Taxi & private hire in Alcázar de San Juan

Alcázar de San Juan and La Mancha de Alcázar y Tomelloso

The north-east of the province is the La Mancha of the Campo de Criptana windmills, the wineries of Tomelloso and Socuéllamos and the rail junction at Alcázar de San Juan. Mancha Centro Hospital, in Alcázar, serves much of the area, and Argamasilla de Alba is the gateway to the Lagunas de Ruidera.

From Alcázar de San Juan to Madrid and Barajas

From Alcázar and Tomelloso the way out is the Autovía de los Viñedos (CM-42) to the A-4 at Madridejos, or north through Quintanar de la Orden to join the N-301 and the AP-36. Socuéllamos and Campo de Criptana pick one or the other depending on the time and the traffic at Madrid's southern entry.

Around the province of Ciudad Real

Ciudad Real is one of the largest provinces in Spain and its towns are far apart: going from Puertollano to Alcázar de San Juan means crossing half the province. Trains link some pairs well but not all, and buses between the main towns are scarce. The most requested internal trips are from the towns to the high-speed stations of Ciudad Real and Puertollano and to each area's hospital.

Busiest times of year

• Almagro Classical Theatre Festival (July): During the festival, Almagro fills its theatres and the Corral de Comedias almost every night, with audiences coming from Madrid and the whole region. Shows finish late and the town's accommodation sells out, so many people stay in Ciudad Real and need to get back at night.
• Grape harvest in La Mancha (late August to October): The grape harvest sets Valdepeñas, Tomelloso, Socuéllamos and Alcázar in motion, with wine festivals in several of them and winery visits. Anyone going to a tasting or a winery should not be driving back.
• Summer at the Lagunas de Ruidera (July and August): The lakes are La Mancha's inland beach, and in summer they draw swimmers from the whole area at weekends. Finding a parking space near the water gets difficult from mid-morning.
• Ciudad Real August fair (mid-August): The capital's fair, around the feast of the Virgen del Prado, fills the August nights and draws people from the towns of the Campo de Calatrava. Late-night returns to Miguelturra, Almagro or Daimiel are the most requested.
• Birds at Las Tablas de Daimiel (autumn to spring): When the wetland has water, the colder months bring waterfowl and more visitors to the national park, especially at weekends. It pays to arrive early, which is when the hides are at their best.
• Holiday departures (Easter, summer and Christmas): At the start and end of the holidays, high-speed trains to Madrid and Andalusia and transfers to Barajas from all over the province fill up at the same time. The first flights and first trains of the day are the first to run out of space.

Tip: From Alcázar, Tomelloso or Socuéllamos to Barajas there is no high-speed rail to help: for an early flight, pickup is in the small hours and should be booked days in advance.