Among the thousands of treasures that Asturias hides are the extraordinary waterfalls that put the finishing touch to certain routes. The Xiblu is one of them. They are actually three in one. It springs from the rock to create its own groove, then its waters break against a first pool that flows into the next. It goes down the mountain this way, forging a torrent of three linear waterfalls that reach 100 meters in height in total. The Xiblu rushes wildly, especially during the thaw season. The noise is deafening.
The torrent and its large cloud of water vapor, like a suggestive fog in the atmosphere, cries out for a photo. There are those who say that his name ("whistle" in Asturian) is given because when the wind blows against the waterfall it causes a kind of whistle. But there are those who maintain that it is the opposite, that its nickname is based on the fact that the roar of the water is such that not even the most powerful whistle could be heard in the vicinity. Be that as it may, this waterfall elicits a good whistle of amazement.
How to get to the Xiblu waterfall
It is not an impossible mission, on the contrary, it is a healthy and moderate exercise available to everyone. Of low difficulty Therefore, although extreme caution never hurts, especially in the final stretch approaching the waterfall, which becomes slippery and requires attention and caution. But the Xiblu waterfall is not the only protagonist of the route. It is also true all the way to it, since It runs through one of the most beautiful and unknown beech forests in Asturias: the Montegrande beech forest.. Nothing less than the third largest forest area in Asturias, after the forests of Muniellos and Peloño.
Montegrande Hayedo
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We left the car at ample and free parking located at the beginning of the route, on the Asturian side of Puerto Ventana, next to the AS-228 highway, halfway to the town of Páramo and the top of the port. The itinerary from here is a small, well-signposted route (PR.AS-269) which barely exceeds four kilometers one way and another many kilometers back. The path is simpleIn fact, the initial 450 meters are an “accessible path”, passable by people with disabilities. We will then continue along a wide and practically flat track for the first three kilometers.
When we have walked about 800 meters we come across a sign towards the Las Vallinas fountain. Legend has it that lepers drank these waters in the hope of curing their illness. If we want to descend to the spring we have to do so along some steps carved into the earth; Access is not entirely easy.
Our walk through the Montegrande beech forest brings us more surprises, like one or another mine mouth of old coal galleries, now closed. The route of the track cuts horizontally through the beech forest and crosses several valleys, allowing views of the mass of the Sierra de Sobia or the Peña Negra area. The beech branches create a natural roof that shades almost the entire path. Shadow and humidity They make this excursion can be carried out comfortably on the hottest days of the year. summer. But it is also ideal to do it in autumn, with the sight of the first snow on the peaks and the spectacular ocher clothing of the beech trees. And what to say about the spring…the forest bursts with color with a very special light and also, during these months of thaw, the waterfall is in all its splendor.
With just under a kilometer left to reach the "Xiblu" we must cross a beautiful wooden bridge (Watch out, it's slippery!) That is how we cross the bed of the Fundil or La Verde river, in the vicinity of La Ferviencia. We then continue to the left along a path that goes into Mount Braniecha. From here we will have to overcome about 100 meters of difference in altitude. The wide track gives way a narrow path that gets steeper and runs almost parallel to the river in an indistinct manner. In the most delicate steps of this last section, steps have been installed to make it more bearable.
It didn't take us long to start hearing the water of the waterfall. The humidity and mud of the terrain is considerable and We must be careful not to slip or trip.
Once we reach the waterfall we will not stop admiring it, although we can contemplate its majesty from different perspectives. You can try to climb to the top to see it in more detail, but we must do it with great caution and only up to a certain point, without risking more than necessary.
If we like photography and we have brought the tripod, we will have here a magnificent setting to take photos of water with the famous silk effect, firing at very low speeds.
Xiblu waterfall route with children
Being cautious in the wet and slippery environment that the waterfall itself receives, the rest of the excursion is completely ideal to do with family and children. In fact, it is a route that, due to its little slope, low difficulty and short route carried out in an organized way by some schools in the area with their students.
Other alternative routes near the Xiblu
Although the most common thing is to return to the parking lot by retracing the route, there is the possibility of making the itinerary longer by entering an adjacent route. Returning to the bridge that we crossed before entering the final path, we will see that there is the possibility of taking a signposted path to the right towards the beautiful Braña de Las Navariegas, uphill, or towards the town of Focella (Foceicha), downhill, through the small route marked PR AS-156.
Without leaving the Hayedo de Montegrande, and very close to the parking lot, you can visit another braña, the Braña of the Chains, in just 4 kilometers of total travel, round trip.
Interesting information
We have to access the road AS-228 from Trubia to Puerto de Ventana. Three kilometers from the town of Paramo is the beginning of the route, with a ample free parking.
- Difficulty: easy.
- Distance: 9 kilometers.
- Duration: About three hours, round trip.
- Basic recommendation: bring waterproof hiking boots and a good camera.
- Be careful with slipping in the vicinity of the waterfall.
Photographs: © Roberto Molero on Flickr
