Benidorm Island has a legend which tells the story of Roldan, son of Princess Bertha, Charlemagne's sister, who fell in love with a beautiful young girl. The girl had a mysterious illness that had condemned her to death. She could only be saved if the last rays of the sun could pass the enormous Puig Campana Mountain. Roldan did not hesitate and armed with his sword “Durandarte” he attacked the giant mountain. The piece of rock fell into the sea forming the island.
The legend , like all legends is beautiful, but geologists affirm that the island, along with the smaller island La Llosa is a continuation of the neighbouring Sierra Helada mountain that continues down under the sea and surfaces again forming the two islands. The smaller island of La Llosa is almost completely submerged, at its highest point it is only 6 metres above the surface and its base is 30 metres deep.
Both islands are important marine reserves, protected because of the high ecological value to the area. The plant life and birds that nest on the island are protected, for example the Audouin gull and the Cormorant amongst others, some of them making their nest in the cracks and caves of the cliffs. Benidorm island is a paradise for divers as moray eels, octopus and sargo take refuge around its rocky base.
There is a path that enables you to walk to the top of the island and a restaurant opens daily, offering one of the best paellas in the area. Benidorm island is not inhabited but at the beginning of the 19th Century a few hundred people fled to the island to escape a cholera epidemic in the area.
The island is also known as the Journalists' Island. In the Town Hall archives there is a document dated 26th of May 1970 , signed by the then Mayor of Benidorm, Jaime Barcelo and the President of the "Associated Spanish Press Federation", Lucio del Alamo. In this document the Federation is appointed Patron of the island along with all Spanish journalists.
To purchase tickets for the boat trip to the Island or one of the other boat trips to Calpe or Tabarca Island, click here.
Take a look at some other photos of Benidorm Island
Watch our video of the boat trip to Benidorm Island.
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Terra Natura welcome a male fawn into their park with the birth of a Sambar Deer.
The Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor) is the most widely spread deer species in the world and is found in many countries in the Asian Continent, it is also one of the largest.
Their diet consists of vegetation, mainly leaves and due to the protection offered to them at the Benidorm park, they have become less shy with humans. The young fawn has been named Pietro and is being cared for by his mother ,Takita who protects him from the herd as do the other females who treat him like one of their own
No intervention was needed from staff at the park during the delivery although Pietro was given a full examination by Veterinary staff once delivered and received a clean bill of health.
In total eight fawns have been born in wildlife park in Benidorm since this species was introduced into the park. There are currently 11 Sambar Deer, three female & eight males in the park.
Captive breeding of this species requires sufficient space for the deer to develop relationships, socialize and for the courtship rituals, as well as adequate living conditions. Reproductive success is a clear indication of the welfare of the animals and that they have adapted to and are happy in their environment.
The Sambar deer has an extremely sharp sense of hearing and smell. When threatened the Sambar deer hide in thick vegetaion to avoid predators and sometimes jump into lakes or rivers to escape from their attackers; they are excellent swimmers. Size and weight varies according to each individual and can range from 175 to 300 kilos.
Take a look at some of our photos of Terra Natura.
