Reports

The Peñon de Ifach & Calpe

It is impossible to talk about Calpe, without mentioning its famous rock, the Peñon de Ifach.

Created by one of nature’s quirks; it forms one of the most unique and beautiful geographical features of Valencia and of the entire Mediterranean coast.

Nature formed this magnificent area where the marine life and fauna all reside in a truly exceptional climate. The only similar paragon with the Peñon is the Rock of Gibraltar.

The Peñon has two distinguishable parts: the upper surface with vertical limestone walls and the lower part with a different composition, containing more clay, gentle uphill slopes and recent formations.

The newer portion of the Peñon is lower than the upper portions and did not originate in situ, but because of a huge detachment or landslide from the nearby Sierra de Olta Mountain.

Despite being in a highly populated area, the rock retains much of its biological value and plant life. Many of the plants that grow there have caught the attention of botanical experts worldwide as do the different type of birds that nest in its crevices or stop over to rest during migration. The Eleonora Falcon (Falco eleonorae), the Peregrine Falcon, the European Shag a species of cormorant , the Alcatraz, a type of pelican, the northern gannet, the pallid swift, the yellow-legged gull, the common kestrel and the European Greenfinch as well as lots of reptiles and lizards.

The Peñon belonged to the town of Calpe until the late nineteenth century, when it passed into the hands of various private owners until being acquired by the Generalitat Valenciana, shortly before being declared a Nature park. calpe2

As one of the smaller European nature parks, only covering 47 hectares, this promontory is unique due to its bioclimatic features, the nature of its soil along with the variety of flora and vegetation.

Boat trips from Benidorm along the coast to Calpe - tickets here.

F.J.Villaplana

Beniexcursions.

Guadalest full of natural charm

Guadalest, a small town full of narrow streets and corners rises from the heart of the Marina Baixa. It is the ideal place to find peace in the surrounding landscape and culture. guad2

Located in a valley full of leafy trees and mountains only 22 kilometres from the coast, the area is famous for the production of Mistela and for the cultivation of the Loquat or Nispero. Hand made items are another attraction of the area, especially lace and fabrics.

With a population of approximately 200 inhabitants Guadalest is full of tradition and there are years of history in its tiny streets. At the foot of the village there is a reservoir which is surrounded by the Sierra Aitana Mountains and from where you can take a trip on a Solar Powered boat.

At this time of year it is even more beautiful, between January and March, Mother Nature puts on a spectacular show with the almond blossom colouring the mountains in shades of ivory, white and pink. A delight for the senses, it announces the arrival of spring and the heady scent of the blossom fills the air.

There are plenty of reasons for you to pay a visit to Guadalest and the mountainous areas that separates Benidorm from Alcoy. It is a paradise full of tradition with great cuisine using only the best ingredients all grown in the area. Enough to please the most demanding of palates. guad1

Guadalest is not to be missed!

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.

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.