Sunday in Guadalest: a castle on the rock and Les Fonts de l'Algar

The plan

The day at a glance

Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.

08:45
Leave Alicante 45 min by car
AP-7 to Benidorm and CV-70, about 65 km
09:45 1
The San José Tunnel and the Reservoir Viewpoints
San José tunnel and reservoir viewpoints · 30 min
2 min on foot
10:15 2
San José Castle and Casa Orduña
Casa Orduña and castle · 1 h · €4
1 min on foot
11:30 3
The Curious Museums of Guadalest
A curious museum: microminiatures or dolls' houses · 30 min
14 min on foot
13:30 4
Xortá Restaurant
Xorta · menu of the day with views · €€ · book for Sunday

Carretera de Callosa d'En Sarrià, km 12, 03517 El Castell de Guadalest · +34 965 88 51 87

Restaurant €€
30 min by car19,5 km
16:00 5
Les Fonts de l'Algar
Les Fonts de l'Algar · 2 h · paid entry
18:15
Back home
You reach Alicante around 19:15

Approximate cost About €20–35 per person

Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.

The route

The San José Tunnel and the Reservoir Viewpoints

Guadalest is 50 minutes from Alicante and it is small: a tunnel in the rock, a square, a castle and a turquoise reservoir below. That is why it works best if you start early and round off the afternoon with Les Fonts de l'Algar, 15 km away, where the river tumbles down in waterfalls and pools.

The day, hour by hour

8:45 · Set off. AP-7 to Benidorm and CV-70 via La Nucia and Polop, about 65 km. Park at the entrance to the village, next to Avenida de Alicante.

9:45 · The San José tunnel. You enter the upper village on foot through a tunnel in the rock. At the top, the square and the viewpoints over the reservoir, ringed by Aitana, Xortà and Serrella.

10:15 · Casa Orduña and the castle. €4, from 10:15 to 19:00. Climb through the manor house turned museum to the 11th-century Castillo de San José, with the keep and the best view of the valley.

11:30 · A curious museum. There are eight; pick one: the micro-miniatures museum, with paintings done on a grain of rice, or the dolls' house museum.

13:30 · Xorta. On the Callosa road, with a big window onto the valley and a fireplace in winter. Set menu; Tuesday to Sunday at midday. On Sundays, book: 965 88 51 87.

16:00 · Les Fonts de l'Algar. Heading down the CV-755 towards Callosa d'en Sarrià. Park for free next to the tourist office, 700 m from the entrance. Walkways, waterfalls and pools; swim in water shoes.

18:15 · Head home. In Alicante around 19:15.

With children and with a dog

The miniatures museums and Algar are the best for them; the castle has steps, so a carrier is better than a pushchair. With a dog: on a lead in the village; at Algar, only from 16 September to 14 June and without swimming.

Time45 min

The Guadalest reservoir, with turquoise water among the mountains

Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Change the route

With young children, if it rains or if you fancy something else: another stop that fits the same day.

The water of Guadalest reservoir beneath the mountains

In July and August: kayak on the reservoir instead of Algar, €15, cash only: Kayaking on Guadalest ReservoirStable kayak hire to paddle for 1 h 30 beneath the castle, children too · €15 · every day in July and August, the rest of the year by reservation.

Without a car in between: simple menu in the upper village: La Plaça Bar RestaurantBar restaurant in the upper village, next to the church, with a terrace over the reservoir: home cooking and a menu of the day for €10 to €20.

Where to eat

Where to eat?

Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.

Open to non-resident guests, always with a reservation at least 24 hours ahead

Map

The stops, in order

With where to park at each one.

What to do Eat 88 €Stay Services

Getting there

By car or without one?

By car

AP-7 and CV-70 from Alicante, about 65 km and 50 minutes. Park at the entrance to the village.

When to go

When to go to Guadalest and the Guadalest Valley

Spring and autumn. In July and August, Algar runs in shifts and does not admit dogs; kayaking on the reservoir runs daily.

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Best timeGood timeLow season

Tips

Worth knowing first

1
Arrive before 10:30
The coaches from the coast arrive mid-morning.
2
Buy Algar a day ahead
Online, at least 24 hours in advance; at the ticket office, until capacity is reached.
3
Water shoes
For the Algar pools.