Boca del Infierno (in the Oza forest): adventure, adrenaline and landscape

Hell's Mouth, Oza Forest
Hell's Mouth, Oza Forest

Boca del Infierno is a natural pass to the Selva de Oza (Valle de Hecho), near Siresa, a natural ecosystem located within the Natural Park of the Western Valleys in the Valle de Hecho (Province of Huesca, Spain), in the western part of the Aragonese Pyrenees.

The waters of the Aragón Subordán river (abundant in trout) flow through the Selva de Oza and its waters hide in the depths of the limestone in the Boca del Infierno ravine in the middle of a short but demanding descent.

The Boca del Infierno (Hell's Mouth) is one of the greatest attractions of the Selva de Oza, as it is a very deep ravine, formed by an infinite number of rocks bathed by waterfalls. The descent is a real challenge full of adventure.

The gorge was given the name of Boca del Infierno (Hell's Mouth) because of the narrow and terrifying atmosphere that enhances the noise of the river's waters, added to its flow and the rapid movements of its waters. This gorge is very much visited in high season by lovers of extreme sports and adrenaline.

The descent through Boca del Infierno

The ideal is to do it in a group accompanied by expert guides from the area who know the canyon.

At the beginning you will find an area of large boulders, over which you can descend and walk at a normal pace or jump from one to another without any problems. Almost immediately you will be able to enjoy the cold waters that do not even cover half of your body.

One of the most awaited points is the "washing machine pass", where, in the middle of a cold dip, the water will go round and round like a washing machine in operation. Then you will continue walking along the sides or if you prefer, you will enjoy a couple of short slides in the water that allow you to continue going down, but very calmly and carefully following the instructions of the guides.

When you reach the halfway point of the route you will find the hanging block, a waterfall of about 8 to 9 metres high that you can either jump over or descend using a small abseil of 3 or 4 metres (safer option).

After "flying" down the ravine, you reach the section of the ravine with the largest watercourse with walls on both sides from where you can't see the main road. In the midst of a dimly lit environment, rocky landscapes and only upwards the view of the sky, you can be inside the water and enjoy this pleasant moment of connection with nature, only the noise of the water and the surroundings.

Finally, there is one last jump of about 4 or 5 metres, which is easy according to the guides. At this point the water is not stagnant but in constant movement due to the falling water, which means that you don't feel as much of the plunge. Here you can experience a wonderful feeling of adrenaline if you didn't take the previous jump.

Surely if you have the courage to jump you will want to do it again... but at this point the route through the famous Boca del Infierno ravine ends.