The natural hot springs of Balsa de Cela accompanied by the beautiful mountain backdrop
Credit: Balsa de Cela
There is an entirely free hot spring in the Almeria province, surrounded by trees and greenery, restaurants and bars, open to the public.
A free hot spring
Balsa de Cela is a free thermal spring located 3.5km north of Tijola, on the border of the municipality of Lucar.
The natural thermal pool is popular with both locals and tourists, and is commonly used as a municipal pool with bars and restaurants surrounding it, accompanied by beautiful scenery in the background.
Located in the province of Almeria
Found between Tijola and Lucar, in the neighbourhood of Cela, the waters emerge naturally with a constant flow of 42 litres per second.
Finding the hot springs is simple. If you are driving, when you arrive at Tijola, take the road to the neighbourhood of Cela, where you will then see a sign leading you to La Fuenta (the fountain in Spanish). It is heavily signposted and easy to find.
The temperatures of the water remain between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius, depending on the time of the year.
The pool-shaped reservoir has formed right at the source and is known as Balsa de Cela, divided in half by the border between Tijola and Lucar.
Additionally, according to MyAlmeria, it has become the perfect place to celebrate Saint John night , adding that on that night, The thermal pools receive people from many locations who enjoy bonfires, sardines, good music and, of course, a midnight bathe with dozens of other visitors.
A large, open pool
The reservoir has dimensions of 50 50 metres and a depth ranging from 50 cm to 2 metres deep, and has received several improvements and extensions in the past, with the last being in 1996.
The bottom of the pool is rocky and next to it is a well-kept lawn where many people place towels and lie down to sunbathe.
Beneficial to all
The Cela Spring irrigates the rich earth around it and its waters are distributed between the municipalities of Tijola, Lucar and Armuña.
Rich in History
It was traditionally used as a watering place for cattle, and there is recorded reference to it in Roman Times, referring to the “richness of the hot springs of the then Tagilitana Republic”, according to the Andalucia tourism site.
The Cela hot spring is said to have medicinal properties for different types of illnesses, and has been the favourite place for bathing for the locals of Tijola and the region, also proving to be a popular spot for tourists during the summer months.
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Originally from the UK, Harry Sinclair is a journalist and freelance writer based in Almeria covering local stories and international news, with a keen interest in arts and culture. If you have a news story please feel free to get in touch at [email protected].
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