Do you like driving? Then you should know what a road trip is! You may even have already done more than one without even realising it, and this phenomenon that is becoming increasingly fashionable, as a way of traveling has actually been practiced for many years.
Why give up the surroundings of a big city, or stop and entertain yourself at all those points of interest that dot the route that separates two destinations? Don't settle for the classics! Today we present you the definitive road trip to travel the province of Alicante from north to south without missing any of the best corners of the Costa Blanca. You already have a plan for your vacation! Get ready to live an unforgettable week.
Drive along alternating the sea and the Alicante mountains for 7 days along the N-332. A spectacular route by the sea where you will enjoy both the stops and the journey. Let’s get started!
We begin our route in Denia, a coastal town located in the extreme north of the Alicante province, that boasts a proud history and exceptional gastronomy, featuring local products that have achieved world wide fame.
After visiting its castle of Arab origin, touring the old town and collecting delicacies in its central market, don't miss the opportunity to visit the port at sunset to attend the fish auction. Once there, you choose, you can witness the battle to get the precious and freshly caught red prawns or feel like one of the others and buy what was caught that same day directly from the fishermen. A whole gastronomic experience!
With your batteries recharged, we recommend you take the N-332 heading south along the coast to see some of the most beautiful beaches and coves in all of Spain. Javea has been a very fashionable destination in recent years with a multitude of stylish places to have a drink overlooking the sea listening to good music at any time of the day.
Among pine forests, cliffs and luxury developments, do not miss the coves Ambolo, Portixol and Granadella. They are a true paradise! Although it is true, in high season you will have to get up early to find a good place to plant your umbrella.
After eating a delicious paella, you cannot skip the obligatory stop at Gata de Gorgos. This small town surrounded by orange trees is truly famous for its wicker, cattail and halfah grass (esparto) creations combining traditional designs and techniques with the latest trends in interior design. Firms from all over Europe and design lovers flock here to buy lamps, rugs or baskets from their artisans in the picturesque old town. The perfect souvenir from the Costa Blanca!
To end the day, it's time to return to the shore, Benisa offers us beautiful sunsets from its Ecological Walk. A pedestrian path that climbs and borders the cliffs of the municipality, joining its coves and beaches in the shade of the pines. The perfect ending to a day in the Mediterranean!
Without leaving the coast and with the N-332 as a travel companion, Calpe is the next stop on our route. The Peñón de Ifach is a huge rocky mass of 332, meters high coincidence? and free falls over the sea. Dare to ascend its path and reach the highest point of the rock. It is not a difficult route, but only suitable for the brave.
To eat, the best fresh fish in any of the restaurants that are in the port at the foot of the Rock, a nap by the sea and then we head to Altea, just a few kilometres south. This elegant and traditional white washed town rises on a gentle hill next to the sea and is crowned by a navy-blue ceramic dome that rises visible from any point of the municipality. It is unmistakable. Amid the hubbub of street music, the artists who have always found their home here and the craft stalls that line every corner, strolling through its narrow streets at sunset is a real pleasure that, without a doubt, must be accompanied by a horchata or an ice cream on the promenade contemplating the sea. Always the sea.
Only separated from Altea by the Sierra Helada, Benidorm is the perfect place to establish our operations centre during this road trip. At Servigroup we put at your disposal a selection of nine hotels so that you can choose your favourite and enjoy the unmistakable and vibrant atmosphere of the tourist capital of the Costa Blanca. Its beaches, its island and, in short, its character, make you want to return to Benidorm a thousand times.
Also, if you are staying in Benidorm, it is worth taking a detour from the N-332 for a moment and going a few minutes into the mountains, you don't need more. It seems incredible that the landscape changes so much in such a short time. Polop de la Marina is heir to an important historical legacy that is felt in every corner of its historic centre. The panoramic view of the municipality with the mountains as a backdrop is the perfect gateway to the mountains of Alicante. And behind it, Guadalest, with its unmistakable turquoise lake, and Callosa d'En Sarrià with the Algar river and its crystalline waterfalls. Nature in its purest form! A wonderful region dotted with fields of kumquats and avocados that offers one of the most hidden treasures of the Costa Blanca.
Let's go back to the coast line to make a well-deserved stop in Villajoyosa. It is time to indulge ourselves and what better for this than The Pearl of the Mediterranean. The most exclusive corner of the Costa Blanca is, without a doubt, the emblematic Hotel Montiboli, located on the edge of a cliff and with direct access to two paradisiacal coves. After enjoying its views, its gastronomy and a comforting swim in its pools overlooking the sea, do not hesitate to dedicate a sunset to the old town of “La Vila” and its unmistakable coloured houses. You will instantly be intoxicated by the aroma of the chocolate that is made by hand in Villajoyosa, you will defiantly want to take a sample with you.
Our journey continues to Alicante, the capital of the province dominated by the captivating profile of the Santa Barbara castle at the top of Mount Benacantil. Do not miss its Santa Cruz neighbourhood, on the side of the castle, or places as interesting as the Basilica of Santa María, a true jewel between the Gothic and the Baroque, the central market or the Esplanade of Spain and its Instagram able pavement. Expert advice! In Calle Viriato you can enjoy the best view of the Cara del Moro, put it on your list and discover through this native legend the origin of the name of the city of Alicante. It will surprise you!
By the way, don't leave without buying some nougat in any of the shops in this lively capital before starting the final stretch of our route.
We are approaching the end of the trip, but now it is the turn of a completely different seascape from the one we enjoyed the first days of this Alicante road trip. The southern coast of the province of Alicante is made up of a succession of endless white sandy beaches protected by immense sand dunes and a multitude of pine trees. Do not miss the beach of Las Marinas, which is accessed through wooden walkways raised above the dunes, crossing the pine forest.
Between beach and beach, in this area, a centenary trade is carried out: the production of salt. The Mediterranean floods salt flats and lakes like the Laguna Rosa, with the water of a colour that does its name complete justice, and the sun does the rest, reaching thousands of tons of salt each year. All this gives rise to a unique and unknown ecosystem that you can enjoy in the company of multiple species of migratory birds, with flamingos as the main protagonists.
And just a few minutes away, on the seafront of the Orihuela coast, we offer you the Hotel La Zenia to regain strength after so many emotions. It is an ideal place for a break where you can spend hours from the pool to the sea and vice versa without leaving its gardens. You will never want to leave!
How quickly time passes! We have reached the end of our road trip and there is no better plan for it than a good binge of culture. After enjoying the warm Mediterranean Sea, a few kilometres inland, Orihuela has a unique historical centre due to its past as the historical capital of the region, including its own cathedral. Birthplace of the most famous Alicante poet of all time, Miguel Hernández, it is a perfect option to discover the roots of a land rich in history and tradition, as well as to taste the best products from the Alicante garden. As you have seen, the Costa Blanca has a thousand and one faces waiting for your trip.
And this is where our road trip through the province of Alicante ends. 7 days in which to discover the infinite and varied corners of a welcoming land where nature and culture go hand in hand so that you can live an unforgettable holiday by the sea. Do not miss it!
The endless white sandy beaches of the Costa de Azahar often overshadow the many other charms that this incredible area of the Mediterranean coast awaits travellers. This is the case of the Coves de Sant Josep, some very interesting underground caves that hide the longest underground navigable river in Europe and whose walls house cave paintings. Are you going to miss it?
Do you want us to call you? We call you free
