From Alicante: Guadalest, Altea & Algar Waterfalls — The Best Day Trip on the Costa Blanca
A medieval village on a rock, a whitewashed bohemian coast town, and crystal-clear natural pools — three of the province's most iconic places in a single day.
At a Glance
Three stops, one full day, zero planning required. The tour leaves Alicante in the morning and covers the Fuentes del Algar (Protected Wetland, crystal pools, swimming included), Guadalest (medieval hilltop village declared Site of Cultural Interest, guided tour + free time), and Altea (whitewashed old town, blue-domed church, Mediterranean views, guided tour + free time). Roundtrip coach transport and Algar entrance ticket included. Duration 9.5–11 hours.
Guadalest, Altea & Algar Waterfalls — The Complete Guide
Table of Contents
Why This Is the Best Day Trip from Alicante
Alicante has a beach. A very good one. But the Costa Blanca's defining character is not on the shoreline — it is in the mountains directly behind it. Within 40 kilometers of the city, the landscape shifts from white sand and palm-lined promenades to dramatic limestone ridges, medieval village ruins, and spring-fed river gorges. Most visitors staying on the coast never see any of it.
This day trip solves that in a single outing. Three stops, three completely different experiences, organized and guided so you spend the day looking rather than navigating. Reviews consistently describe it as the highlight of a Costa Blanca holiday — "one of the best days we have had," "a perfect day out from start to finish," "definitely the must-do excursion."
Stop 1: Guadalest — A Village Suspended in Rock
Guadalest is one of those places that should not exist. A village of a few hundred inhabitants, perched on a narrow rocky outcrop 560 meters above sea level, reachable only through a tunnel bored through the living rock. It has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest and consistently appears on lists of the most beautiful villages in Spain — not because of any particular monument, but because the entire place is an improbable architectural and geographical feat.
The Castle and the Views
At the top of the village, the Castillo de San José occupies the highest point of the ridge. What survives is largely the outer walls and towers — the castle was largely destroyed in the 1748 earthquake that devastated much of the region — but the position is extraordinary. Below the castle walls, an emerald reservoir stretches into the valley, surrounded by mountains that change color through the day as the light shifts. The guided tour explains the village's history: Moorish origins, Christian reconquest, earthquake, and the centuries of isolation that kept it largely unchanged.
Museums and Free Time
After the guided tour, free time allows you to explore at your own pace. Guadalest has an unusual concentration of small private museums for a village its size: the Museum of Microminiatures (artworks visible only under magnification), the Museum of Microgiants, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, and the Ethnological Museum. None is essential, all are genuinely unusual. The village's craft shops sell local honey, almond products, and regional liqueurs — worth browsing slowly. The castle entrance costs approximately €4 extra and is not included in the tour price.
Stop 2: Altea — The White Town on the Sea
Where Guadalest turns inland and upward, Altea turns toward the sea. It is one of the Costa Blanca's most genuinely charming coastal towns — a whitewashed old quarter on a hill above the modern seafront, with a long-established artistic community that gives it a character distinct from the resort towns on either side.
The Old Town
The old town is built around the Plaza de la Iglesia, dominated by the blue-and-white tiled dome of the Church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo — one of the most photographed images in the Valencian Community. The streets leading up to the church are narrow, steep, and lined with whitewashed houses whose window boxes overflow with geraniums. From the top of the hill, the view extends across the entire bay: the ridge of the Peñon de Ifach at Calpe in one direction, the mountains behind Benidorm in the other, and the open Mediterranean ahead.
Art, Craft, and Local Food
Altea's reputation as an artists' town is visible in the quality of its craft boutiques and galleries. The old town has resisted the souvenir-shop uniformity of many tourist destinations — you will find locally made ceramics, textile work, and original art alongside the usual postcards. Free time here is genuinely useful: enough to walk the main streets, find a terrace with a view, and try local dishes before returning to the coach.
Stop 3: Fuentes del Algar — Swimming in a Protected Wetland
The Fuentes del Algar — officially the Cascadas del Algar — are a series of natural waterfalls and pools formed by the Algar River as it descends through a limestone gorge in the municipality of Callosa d'En Sarrià. The site was declared a Protected Wetland Area in 2002 for its biodiversity — the combination of permanent water, lush Mediterranean vegetation, and rock formations creates a microhabitat unlike anything on the coast.
What It Looks Like
The main pools are crystal-clear, fed by spring water that maintains a refreshing temperature even in peak summer. The trail follows the river upstream through shaded paths, passing a series of small waterfalls at different heights. The pools vary in depth — some shallow enough for children, others deep enough for a proper swim. The entrance area is the busiest; walking further upstream finds quieter pools and better swimming.
The site can be crowded in July and August — one review notes this honestly: "The waterfalls are very special but it was extremely busy, it is difficult to find space to bathe." Going in spring or early autumn, or arriving early in the day, significantly improves the experience. The tour's timing is designed to avoid the worst of the peak hours.
Practical Notes
The entrance ticket is included in the tour price. Food, glass, and alcoholic beverages cannot be brought into the site — there is a café at the entrance for drinks. Water shoes are strongly advisable: the riverbed and pool edges are rocky and slippery in places. The trails involve some uneven terrain — not difficult, but not suitable for those with significant mobility limitations.
Top Recommended Day Trip
From Alicante: Guadalest, Altea & Ticket to Algar Waterfalls
Full-day guided trip from Alicante to three Costa Blanca highlights: Fuentes del Algar (swimming, entrance included), medieval Guadalest (guided tour + free time), and whitewashed Altea (guided tour + free time). Roundtrip coach transport. 9.5–11 hours.
Book Day Trip on GetYourGuide →Tips for Booking & What to Bring
When to Go
- Best months: April–June and September–October — comfortable temperatures, Algar less crowded, mountain scenery at its most vivid
- Summer (July–August): Algar can be very busy in peak hours; the tour timing mitigates this but expect company at the pools
- Winter: No swimming at Algar, but Guadalest and Altea are uncrowded and atmospheric — the tour runs year-round and can be shorter (9.5h) in low season due to lighter traffic
- Book ahead in summer — this tour fills fast on weekends
What to Bring
- Swimwear + towel: Wear your swimsuit under your clothes if you plan to swim at the Algar — there are no changing facilities
- Water shoes: Strongly advisable for the Algar pools — rocky riverbed and slippery stones
- Comfortable walking shoes: Guadalest involves stairs and cobblestones; Altea's old town is steep
- Sun protection: Hat, sunscreen — Guadalest and Altea have limited shade in midday
- Small cash: For the optional castle entrance in Guadalest (~€4), local food, and craft shops
- Water bottle: No food or beverages allowed inside the Algar site — stock up before you enter
Departure Point
The tour departs from Av. de Europa, 12, Plaça de Bous d'Alacant in Alicante. There is also a Benidorm departure option with a different schedule — confirm the correct option when booking. Seats are assigned at the start and remain yours throughout the day — belongings can be safely left on the coach.
Alicante Beyond the Day Trip
Combine this day trip with the city's own highlights for a full Alicante stay: Castillo de Santa Bárbara and its wine tasting in the morning, Mercado Central for local produce, Postiguet beach for an afternoon swim, and the flamenco show at Tablao El Mentidero in the evening. The day trip works best mid-stay — use the days before and after to explore the city itself.
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