alcaraz y Campo de Montiel

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Tonight December 30, 2024
Guadalajara

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Tonight December 30, 2024
La Manchuela

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Vía tiempo.com

Starlight Tourist Destination

Cuenca Highlands

The Astronomical Park is part of the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park: an area of high environmental value, protected as a Natural Site of National Interest and part of the Natura 2000 Network. Visitors can embark on multiple excursions in the surrounding area: Ciudad Encantada and the Callejones de Las Majadas, El Hosquillo, source of the Cuervo River, Uña Lagoon, the Devil's Window and Júcar cliffs, Solán de Cabras, etc.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

Alcudia Valley and the Sierra Madrona

The Alcudia Valley and Sierra Madrona Natural Park has superbly conserved ecosystems, making it extremely important in terms of the geological heritage, biodiversity, and landscape of Castilla-La Mancha. Eight local municipalities have joined the Starlight initiative: Almodóvar del Campo, Fuencaliente, Mestanza, Cabezarrubias del Puerto, Hinojosa de Calatrava, Brazatortas, Solana del Pino and San Lorenzo de Calatrava.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

Segura Mountains

The extensive, varied terrain of the Sierra del Segura contains numerous attractive and unique natural spaces with mountains and rivers, canyons, and vast valleys. The region, which owes its name to the main river that irrigates the area, stretches to the southwest of the province of Albacete, in the southernmost part of Castilla-La Mancha, bordering Jaén, Granada and Murcia.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

Alcaraz Mountain Range and Campo de Montiel

Sierra de Alcaraz and Campo de Montiel are lands whose natural wealth extends from the Mundo River waterfall to the Ruidera lagoons. The region is in the southwest of the province of Albacete, bordering the provinces of Ciudad Real and Jaén. Historically, it has been the meeting point of Andalusia, Levante, and La Mancha, giving it a rich character reflected in its people, crafts and gastronomy.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

Guadalajara Skies

The Guadalajara regions of the Sierra Norte and Molina-Alto Tajo, and a total of 161 towns, make up this Starlight Tourist Destination. Stunningly beautiful protected natural spaces guarantee the region’s natural wealth. Mountains, countryside, glacis with stones, highlands, barren areas, and forests make up a landscape that contains a rich variety of fauna and flora.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

La Manchuela

Visit a region with an unspoiled ecosystem, nice spots for a stroll, culinary delights, as well as medicinal baths, and enjoy the feeling of balance, peace of mind and serenity, so often difficult to come across in modern times. In short, you’ll feel as if time were standing still.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

Cabañeros

El destino Cabañeros se encuentra en el centro de la Península Ibérica entre las provincias de Ciudad Real y Toledo, dentro de los Montes de Toledo e incluye a los municipios que forman el Área de Influencia Socioeconómica del Parque Nacional y a aquellos integrados como territorio Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

Campos de Hellín

La comarca Campos de Hellín se extiende al sureste de la provincia de Albacete, en el límite con la región de Murcia, donde el paisaje se caracteriza por la presencia de amplios valles, cultivados de viñedos, olivares, almendros y albaricoqueros, separados por algunas sierras de moderada altitud.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

Monteibérico-Corredor de Almansa

Monte Ibérico-Corredor de Almansa es una mancomunidad española de municipios situados al sudeste de la provincia de Albacete, limitando con la Comunidad Valencia. Es uno de los 17 pasos naturales de la península y fue utilizado por diversas civilizaciones lo que fue dejando vestigios romanos e íberos a su paso. Un ejemplo de ello son los castillos de Almansa o Chinchilla de Montearagón, el poblado de ibérico del Amarejo o vías de comunicación que podemos encontrarnos.

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Starlight Tourist Destination

Júcar-Mancha Centro

Todos sus pueblos poseen un marcado carácter manchego de horizontes abiertos e infinitos, ideales para la observación del firmamento, y un atractivo proveniente del valle del Júcar, fértil y próspero, y cuyas aguas subterráneas permiten los cultivos de la vid y el cereal.

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Astrocalendar

After securing status as a “Starlight Tourist Destination”, a key part of the certification involves scheduling and carrying out astronomical activities. This section will ensure you stay up to date with the latest news.

Actividades
Jornadas Astronómicas de La Manchuela
Del 6 al 8 de octubre

Jornadas Astronómicas

I Jornadas Astronómicas de la Comarca de La Manchuela. Actividades para todos los públicos.

Folleto - Cartel 1 - Cartel 2

Actividades
Verano Astronómico. Sierra del Segura
Julio-agosto 2023

Observaciones Astronómicas

Ofrecemos una serie de actividades de observación astronómica de una manera guiada y didáctica, en pleno contacto con la naturaleza y en el momento y lugar óptimos para ello: las noches de verano bajo la Sierra del Segura.

Talleres y observación astronómica con telescopios y prismáticos

Taller de iniciación a la astrofotografía lunar

Actividades
Verano Astronómico. Sierra de Alcaraz y Campo de Montiel
Julio-agosto 2023

Astronomical Observations

A series of guided, educational astronomical observation activities are available, at one with nature (the best place for it) and at the best time of the year: summer nights in the Sierra del Segura.

Astronomical Summer 2022 line-up

Activities
Astronomical Summer. Serrania de Cuenca Astronomical Park
June-September 2022

Astronomical Observations

A series of guided, educational astronomical observation activities are available, at one with nature (the best place for it) and at the best time of the year: summer nights in the Serranía de Cuenca (Cuenca Highlands).

Astronomical Summer 2022 line-up

Activities
Guadalajara Skies
June-September 2022

Astronomical Observations

A series of guided, educational astronomical observation activities are available, at one with nature (the best place for it) and at the best time of the year: summer nights under the Guadalajara Skies.

Astronomical Summer 2022 line-up

Activities
Alcudia Valley and the Sierra Madrona (Madrona Mountains) Natural Park
July-August 2022

Astronomical Observations

Astronomical Summer 2022 line-up

Courses
Elche de la Sierra - Teatro Aguado (Aguado Theatre)
From 9 to 14 May 2022

Starlight Astronomical Monitors Training Days In The Sierra Del Segura, Sierra De Alcaraz, Campo De Montiel, And La Manchuela Regions

Week of 9 to 14 May 2022.

Elche de la Sierra, Albacete.

Free

Number of hours: 60

Places available: 45

Schedule: 9 am to 2 pm, 4 pm to 7 pm, 8:30 pm to midnight (practice)

Calling all tourism sector professionals in Albacete province, particularly in the Sierra del Segura, Sierra de Alcaraz and Campos de Montiel and La Manchuela, with an interest in becoming “Starlight Astronomical Monitors”, and leading groups seeking to enrich their knowledge of the universe and nature, through sharing, with the naked eye, and simple observation instruments.

Course syllabus

Further information

Courses
Santa María del Conde Assembly Hall, Plaza de España 23, Molina de Aragón
28 Feburary to 5 March 2022

Starlight Astronomical Monitors Training Days

Schedule: 10 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm, 10:30 pm to 1:30 am (practice).

Places available: 45

Number of hours: 60

Student profile and requirements: Entrepreneurs interested in leading groups in natural environments, to rural accommodation or establishments of another kind; tour guides, spokespersons or other professionals involved in communicating scientific, historical, and cultural values in the astronomical sky to groups through night and daytime observation, astrophotography, and the fight against light pollution.

Course registration

Courses
Alcudia Valley and the Sierra Madrona (Madrona Mountains) Natural Park
From 8 to 13 November 2021

Starlight Astronomical Monitors Training Days

Puertollano Cultural Centre. Calle Numancia, 55

Schedule

- Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm.

- Saturday, 13 November: from 9 am to 2:30 pm.

Astronomical observation practice at night from 9:30 pm to 1 am (approx.) from Monday to Friday. *

Places available: 45

Number of hours: 60

Student profile: tourism sector employees interested in undertaking professional astro-tourism activities in the Alcudia Valley and Sierra Madrona Natural Park Starlight Destination.

* For health and safety reasons, registered individuals must provide their own means of transportation from the venue where workshops are held to the astronomical observation points where practical sessions are conducted.

Course registration

Activities
Serrania de Cuenca Astronomical Park
July-September 2021

Stargazing In The Serranía De Cuenca (Cuenca Mountain Range)

Astronomical Summer line-up

Activities
Alcudia Valley and the Sierra Madrona (Madrona Mountains) National Park
July- September 2021

Stargazing In The Alcudia Valley And The Sierra Madrona (Madrona Mountains) National Park

Astronomical Summer line-up

Activities
Astronomical Summer. Serrania de Cuenca Astronomical Park
Summer 2020/2021

Astronomical Observations

Astronomical Summer line-up

Activities
Astronomical Summer. Alcudia Valley and the Sierra Madrona (Madrona Mountains) Natural Park
Summer 2020/2021

Astronomical Observations

A series of guided, educational astronomical observation activities are available, at one with nature (the best place for it) and at the best time of the year: summer in the Alcudia Valley and the Sierra Madrona Natural Park (Ciudad Real).

Astronomical Summer line-up

Activities
Astronomical Summer. Serrania de Cuenca Astronomical Park
Summer 2018/2019

Astronomical Observations and Mobile Planetarium

A series of guided, educational observation activities are available for beginners in astronomy, at one with nature (the best place for it) and at the best time of the year: summer nights in the Serranía de Cuenca (Cuenca Highlands).

Informatiion Brochure | Astronomical Summer Line-up

Courses
Museum of Sciences (Plaza de la Merced)
18-19-20 and 25-26-27 October 2018

Starlight Astronomical Monitors

The course aims to make known, in practical fashion, the professional opportunities that astrotourism offers, the unique nature of the companies involved in this niche, how to develop this innovative product and the best way to promote it.

Download information

Starlight Tourist Destinations 2023. Castilla-La Mancha Tourism