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Ideas about the best places to visit in the Costa Blanca...
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Our sightseeing, walking, biking, hiking guide in ... Alicante - Costa Blanca - Spain may give you some ideas of places to visit, which you may not have thought about ... |
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| A guide to the best places to visit in and around the Alicante - Costa Blanca region of Spain, which in our opinion are suitable for sightseeing, walking, biking or hiking trips. We will not go into details about where to park your car, routes to take (maps are included). Just some ideas about places to visit which you may not have thought about for an outing, or simply a trip out in the car ... possibly giving you some inspiration ... photographs of all the suggested places to visit in the Costa Blanca are included ... please enjoy ... | ||||
| Our best places to visit in the Costa Blanca are in no particular order - and are as follows ... | ||||
Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Embalse de la Pedrera - Clot de Galvany Fonts de Algar - Mar Menor Mud Baths - Salinas de Santa Pola |
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Best places in the Costa Blanca to visit ... Calblanque. |
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| Situated just outside of the Costa Blanca itself the Calblanque is well worthy of a top spot in our places around the Costa Blanca to visit guide. A designated nature reserve ... off the beaten track (quite literally) ... Calblanque is close to the Mar Menor peninsula but is a hidden, un-spoiled oasis ... which, through its protection order should remain so for many years to come ... | ||||
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| Calblanque is worth the visit ... if only as a stop off on the way to the Mar Menor peninsula ... if your car suspension is up to the bumpy dirt track drive (approx 5Km) you will witness a rare sight ... a comparatively small piece of Spanish coast line ... just as nature intended it to be ... Calblanque ... (and long may it remain so). To reach the Calblanque beach ... look out for the turn (right) off the Autovia MU-312 ... as you are travelling towards the southern Mar Menor penisula. The question has to be asked though ... where is all the widlife in these "nature reserves" Recommendation about visiting Calblanque below |
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| Places To Visit Costa Blanca quick links : Page Top - Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Fonts de Algar |
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Best places to visit Costa Blanca ... Busot Caves. |
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| The Busot caves lie 3km from the village of Busot - the "Coves Del Canelobre" gains it's name from some of the stalactite's and stalagmite's formed in the limestone rock, resembling candelabras. The caves are situated on the side of the Cabezón D'Or (Cabecó d'Or in Valenciano) mountain - the highest point in the Alicante municipality (county) ... and as such, is one place in the Costa Blanca prone to snow in the winter months. |
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 Busot Caves ... another deserved entry on our list of places to visit in the Costa Blanca ... OK ... some might say you've seen one cave - you've seen them all ... but for a nice drive out with splendid views (as well as the cave visit) ... look no further than Busot. The drive up to the caves entrance is a little "hairy scary" for the nervous (ear popping included) ... but well worth the effort ... (IMHO). The entrance fee for the Busot caves is 5€ per adult which includes a guided tour with a multi-lingual guide, who explains the history & upkeep of the caves in a jovial & entertaining manner ... or at least our guide did. You may have to wait a while for a cave tour to start ... if this is the case ... there is a small rereshment kiosk, so grab a coffee and enjoy the view from the side of the mountain. There are public toilets just down the road from the kiosk where you purchase the tickets for the tour of the Busot caves. |
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| For the more energetic - with adventure in their blood ... there is a car park further down the road to the Busot cave entrance ... from where it is possible to hike on designated paths around the Busot Cabezón D'Or mountain side ... there are also climbing routes ... indeed there are pathways around the cave entrance also ... which lead to an even higher vantage point. Simply head for Busot ... and the caves are well signposted .. "Coves Del Canelobre" Opening times for the Busot caves are approx 10.30 - 17.00 everyday. Peak Season till around 19.00. more details http://www.cuevasdecanelobre.com/index.php?lang=en This map shows the location of the Busot Cave entrance ... map is interactive ... use the mouse to see the views. The information as you enter the caves (in Spanish & English) state that the caves are home to a small colony of bats ... unfortunately they must have been sleeping at the time of our visit. |
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| Places To Visit Costa Blanca quick links : Page Top - Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Fonts de Algar |
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Best places to visit Costa Blanca ... Spain's best kept secret ?
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| Places To Visit Costa Blanca quick links : Page Top - Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Fonts de Algar |
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Best places to visit Costa Blanca ... Embalse de la Pedrera. |
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| The Embalse Pedrera is one Spanish gem hidden away inland - between San Miguel Salinas and Bigastro - just off the CV-95 road. The scenery is quite spectacular, the Embalse Pedrera is a large man made reservoir and the place is ideal to visit for a scenic sightseeing trip. | ||||
| Places To Visit Costa Blanca quick links : Page Top - Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Fonts de Algar |
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Best places to visit Costa Blanca ...
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The area of land between Santa Pola and Gran Alacant is a protected nature reserve called the Clot de Galvany the nature reserve overlooks the coast offering some spectacular views from the cliffs including Tabarca Island. The map shows the various walking, cycling / biking paths available in this expanse of ground - hardly a place of spectacular beauty, but none the less deserving of a place in our places to visit in the Costa Blanca guide ...
if only for the views from the cliffs (not a place for the faint hearted - the cliffs are not fenced off). |
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| Once again it must be remarked upon .. this is a "designated nature reserve"... but ... where is all the wildlife in the Costa Blanca ... |
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Best places to visit Costa Blanca ... Fonts de l'Algar. |
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| The Fonts de l'Algar ... where to start ? ... Lets start by saying that the price ticket on this Costa Blanca place to visit is a little steep for what you get ... I understand that the upkeep and improvement of these Spanish tourist attractions has to be accounted for in some way ... but hey ... lets keep it in perspective. Maybe I was just in a bad mood that day ... but 5 euro a head plus 4 euro to park ... (if I remember rightly) seemed "mucho dinero" for about a 3 or 4 hundred metre walk along a stream with waterfalls and back the same way. TIP : If you go to the Algar falls by car ... don't use the first car park you see ... there are around six car parks ... drive right to the entrance to the Algar falls ... turn around & use the closest car park ... if I remember rightly the first car park we saw must have been about 1km from the actual entrance to the place. |
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 The Fonts de l'Algar were apparently given a huge face lift in March of 2008. Before we went (April 2009) I looked on Google Images & the photos on Google Earth which gave me an idea of what to expect ... or should have done ... nothing like ... absolutely nothing like. Those photos showed quite big falls with a pool underneath and people bathing in the pools, whereas at the place we went to ... nothing of the kind could be achieved ... maybe we were in the wrong place ? I think not ... 
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| Anyway all was not lost ... on the exit from the Algar Falls visit, we saw the sign to the Botanical Garden centre Cactus D'Algar ... lets try that ... we thought ... but guess what - they wanted another 3€ per head to enter this place. If you look at the sign ... maybe I was just getting the finger that day. Joking aside ... it was not a bad day out ... and we will go back to the Cactus D'Alar in the near future, and I'll let you know how that goes. The area around the falls is typical Spanish countryside - but despite there being signs with various wildlife species listed ... we saw nothing ... where is all the wildlife in the Costa Blanca ? |
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| Places To Visit Costa Blanca quick links : Page Top - Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Fonts de Algar |
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Best places to visit (outside of the) Costa Blanca ... Mud Baths at Mar Menor. |
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 On the north side of the Mar Menor penisula ... a strange ritual takes place. The salty lakes are blessed with a "mud" which is supposed to have therapeutic healing qualities. Small jetties have been built specifically to aid people wanting to indulge in this fun ... they say don't knock it till you've tried it ... but ... like the wimp that I am ... I skipped. The people pictured left were posing for a photo with their own camera & I sneaked a shot ... - I hope you don't mind me using your photo !! If this looks like your cup of tea ... see the Mar Menor map below & get yourself right in the thick of it. |
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 Depending on where you are travelling from (and time available) ... this "place to visit (outside) of the Costa Blanca" ... could be divided into three places to visit. 1. The Mar Menor Mud Baths 2. Calblanque (already covered above). 3. The Southern Mar Menor Peninsula. The Mar Menor is surrounded by land. The Northern peninsula is a walkway only ... no cars, perfect for a bike ride or a long stroll. The Southern peninsula is an urban district on each side of the road which runs right up to the Mar Menor bridge. Calblanque is situated off the MU-312 heading toward the Southern peninsula of the Mar Menor. How (and if) you do it is up to you ... but all three places are well worth a visit ... without doubt. |
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1. The Mar Menor Mud Baths Not to everyones taste obviously ... different ... yes ... the walkway along the northern Mar Menor peninsula stretches for a good mile ... and with the sun on your back makes a nice walk or bike ride ... with or without having tried the magical mud.Visiting the Mar Menor mud baths in your car ... use the parking spaces which stretch along the beach ... (marked on the map above) but, be prepared for (possibly) a good walk ... as this place gets very busy in high season. 2. Calblanque This place to visit is described & photographed above - well worth the effort. 3. The Southern Mar Menor Peninsula. As already stated the Southern Mar Menor peninsula is drivable as opposed to the Northern peninsula which is not. So after a visit to Calblanque why not take a leisurely drive up the road running central on this peninsula ... taking stops wherever you fancy... at the top of this peninsula you will find the Mar Menor marina, and the Mar Menor bridge ... and everywhere in this whole area you will see water sport acivities. |
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| A great day out if you get up early ... or maybe split the trio up over a couple of days. | ||||
| This map shows parking spots along the Mar Menor beach ... if you want to visit the mud baths. The map is interactive & if you click the top right square it will go full screen. |
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| Places To Visit Costa Blanca quick links : Page Top - Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Fonts de Algar |
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Best places to visit Costa Blanca ...
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| This is hardly a tourist destination recommendation - far from it ... but to understand a little of of the major industry in this region of the Costa Blanca (probably .. third behind tourism & property) ... and witness the only one of the Costa Blanca's nature reserves - where the wildlife can be seen ... then a trip to these lakes (almost unavoidable when visiting these parts ... as the N332 coastal road runs right through the lakes) ... is a must do thing. |
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| These lakes are (I think) partly the cause of the "claims" by some people - that this area of the Costa Blanca is one of the healthiest places in the world to live ... according to the World Health Organisation. Exactly where the World Health Organisation state this fact ... is a mystery ... (I've looked & cannot find this on the Internet) ... apart from on website's trying to sell the place ... I have heard people state that the area is well know to assist people suffering from arthritis - but I do know a friend suffering from arthritis who had to move inland because of the high humidity level here on the coast. If the World Health Organisation do indeed state the fact ... that this part of the Costa Blanca around the Santa Pola Salt Lakes is one of the healthiest places on earth to live ... all well & good ... but I would want to see it in writing ... from the horses mouth ... so to speak ... |
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 The Santa Pola Salt Lakes (Salinas de Santa Pola) are one of about seven natural parks (natural reserves) within the Costa Blanca, and is (read our article about the lack of wildlife in the Costa Blanca) one of the very few places where you can actually get to see the wildlife (in this case birds) ... without spending a couple of days in a hide ... watching & waiting. Getting photographs of the birds however, without a large zoom lens camera can prove difficult ... especially the flamingos. My camera does not take a bad photo (I hope you agree) but trying to get a photo of the Santa Pola flamingos with it, is proving neigh on impossible, despite several ideal opportunities. Of all the birds which haunt the Santa Pola Salt Lakes the flamingos are obviously the most exotic ... its rare to pass through the lakes when there are no flamingos ... sometimes they are far out ... and sometimes quite near ... But ... sorry ... but no good flamingo photos .... yet. |
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| There is a small museum detailing all aspects of the Santa Pola Lakes (Salinas de Santa Pola) the "Museo de la Sal" Information Centre ... The Salt Museum is open from around 09.00 till 14.30 (and sometimes later in the afternoon) .. but closed on Monday ... its free to enter ... and has its very own salt lake at the rear of the building. The Santa Pola Salt Museum location is highlighted on the interactive map link below.  |
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 Note : There are only two places to stop and park your car at the Santa Pola Salt Lakes ... off the N332 road ... one is a lay by at the square turret pictured above ... the other a small piece of waste ground further down, in the direction of La Marina, drive slowly ... if you blink you may miss them. The Santa Pola Salt Lakes on their own are rather unremarkable ... But in the mighty scheme of things ... they are so much more. |
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| This map shows the location of the Santa Pola Salt Museum - in street view ... the map is interactive, and can be expanded full screen by clicking the square in the top right corner. | ||||
| Places To Visit Costa Blanca quick links : Page Top - Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Fonts de Algar |
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Best places to visit Costa Blanca ... The Northern Costa Blanca.[edit] |
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The northern coastal tip of the Costa Blanca - Dénia, Javea, Moraira, Calpe and Altea provide some of the most spectacular coastline in the whole of the Costa Blanca ... with some breathtaking coastal views all along this stretch ... if you can find the time for a leisurely drive along this part of the Costa Blanca coastline ... it will be well worth the effort
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Places to visit Costa Blanca - Dénia The northern most extreme of the Costa Blanca has some spectacular coastal scenery. Tourist Info Dénia Plaza Oculista Buigues 9 Telephone : 966 422 367 Email : denia@touristinfo.net Places to visit Costa Blanca - Javea Tourist Info Javea  Places to visit Costa Blanca - Moraira Part of Teulada with 13,280 inhabitants (2007) 60% of which are of foreign nationality... Moraira is a small Costa Blanca coastal town well worth a visit when touring in the northern part of the Costa Blanca. Tourist Info Moraira Places to visit Costa Blanca - Calpe Tourist Info Calpe Plazza del Mosquit Tel : 965 838 532 E Mail : calpecentro@touristinfo.net Places to visit Costa Blanca - Altea Tourist Info Altea [EDIT] in Progress] |
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| Places To Visit Costa Blanca quick links : Page Top - Calblanque - Busot Caves - Arabian Tea House - Fonts de Algar |
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Best places to visit Costa Blanca ... Oliva. [edit] |
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| "Oliva ............." coming soon .... | ||||
Places to visit Costa Blanca ... Gandia.[edit] |
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| "Gandia ............." .... coming soon | ||||
Places to visit Costa Blanca ... Sierra de Mariola.[edit] |
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| "Sierra de Mariola ............." ... coming soon | ||||
Places to visit Costa Blanca ... Font Roja.[edit] |
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| "Font Roja ............." coming soon | ||||
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