Reports

Try a Segway Tour in Benidorm

The Spanish have a proverb which states “renovarse o morir” which basically means that to survive you must keep up to date with the times. This is important in any stage of life and is also relevant in tourism. In times of crisis it is important to innovate and change.

Costa Blanca Tours is a company dedicated to tourism in and around the Marina Baixa, they offer the service of official guides as well as tours in the area. In the last couple of years they have introduced new ideas to add that “little extra” to their products and services. segway2

Segway is one of those new ideas. An ecological, modern form of transport, Costa Blanca Tours use them for tours in and around the area. The Company started this activity as an alternative to the traditional guided tours. This innovative excursion also includes the use of wireless radio, with the guides giving a commentary on the history of the area, scenery etc while driving on the tour.

The trips are organized daily, with a short familiarization period of approximately 10 minutes before each excursion to get the “feel” of the Segway. The Segway is surprisingly easy to drive even though there are only two wheels, due to the dynamic gyroscope stabilization technology. This means that it moves with your body, there is no accelerator, no brakes and no clutch. When you lean forward slightly the Segway moves forward and if you lean backwards the Segway gradually stops.

“The Segway is an ecological form of transport, you don’t need a licence to drive it and above all it is cheap” explains Emilio Cano who is responsible for the company in Benidorm. “No insurance and no maintenance is needed which makes it extremely attractive for the tourists.”

The Segway is controlled by remote control which regulates its actions for example its speed. The speed is set with the remote control to 10 kilometres per hour and only in certain circumstances and always in safe environments and terrains is this velocity increased. segway

Anyone that loves the outdoors and adventure will enjoy this new excursion which has been enjoyed by tourists of all ages and has a high number of clients that repeat the experience. Anyone can try it; the only requirement is that your body weight is more that 40 kilos and less than 120 kilos.

If you are interested in trying this new excursion the price is 29 € per person for a two hour trip. It feels like you are floating, you won’t ever want to walk any where again!

Beniexcursions.

Leticia Murillo.

Tabarca

The island of Tabarca

Tabarca is a small impoverished island with a noble past, mixed with legends of Berber pirates, Tunisian sailors, Genovese prisoners, poor fishermen and Kings.

It is the only inhabited island in the whole Valencian Community and only a few miles from the coast of Alicante, Valencia and Castellon. The population has never been more than one hundred and during the height of winter can be as few as thirty. tabarca calle

Winter doesn’t really exist on Tabarca (the average temperature is 17C) but during the warmer months tourism does flourish. In these times the population multiplies, beach bars spring up on the beach, markets and flea markets offer products from the sea and the famous rice from the area.

The rest of the year Tabarca is a stopping point for many types of travellers. The typical “dominguero” or Sunday excursionists from the surrounding area of Alicante or Santa Pola to those travelling from further a field.

Tabarca is a small island measuring only 1.800 metres in length and just less than 400 metres wide, its volume increases during the summer months due to the daily arrival of boats from Alicante, Santa Pola, Campello or Benidorm bringing visitors looking for sunshine and peace on its shores.

The name of the island originates from Tunisia. On the Tunisian coast was an island called Tabarka, inhabited by Genovese. The Tunisian king invaded the island and imprisoned all the inhabitants. The Spanish King Carlos III freed them and later in 1770 brought them to our island, which was originally known as Saint Paul. From that moment they called it the new Tabarca in memory of the Tunisian Tabarka.

King Carlos III fortified the island building walls to stop the pirates operating in the area from using the island as their base for coastal raids. The original name of Saint Paul dates from a Christian tradition marking the place where the Apostle came ashore.

The proximity to the coast , only 3 miles from the cape of Santa Pola and 11 from Alicante mean that the journey is quick and easily done in a day, so you can fish or swim in the calm waters, visit the remains of the three century old walls or simply enjoy the local cuisine.

F.J.Villaplana.