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

The tunnel in the rock and the Castell de Sant Josep before the coaches, lunch with a view of the reservoir and the afternoon at the pools of Les Fonts de l'Algar.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/guadalest-and-the-guadalest-valley/itineraries/castle-and-fonts-de-lalgar · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 08:45 · Salida: 45 min by car (AP-7 to Benidorm and CV-70, about 65 km)
- 09:45 · The San José Tunnel and the Reservoir Viewpoints (San José tunnel and reservoir viewpoints · 30 min)
  - 2 min on foot
- 10:15 · San José Castle and Casa Orduña (Casa Orduña and castle · 1 h · €4)
  - 1 min on foot
- 11:30 · The Curious Museums of Guadalest (A curious museum: microminiatures or dolls' houses · 30 min)
  - 14 min on foot
- 13:30 · Xortá Restaurant (Xorta · menu of the day with views · €€ · book for Sunday) · Xortá Restaurant, €€
  - 30 min by car, 19,5 km
- 16:00 · Les Fonts de l'Algar (Les Fonts de l'Algar · 2 h · paid entry)
- 18:15 · Vuelta (You reach Alicante around 19:15)

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.

## Cómo llegar

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

## Consejos

### Arrive before 10:30
The coaches from the coast arrive mid-morning.

### Buy Algar a day ahead
Online, at least 24 hours in advance; at the ticket office, until capacity is reached.

### Water shoes
For the Algar pools.

## Cuándo no ir

A Sunday in August at midday in the upper village: heat and queues at the tunnel.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take from Alicante to Guadalest?
About 50 minutes and 65 km on the AP-7 via Benidorm.

### How much does the castle cost?
€4, with the Casa Orduña.

### Is Algar far from Guadalest?
About 15 km on the CV-755.

### Where can I eat on Sunday?
Xorta, at midday and with a booking, or La Plaça in the upper village.