SIGHTSEEING IN ALICANTE

There is so much to see and do in and around Alicante, however we have picked out a few must do's to give you an idea! However a good guide book for the Costa Blanca is always worth buying, just so you can get the most out of your stay!

AGOST

Agost, a small village around 20km north west of Alicante has a long history of pottery manufacture and is still one of the best places in the Alicante region to buy pottery and ceramic ware. This town makes more earthenware botijos than any other spot in Spain. The authentic souvenir is the Botijo de Novia which is a type of earthenware water jug.
http://www.agost.com/

ALGAR WATERFALLS

Buried in a jungly green valley filled with citrus and medlar groves, the water alternates between cascades and pools running between river banks covered with bourganvillea in summer. Starting at the lowest and most spectacular waterfall, you can climb up alongside the river for around 25 minutes until it becomes a mountain stream and then wade on up to the top. Bath in its various pools and waterfalls. Don't forget your swimming costumes! On the Benidorm - Callosa Road.

BALLOON FLIGHTS

Definitely for the more adventurous! Enjoy the experience of flying calmly and quietly over the landscapes of Southern Alicante. The whole excursion lasts 4 hours, including 1 hour flying time. Includes flight, Cava and certificate!
http://www.balloonflightsspain.com/spain/Elche.aspx

BENIDORM

What can be said about Benidorm that hasn't been said already? Yes it's brash and commercialised, but also has 2 fantastic beaches, great shops, lively atmosphere, superb restaurants and nightlife plus something for everyone! The world famous Benidorm Palace http://www.benidorm-palace.com is worth a visit for a fantastic night out with a 4 course meal (including wine) and spectacular show. The old town, in between the two beaches, is well worth a visit and is full of atmospheric restaurants and tapas bars. Hard to believe that until the 1960's Benidorm was a quiet sleepy fishing village!

CUEVAS DEL CANALOBRE

North of Alicante, by El Campello, take the road inland to Buscot, a village nestled on a hill that is crowned by the ruins of a 12th century Moorish castle. Just 3km from Buscot are the Cuevas del Canalobre, the highest domed caves in Spain, the vast cavern gaining its name from the incredible limestone outcrop in the form of a candelabra. The massive chamber is a popular tourist attraction; the acoustics are so good that a stage has been erected within the caves for concerts and folk festivals. Visitors enter the cave through a long passage carved out in the mountain and for a few euros, a guide will take you inside where the lighting and music echoing inside will immediately set your mood to silent contemplation! The caves are situated on the slopes of the Cabezo d'Or the golden hill and there are beautiful views of Alicante and the Mediterranean Sea. There are several hiking routes that can be taken from Buscot, where walkers can enjoy unique views of the dry and jagged landscape. From Alicante, motorway A7 exit 67 to El Campello, exit the road N-332 near El Campello to road N-340 Alcoy-Jijona to the cave in Busot. http://cuevasdecanelobre.com/index.php?lang=en

ELCHE

Well worth a visit is the city of Elche, just south west of Alicante, about 35 minutes drive. Over 300,000 officially protected palm trees in the city lend it a somewhat exotic air. These palms are evident on every street corner and can be especially enjoyed in the well-tended city park and just a short walk away in the Huerto del Cura (Garden of The Priest), a botanical garden in the palm forest which has now been added to the UNESCO cultural heritage list. The main attraction here is the Imperial Palm, a hermaphrodite palm tree that changes sex every 70 years and sprouted seven trunks, one of which produces dates.

The River Vinalopo runs through Elche and has several impressive crossing points. If you stay close to the river you are guaranteed to see the best of the sights including the Basilica, the Palacio, the Museo de la Festa and the old town market. The Elche Tourist Board can help you with a street plan containing suggested routes to ensure you get the most from your visit. All over Elche are splendid buildings with intricate stonework plus many monuments and statues.
http://www.turismedelx.com/en/

GUADALEST

Guadalest is around 67km north west of Alicante. Take the A7 north towards Benidorm and the Callosa exit and follow the signs to Fonts Del Algar and then Guadalest. On the uppermost part of a mountain peak, with houses set in the rock, Guadalest overlooks a deep valley through which the Guadalest river runs, and as such it enjoys one of the most spectacular locations of any village in Spain, set high up on a pinnacle and carved out of a mountain top in the midst of truly stunning scenery. It has a population of only 200 but is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Costa Blanca. The castle village, which is reached through a tunnel, is stunning, with many small craft and souvenir shops, cafés and museums. For a few Euros, you can take a tour around the inside of the castle and the ramparts and you will be rewarded with some breathtaking views of the surrounding valley and down to the Bay of Altea. Tip - Wear 'sensible' shoes! There are also 10 museums here!
http://www.guadalest.eu/

JIJONA

Jijona is located in the mountains between Alicante and Alcoy and is a small town set on a hill, with remains of a medieval castle, giving unparallelled views of the Mediterranean. The drive will take approx half an hour from Alicante. Nowadays, Jijona is famous for Turron, a famous Spanish nougat made with almonds, orange blossom honey and sugar, which is traditionally eaten at Christmas. There are numerous roadside stalls where it is sold with pots of honey and even a Turron museum where you can see how it is produced. Here you can have a half hour visit and around the work floor and private museum and then sample the delights of the many different varieties of Turron in the shop. Not a visit for those watching their weight!
http://www.museodelturron.com

BANANA BOATS / CHILL OUT SUNSET TRIP

Enjoy a great and exciting trip exploring the Postiguet beach, the Albufera and San Juan beach. And discover the landscapes of Cape las Huertas and their nudist beaches and the famous "Face the Moro" of the Castle Santa Barbara.

OR Enjoy a powerful and modern, high-speed cruise to the wonderful marine reserve of the Island of Tabarca, get the chance to bathe in the blue waters surrounding and discover its incredible depths. OR The sunset trip is the best way to start your night. We sailed up there a quiet place to get carried away with the music, the sea and of course, the best sangria refreshing that we offer. You can swim, dance, participate in our games and...

http://www.flyingcruiser.com/wordpress/?page_id=5

DIVING

If you fancy a bit of diving (even if you are a novice!) then try the local PADI diving school in Santa Pola. Dive Academy is a PADI 5 Star IDC centre and a RYA Training Centre. It offers daily fun dives. Lots of the dive sites are situated around Isla de Tabarca and along the coast of the Costa Blanca. The dive school also offers all PADI courses ; Try Dives, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, Instructor. Besides these courses they also offer lots of specialty courses, like wreck diving, deep diving, etc. http://www.diveacademy-santapola.com/homeuk.htm

A DAY AT SEA!

Would you like to go sailing, swimming and snorkelling on a catamaran(with lunch included)? The soft morning breeze announces the departure of the Mundo Marino catamaran. The expert crew prepares the sail to ensure you have a comfortable and fun journey. The spacious catamaran has comfortable sits in the shadow and in the sun. You can also lay on its nets at the bow, whilst admiring up close the crystal clear waters, the capes and the coves of the coastline. The catamaran stops at one of those beautiful coves so you can enjoy a relaxing swim, far from the hectic beaches, and with the snorkel masks available on board, discovering the mysterious sea bottom. After spending a few fantastic hours in this idyllic Mediterranean cove and enjoying a delicious meal, we will commence our journey back to the port. http://www.mundomarino.es/nautico-uk/vela.php?recordID=1

KITESURFING / WINDSURFING / CATAMARAN / BODYBOARDING

Fancy a try at any of these? Then contact http://www.parres-center.com/uk/index.php for more information!

ALICANTE WALKING TOUR

Do you want to discover the history of Alicante? You can do it now..... with a GUIDE!!! Join us in a guided tour to know the way Alicante was born and how it developed, walking through the most known places and other unknown corners. Besides, there's a wine tasting at the end of the tour, so that you can try a typical Alicante wine! http://www.turiguiasalicante.com/en/visitas.asp