Beautiful parks to visit on the Costa Blanca, there is nothing nicer than taking a stroll around one of the many municipal parks, and the Costa Blanca has some really spectacular ones to enjoy.  The Spanish word for park is parque. 

Find a list of our favourites below.

Alicante - Park El Palmeral (The palm grove) The park is close to the busy N-332 on Avinguda d'Elx just outside the city centre as the name suggests this is a park full of different palm trees, in fact there are over 7000.  You walk on well-kept gravel paths, over bridges, pass beautiful flower beds and rare palms.

The gravel paths make this park very accessible for people with prams and wheelchair users, but they do get very dusty during the summer months.

Dogs are NOT permitted.   

You can also view the park from the water as you can rent a free rowing boat to sail over the beautifully landscaped pond. You just have to sign up at the dock, they will ask for your driver's license or passport and sign that you will return the boat intact.  The pond consists of beautiful open spaces and narrow passages. 

There is a lovely cafe and plenty of activity areas for children and sports facilities. 

The park is open daily from 9 am to 10 pm in winter and 11 pm in summer. The hours for rowing vary depending on the season.

Beautiful Parks to visit in Benidorm, below are the most well known, but there are many other smaller park/recreational areas in Benidorm.

L’Aiguera Park - Known as the great centre of Benidorm.  You can find its main entrance by the Town Hall in the Old Town, to walk from top to bottom it will take you around 15-20 minutes. It’s the park that connects the old town with the new, crossing it you will come across the Julio Englasias Ampetheatre, which is used by the town to organize musical and cultural events. At the very end you will find the Benidorm Bull ring.

Note, in the main areas of the park dogs are not permitted, but up past the bullring you will find a small dog park.

Bus lines: 002; 003.

The Parc d Elx, Elche Park.  Located in the old town, although not a very large park this is one of the most relaxing places to sit and relax, as it is located right on Poniente beach front.  This park is home to hundreds of beautiful white doves and know to many as Dove Park, it is also known for its spectacular palm trees.

It is located just in front of Poniente Beach, close to Benidorm Harbour.  This is a lovely shady park and a great place to sit and people watch, you will also find an open-air gym and the Dama de Elche children's playground just a few meters away, there are also chess tables, where you can play freely.

Foietes Park, near the sports centre in the old town, is another green space that you will find in Benidorm. Just like l’Aigüera, in this park you will find different playgrounds, recreational areas for young and old and shady areas with tables designed for picnics. 

Bus lines: 002; 003; 026.

Adolfo Suárez leisure and recreation area and pet park. This covers an area of ​​1,460 square meters and includes a fenced dog park in which different structures have been installed so that pets can move freely, jump and run. In addition, the area is equipped with gravel and pipeclay pavements, there are plenty of picnic table and even Bio healthy exercise areas.

Beautiful parks to visit

El Moralet Park, also known as the Forest of Foietes y Moralet - Escape the hustle and bustle of Benidorm in this green zone of more than one million square meters that serves as a recreation area with more than 17 kilometres of hiking trails and cycling routes that partly go over an old train tracks.

Several areas can be found with picnic tables and for the children swings, climbing frames, ziplines etc are available.

Bus lines: 001; 002; 003; 026; 030.

Elche - Elche Municiple Park - Covering an area of approximately 20,000m2, the park was first opened to citizens in 1946, the plantations were bequeathed to the city in 1661, its a beautiful green space for everyone to enjoy.

Although the date palm is the queen of the Municipal Park you can find other types of arecaceae, as well as a wide variety of plants: bougainvillea, ficus, araucarias, tipuanas, magnolias, false peppers, Elche poplars, bananas and even the unusual tuliper of Gabon.

The area is dotted with fountains and small ponds, one of them with ducks and swans, which delight children.

La Rotonda, a beautiful open-air amphitheater, is another of the emblematic places, together with the temple installed in the eighties.

Nearby is the dovecote and feeding the pigeons and doves is one of the favourite activities of visitors to the park, especially the little ones.

You will also come across Molí del Real, an old maquila mill of the eighteenth century,

The Visitor Centre, an orientalising style building, popularly known as "l'ou" for its rounded white shape, this is the only surviving construction of the pavilions of the regional exhibition with which the park was opened to citizens in 1946. It housed the Archaeological and La Palma museums. Today it houses a detailed audiovisual presentation on the city: its history, traditions, culture, fiestas and economy.

L'Hort de Baix, this was added in 1960, and  this area has been transformed into a spectacular open-air party hall during the patron saint celebrations of August; It is also used for other events the rest of the year.

Open - November to March: 07.00 to 21.00. April to October: 07.00 to 23.00.  August: 07.00 to 23.45.

Beautiful parks to visit

Guardamar del Segura - Parque Reina Sofia, Avenida dels Pins 03140 Guardamar del Segura.

This fabulous park is great for relaxing, people watching or letting the children play, paths and bridges wind through the park over waterways and lakes.  There are plenty and picnic tables and chairs located at beauty spots throughout, but its the beautiful wildlife which is the main attraction and Reina Sofía park is naturally blessed with some of the Mediterranean’s most endearing creatures such as peacocks, red squirrels, ducks, turtles and other migrating and resident birds.

The park has a large playground providing plenty of entertainment for younger children, and an open-air theatre offers live performances throughout the year and during the summer months a funfair with rides and food stalls which is generally open and from mid-June to mid-August.  

There is plenty of parking alongside the Parks and the close proximity to the beach makes Reina Sofía park an enjoyable experience for all the family, whatever the time of year.

Novelda Parque del Oeste (West Park), located on Calle Alfonso el Sabio, 29, 03660 Novelda and is open daily from 9am till 7pm.

At the edge of the town, is the Parque del Oeste (West Park) or Parc Dels Dolors, this is a real hidden gem, and well worth a visit, here the influence of Antoni Gaudi is recognisable by the wide usage of the mosaics called "trencadis". 

Inside the park of the Ermita de la Vereda, a religious building dating from the sixteenth century adds cultural value to the park.

The Park has an amphitheatre  which seats up to 2000 where, throughout the year, different performances of all kinds are held, it also has an area equipped with barbecues for public use, several picnic areas with tables with benches, football and basketball sports courts, games tables, playgrounds, etc.

Take a nice walk in the park among palms, stone sculptures and fountains.

Open - Monday to Sunday from 09:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.

Rojales - El Recorral Park Situated on the outskirts of Ciudad Quesada, there is plenty of parking at C. Lugar Sector, 297, 275, 03170 Cdad. Quesada

 In 2018, the City Council of Rojales and Hidraqua launched this new infrastructure and this is now a beautifully landscaped park where you will find pretty lily ponds and cascades, quaint bridges and meandering pathways. Among these pond you can find masiega, reed, cattails, river lilies, salt lilies, water mints and water lilies. 

Birds such as mallards, little grebes, moorhens, coots, crabeater herons, little egrets, sandpipers, and white wagtails can be easily found.

Enjoy the pleasant aromas of lavender and rosemary amongst other aromatic herbs, and there are plenty of shaded spots to rest.

What makes this park different is the the animal sculptures carved out of tree trunks which are scattered around the park, including some that have been carved into seating areas.   

There are also numbered signs on the trees (29 in total), each with an environmental related question and 3 possible answers, the correct one is revealed once you find the next tree! This is great fun and educational at the same time, making this park ideal for families with children.

There is also an adventure playground with a mini outdoor library and reading space. The quiz route begins at the children's playground where you will find tree number 1, then following the path, it takes you around the park for about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your pace.

There are picnic benches and toilets situated close to the car park at the entrance, and the park has full disabled access. 

Beautiful parks to visit

Torrevieja, La Mata - Parque del Molino del Agua (The Water Mill Park) - If coming by car the best place to leave your vehicle is just outside the park on Calle Morera, 1 Torrevieja.

This wonderful park gets its name from the original water mill that was used years ago for grinding salt in the area, now it is the perfect location for a pleasant walk.

The park is beautifully laid out with paved pathways running alongside a long water cascade, there are spectacular sea views along the way, and plenty of seating areas under the shade of the pine trees.

The park is dog friendly, and has accessibility for wheelchairs and mobility scooters due to the quite wide and well designed walkways.

*Please note that during very dry weather, there may not always be running water. The photos above were taken mid June.

Which is your favourite park on the Costa Blanca, comment below.

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Laberinto Casa Tapena located in Onil, situated in the region of L'alcoià, at the foot of the Sierra de Onil,  just a short distance inland from Alicante and about 77km (approx 50 minutes drive) from Benidorm, this hidden gem is well worth a visit with its maze and gardens.

Find Casa Tapena on the CV-802/903 just over 1km from the centre of Onil.  Address: Laberinto Casa Tapena, Partida de, Carrer de Favanella, s/n, 03430 Onil, Alicante

Casa Tápena was built in 2002  and covers an area of 8 hectares, it was born under the slogan "four landscapes, a thousand roads and an idea", in reference to the four different areas which you will find to explore.

There are plenty of parking spaces a cafe serving hot and cold drinks, a few tapas dishes and bocadillos, the toilets are large, clean and well maintained.

As you head away from the car park up towards the main casa (house) you will find a large BBQ/Picnic area and children's playground.

Please note - The use of barbecues depends on the level of risk of forest fire, which is decided by the Generalitat Valenciana. If this is extreme (level 3) or extraordinary they cannot be used, and can be closed without prior notice. 

The first area is agricultural and displays many of the native species of the province of Alicante, such as olive trees, vines, almond trees, quinces, apple trees, cherry trees, walnut trees, fig and strawberry trees (Madrone) one of which is said to be the largest in the province.

Laberinto Casa Tapena Onil

The second and most popular area is the MAZE (labyrinth) which is one of the largest in Spain measuring 7,056 m2.   The challenge is to negotiate the maze and reach the centre, touch the tall cedar tree, close your eyes and make a wish, then get out again without getting lost or cheating.

Entrance to the Maze is just the other side of the fountain pictured below.

Laberinto Casa Tapena Onil

The third section is the Mediterranean Garden, stroll among the plants and hedges and enjoy the views, while listening to the sound of water from the fountain.  Walk higher you will find access to a "Secret Garden" 

The fourth section is the wetland, which takes advantage of the nearby natural spring which creates a small pond where you will find aquatic species, above this section is a small Aleppo pine forest where you can walk and relax.

As you head back to the Mediterranean Garden enjoy the wonderful aroma of the rose gardens. 

The Casa Tápena: building houses the offices of Alicante natura where there is a classroom and exhibition area for environmental education activities. Among them it has a didactic bee hive, where you can watch the hard working bees, so at certain times during the week you will find school trips taking place.

Opening Hours - Entrance is FREE

From Monday to Friday: from 9:00 to 14:00.

Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: from 9:00 to 18:00 (summer from 9:00 to 20:00).

Closed on 24, 25, 31 December and 1 January

What to see in Onil

Onil is known as the birthplace of the doll.  Ramon Mira, manufactured the first Spanish dolls around 1870 which were made of clay. Visit the Museuo del la Muneca (the doll museum) which is housed inside a 19th century mansion.

 

Access is via guided tour only, but this is free of charge., but it is possible to just turn up about 10 minutes before a scheduled tour. On certain days, you can link your museum tour with a tour of a real doll factory. The guide is in Spanish, but a recorded information is provided for non-Spanish speakers. 

From Tuesday to Sunday - 12.00 

Saturdays - 18.00 hours

Museo del Aceite (the olive oil museum), Museo de los Festeros (the museum of festivals) and Museo de los Reyes Magos de Oriente (the museum of the Three Wise Men).  

Castillo de Onil, also known as Palacio Fortaleza del Marqués de Dos Aguas, is a good place to start your explorations of the town. This Site of Cultural Interest sits on Plaza Mayor, flaunting Gothic and Renaissance styles complete with four robust towers. One of these has been transformed into the belltower of the local church, where you will find a  15th century altarpiece. The fortress houses a museum dedicated to local festivals, celebrations and customs, some of which are unique to the town. 

Other points of interest in the town include an air-raid shelter dating back to the Spanish Civil War and a beautifully conserved 18th-19th century ice house located at Call Pouet. 

Onil is also a place of festivals. Dating back three centuries, the town’s Moors and Christians celebrations fill the streets with music, colour and intricate costumes. Another interesting event is Nit dels Fatxos, held on Christmas Eve, in which locals parade torches made of esparto, creating beautiful interplays of light. Both festivals have been declared Events of Tourist Interest.

Other nearby places to visit - Castalla Castle

The surrounding area 

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Bolulla - Ruta del Agua, The Water Route. Looking for something different to do?  Enjoy the picturesque water route of Bolulla.

This beautiful hidden gem is located inland about half an hour drive from Benidorm, Altea or Calpe.

The Bolulla water route includes beautiful walkways, cascades, and an old mill.

The walk takes about 45 minutes to an hour at a gentle pace, making it suitable for families with children, and ideal for dog walkers, however there are some uneven pathways which are not suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs or anyone with walking difficulties.

Parking can be found at the start of the route (Ruta del Agua de Bolulla 03518 Bolulla, Alicante), indicated by signposts, as soon as you enter Bolulla, take the first road on the right where you will find several parking spaces.  Once parked you will see the river on your left, continue straight on the unpaved road. A few meters ahead you will find a fork with private land on each side, you will then see the sign that indicates the direction of the route.

Continue walking until you see a steep pathway heading upwards, with ropes to help guide you, (These ropes seem to be a new addition) if you are feeling fit take the climb, when you reach the top you will see water coming out of a very small hole which feeds the Font dels Xorros.  This part of the walk is not necessary to enjoy the rest of the route and is not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights or has any walking difficulties.

If you continue on the main path (ignoring the rope climb above)  the first cascade you come across is the Font dels Xorros also known as Font de Renyinoyosa , which is particularly spectacular to see straight after any recent rainfall, but even after a dry summer there will still be a waterfall, this is a lovely place to sit and relax, enjoying the sound of the water.

If you visit after a recent rainfall the falls will be a lot heavier.  The photos below were taken late September.

Next to the font you will find an information panel explaining the importance of the place for the inhabitants of the village.

Continue walking and follow a narrow walkway on the left you will come across a waterfall with a pool of crystal clear water where you can go down for a bracing dip.  It is indicated on the signs as assut, which means water dam.

As you continue along the path you will see a small aqueduct that diverts the waters of the Azud to the municipal laundry and the orchards on the other side of the river.

The path then continues along a dirt track where you cross a little stream that sometimes carries a small amount of water, there are strategically placed rocks to help you cross.

From this point on the pathway is quite steep, if you continue you will come to the remains of the old flour mill, which was in operation until the 20th century, the flour mill was used by both the farmers of Bolulla and those of Tárbena, the nearest town.

There is a large pond located just above the mill which always has water.

The route ends here, at the road. From here, turn around and enjoy the same tour in reverse. One of the good things about linear routes is that, even if you pass through the same place, the landscape is different. And in addition, it allows you to enjoy places that you have already gone through from another angle.

Please remember that these places must be respected and preserved.  Do not throw garbage, pick flowers, or dirty the water.

As this is only a short walk, we suggest driving through Taberna and continuing over the mountains and into the Jalon Valley before returning to Benidorm.

Find lots more information on places to visit here.

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The famous Lo Pagan mud baths known as Las Charcas de las Salinas or Baños de lodo (mud baths), are situated just past, San Pedro del Pinatar, on the North bank of the Mar Menor (Small Sea) in the province of Murcia.

These therapeutic mud baths are located in the natural saltwater lagoons of the Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar Regional Park (a protected wetland known for its rich biodiversity and large bird population). These lagoons are known for their high salt and mineral content, which contributes to the healing properties of the mud.

Beginning at the small beach and old windmill, the mud baths stretch along the Punta del Algas headland.  The mud baths themselves are separated from the rest of the Mar Menor by a small, paved strip of land and can be accessed from special wooden stations positioned along the water.

The mud in these lagoons is rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, among others. These minerals are believed to have various benefits for the skin and body.

Many people visit the Lo Pagan mud baths to enjoy the natural exfoliating and detoxifying effects of the mud, as well as its potential to alleviate certain skin conditions and joint problems such as arthritis as the deep heat helps, they are also good for people with a lot of stress as the warmth takes the stress of your body. 

For those suffering from skin conditions such as eczema the mud is very good. Although be careful of the graininess of the mud.

In the past the mud Baths were known as a fountain of youth as when the mud is drying the skin stretches and hereby reduces wrinkles.

The best time to visit -  Lo Pagan, enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterised by hot summers and mild winters. The best time to visit Las Charcas de las Salinas is during the spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) seasons when the weather is pleasant and temperatures are not extremely high. During these times, you can comfortably enjoy the mud baths and explore the surrounding area without the peak summer crowds. It is even possible to visit the Mud baths in the Winter as only the surface water can be a little bit cold and the mud will still be quite warm.

Lo Pagan Mud Baths

Finding and applying the mud

Walk along the promenade and select one of many wooden platforms/jetties to enter the “mud” You can enter directly from the shore, don’t be disappointed if you don’t feel any mud straight away, just walk a little bit further and you will find lots of mud and heat zones. The mud is warm, very warm making the water itself feel cool.

Tip - Bring a plastic container or a child's bucket and spade. so you can scoop the mud for application and a sponge to help remove it. 

It is recommended that you do a patch test first, place a small amount of mud on a small area of skin, allow it to dry and wash it off, if you have no skin reactions you can then use your container to scoop up the mud and cover yourself in it, then sit or do the mud walk for 20 - 30 minutes until the mud is dry.

Tip - Make sure one person in your party keeps their hands mud free, so you can take loads of photos.

Warnings - The water doesn’t really smell, but the mud itself has quite a distinct sulfur, rotten egg smell, which you will soon get used to.

Your bathing suits will get quite black, so do not wear your best swim wear and use old towels.

Local legend dictates that the best way to maximize the benefits of the mud is to walk three kilometers to the Molino de la Calcetera Lighthouse, most choose to lounge by the lagoon and enjoy the views before washing off.

The rinsing - Go back into the water,  and really wipe and scrub the mud off, it will not just wash away easily, this is where the sponge helps.

Then enjoy a swim in the Mar Menor on the opposite side of the promenade.

It's important to note that while many people find mud baths enjoyable and beneficial, individual experiences may vary. If you have any specific health concerns or conditions, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before engaging in any therapeutic treatments.

There's a selection of nearby bars and restaurants to enjoy food and refreshments. 

In addition to the mud baths, the Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar Regional Park offers other attractions, such as walking and cycling trails that allow visitors to explore the natural beauty of the area, including the salt flats and sand dunes. You can also find information centers within the park that provide educational information about the local ecosystem.

The lagoons are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including various bird species including flamingos.

Birdwatchers often visit the area to observe migratory birds, especially during the spring and autumn seasons.

Lo Pagan itself has a beautiful beach, boulevard and small marina and some great little tapas bars, specialites in the area are salted tuna, gray mullet and Mar Menor prawns, the star dish to look out for is caldero, which is similar to a Valencian Paella.

Getting to the Mud baths from Benidorm 

Sadly this area is quite difficult to get to from Benidorm and there are no regular excursions, the easiest way would be to hire a car.

Car - Driving distance from Benidorm is around 133km and would take about an hour and a half, they are easy to reach via the AP-7 (take exit for San Pedro del Pinitar ) or just follow the N 332 in the direction of San Pedro del Pinitar and at the roundabout take the exit to Lo Pagan.

Access to Las Charcas is FREE, and there is parking available nearby, however, the parking areas fill up early, especially during the summer months.

Bus - It is possible to get to Lo Pagan by bus from Benidorm - Bus from Benidorm to Murcia 1hr 45 mins, 12 - 28€, Murcia to Lo Pagan 1hr 20 mins, 4 to 13€ and then a 16 minute walk to the mud baths themselves. 

or Bus from Benidorm to Alicante 45 mins, 7 - 11€, then bus to Pillar de la Horadada 2hrs 35 mins 5 - 7€  then bus from Pillar to Lo Pagan 10 mins 1€ and again walk to the mud baths.

Tram, Train and Bus - Tram from Benidorm to Alicante (Luceros) 1hr 16 mins, 3 - 6€,  6 mins walk to Alicante Termino to Balsicas-San Javier 11 - 16€, catch the bus at  Balsicas-San Javier to Lo Pagan 29mins 1 - 3€, the mud baths are a 16 minute walk from the bus station.

The Mar Menor is the largest saltwater lagoon in Europe. It is approximately 170 square kilometers (66 square miles) in size, with a length of approximately 21 kilometers (13 miles) and a maximum width of 13 kilometers (8 miles). The lagoon is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a narrow strip of land known as La Manga.

The Mar Menor's water has a high salt concentration, making it noticeably saltier than the nearby Mediterranean Sea. The lagoon is fed by several rivers and natural springs, and its shallow depth helps maintain the warm water temperature, especially during the summer months. The salinity and warm water make it a unique environment with its own ecosystem.

The Mar Menor's coastline features sandy beaches that are popular among tourists and locals. The warm, calm, and shallow waters of the lagoon make it suitable for swimming, water sports, and leisure activities. The area around the Mar Menor is also known for its tourist resorts, hotels, and restaurants.

Find lots of other places to visit in this section of the website.

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