Trips near Benidorm that prove there’s more to it than the beach
Benidorm sounds like skyscrapers, sun, beach, and parties. It’s the most typical picture of popular tourism in Spain. Those who visit Benidorm can’t find enough of a reason to leave it. But there is so much more to do in Benidorm than sunbathing and enjoying its atmosphere. The most lively locality in the Spanish Mediterranean is surrounded by endless possibilities to enjoy different and equally interesting getaways. These are the best plans near Benidorm.
Serra Gelada Natural Park. | Shutterstock
If you are visiting Benidorm, you need to go to Serra Gelada Natural Park. Although it’s basically possible to touch it from its skyscrapers, it’s still unknown to many people. This oasis of peace is a small paradise, perfect for getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Cliffs rise over 300 metres above sea level, crowning this wildish coastal strip. They offer spectacular views of Costa Blanca.
But this natural space holds plenty of other treasures. On one hand, it houses secret, tiny coves of crystalline waters that not many people know about, where you can unfold your towel away from the other visitors. If you’re into scuba diving, you need to explore these sea depths of exceptional richness. The Serra Gelada Natural Park is just seven kilometres away from the town with the most skyscrapers in Spain, so it’s a must if you’re in Benidorm.
Guadalest. | Shutterstock
Guadalest is one of the most beautiful villages near Benidorm, and it’s just 21 kilometres from it. It can be a true discovery for the most fearless travellers. Its houses, perched on a rock, face the abyss recklessly, staring at the reservoir at its foot. The silhouettes of a white tower bell and a medieval tower stand out on its top. This is the most iconic postcard of this village, which comprises houses with white façades, charming neighbourhoods, and fortresses that will take you back in time.
There is even more to discover in El Castell de Guadalest, which is why it’s one of the most complete getaways near Benidorm. Visitors love its large and interesting range of museums, such as the miniature and the salt and pepper shakers museums or the Museo de Belenes y Casitas de Muñecas, where you will find nativity scenes and dollhouses. Its wild natural surroundings are another main attraction, thanks to the infinite paths that lead to tiny hills, fountains, and viewpoints, or that edge one of the most impressive reservoirs in Spain.
Fuentes del Algar. | Shutterstock
When you hear Benidorm, you think of beaches. But here it is possible to swim in freshwater too, and this is the best part: you can do it in an idyllic setting. Fuentes de Algar is some type of natural aquatic park. This constellation of small waterfalls and ponds of crystalline waters is the perfect place to escape from the heat, thanks to its vegetation and the fresh mountain water from the sierra.
When you’re on your way (or coming back) to Benidorm, you should stop and visit one of the most beautiful villages in Alicante. Polop de la Marina isn’t as known as other towns in the interior of Costa Blanca, but Spanish personalities such as the writer Gabriel Miró and the artist Benjamín Palencia were truly captivated by its pure Mediterranean essence. Take a moment to observe its pebbled streets, its façades filled with flowers, the old Almohade castle, and, especially, Fuente de los Chorros, which has 221 pipes.
Barranco del Infierno. | Shutterstock
To enjoy El Barranco del Infierno, you’ll have to get to La Vall de Laguar, 60 kilometres from Benidorm. To enjoy or to suffer—that depends on those who dare to take the path of 6,000 steps. Actually, there are 6,873 steps in the path that crosses El Barranco del Infierno. This difficult route of 15 kilometres ascends and descends constantly and has a cumulative elevation of more than 1,000 metres. It takes a great deal of effort to complete, but you’ll be rewarded with the view of a very special place of geological uniqueness, natural richness, and particular history.
These never-ending stairs date back to the Moorish era of these lands. The steps allowed them to access the terraced fields where olives, almonds, and grapes, among other fruits, were grown. The crops were the main means of livelihood for this community. And although those crops are just a memory now, they have gifted us with one of the most spectacular hiking routes you can find.
Cova Tallada. | Shutterstock
There is a very special place on the coast of Jávea, around 45 minutes from Benidorm: Cova Tallada. This cave was excavated at sea level between the 12th and 14th centuries to obtain tufa and stone in order to build many of the constructions in the area. The cave has spectacular arches and a small yet charming pool.
You can get to Cova Tallada by foot, but it is funnier to do so by kayak. This nice activity allows you to enjoy the beauty of the cliffs on this stretch of Alicante’s coastline. You should bring your snorkelling equipment because this cave is in the Cap Sant Antoni Natural Marine Reserve. You will probably be very hungry at this point, so be sure to check out the nearby Denia, declared a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO.
Sunset at Salinas de Santa Pola. | Shutterstock
Thousands of flamingoes have turned Salinas de Santa Pola into their homes. Together with other birds, such as eaglets, herons, and black-winged stilts, they make it a small paradise for ornithology lovers. Besides its great value as a bird observatory, this natural park near Benidorm is a good example of how nature and industry can coexist. There are easy hiking routes through this wetland, and its former salt mill reconverted into a museum will teach you everything about salt, its uses, its importance throughout history, and, of course, how it’s extracted.
We recommend two ways to end your journey—two options that differ a lot from one another. The first one is a visit to Tabarca, an island facing Santa Poland that sheltered Barbary corsairs and was fortified later by order of Charles III. This wall is a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico, but it’s not the only treasure you’ll find in Tabarca. The other one hides under the sea, since it is a marine reserve of exceptional value. The second option is a trip to Elche, which is just 16 kilometres from Santa Pola, where you can explore its unique groves of date palms that were declared a World Heritage Site.
Bocairent. | Shutterstock
One of the most peculiar villages in Alicante is a hundred kilometres from Benidorm. Its name is Bocairent, and it is clustered along the hillside of a mountain from where marvellous views of Serra Mariola can be enjoyed. But this rock has an interesting secret: the Covetes dels Moros. It is a labyrinth of tunnels that lead to tiny windows that will make your heart skip a beat.
Besides, this locality is one of the gates to the Serra Mariola Natural Park, which offers plenty of activities to suit the taste of every member of the family. Diving into its pine forests, discovering thousands of fountains that sprout from the ground, swimming in its ponds of crystal-clear water, hiking, or learning speleology are just some of these activities. And although this natural space is lovely at every time of the year, autumn suits it especially well.
