The Local Area

The local beach

El Portet is the bay you can see when looking out from the terrace, 3.5km down the valley. Blessed with calm waters making it perfect for swimming and paddle boarding. mornings are best here with flat water. Afternoons can get crowded and sometime a little windy.

A couple of friendly local tapas bars provide the perfect place to you can enjoy the views towards Calpe and the stunning sunsets. Basing yourself to the far left where the boats are gives access to very still and shallow water.

https://goo.gl/maps/RLSegwJzypRJY2TN9

You will notice a watchtower high up on the hill on the left. There is a very nice walk to this tower. Both sunrise and sunset are lovely times to go.

Torre Vigia walk for sunrise/sunset:

https://goo.gl/maps/jghJfRkGPiBxta4A8

Moraira, the closest town is a 1.5km walk or drive from El Portet accessible via the path up to the right with the polished railings. Well served with shops and restaurants.

Moraira:

https://goo.gl/maps/mE8x6ZsSW3NP4auW8

Road Cycling

Incredible road cycling right on our doorstep, in fact, the Vuelta Espana has passed through on three occasions in recent years (2015, 18 & 19) and one of the regular cat 2 climbs, Puig Llorença at 3.7km (AG 10.2% MG 20%) happened to be right outside the door of our base!

Taking a spin into the heart of the Jalon Valley, we cycle through gently undulating vine yards before taking on 'Col Des Rates', starting from Parcent. Another cat 2 climb of 6.5km with an average gradient of 5%.

Continuing towards Tarbena, the magnificent northern flanks of the Sierra de Bernia mountain range occupying our view for a cracking 2km down hill before gently climbing further inland. Just one of the many, many examples of the fantastic road cycling on offer.

Quaint villages serving delicious local tapas and of course, strong coffee, are plentiful - allowing us to keep fulled for many hours in the saddle enjoying the sublime roads.

If you happen to be visiting anytime between late November and February, you stand a good chance of sharing the roads with many professional cycling teams that base themselves in the local area for their winter training sessions.

Jávea/Xàbia

First inhabited around 30,000 years ago, Javea has a vast wealth of history up to this date. The romans occupied Javea around 2BC with remnants of the old stone walls still visible in the old town.

Dominated by the ‘Montgó’ mountain that sits to the north of the town stands over 750m above sea level, providing a unique microclimate to the area. Resembling an elephant's head, the mountain takes on this form with the ‘trunk’ appearing to stretch into the sea towards Ibiza.

There is a large cave to the top right of the massif and from approximately 2pm onwards, the sun casts a shadow into the cave giving the appearance of an elephants eye completing the illusion.

From the summit, you can appreciate the area's agricultural significance with rich, dark soil stretching far inland providing the fertile base with the 'Rio Gogos' winding it's way through the flatlands exiting as a crystal clear flow into the sea around 500m from the port of Javea.

The pueblo:
Some great tapas bars right in the centre and are particularly atmospheric at night.

The port:
A working fishing town, head to the port/marina area if you are up early enough, you will see many boats arriving back to port where you can buy a wide selection of their daily catch.

Arenal beach:
Family friendly, sandy beach well served with many tapas bars immediately behind.

Jalon Valley, Vall Del Pop

The Jalon Valley is a significant wine producing area  is the main wine producing region and definitely worth a visit. Listed below are some Bodegas worth popping into. Both offer free wine tasting along with other locally produced items. Casa Aleluya is a cracking old restaurant with incredible local food at a good price.

Bodegas:

Pepe Mendoza
www.casaagricola.es

Bodegas Riko:
www.bodegasrikoxalo.com

Bodegas Xalo:
www.bodegasxalo.com

Eating out:

Casa Aleluya
https://goo.gl/maps/EeS8NvRQRkWBdpAU8

Barranc D L'Infern hike

This is a breathtaking strenuous hike that takes you through an awe inspiring canyon with a 70m waterfall that generally flows after heavy rainfall. The route, PR-CV 147, a 14km loop route starting in the quaint village of 'Fleix'.

This route is famous for the sheer number of steps, some 6000. A natural spring at the start allows water bottles to be filled for the journey ahead. The hike takes in stunning scenery as you cross the 'Barranc De L'Infern river on two occasions. The river is usually dry apart from periods of prolonged heavy rain.

Towards the end of the hike, the village of 'Benimaurell'  is the perfect spot to have a bite to eat and share memories of the experience.

La Catedral Del Senderisme

Sierra De Bernia, hike PR-CV 7

This majestic mountain rises 1128m above sea level and has some fantastic hiking, as well as rock climbing. The icing on the cake being a great choice of rustic restaurants to grab some food in on the way back.

The main loop route starting and finishing in the designated parking is the PR-CV 7 and you visit a couple of pints of interest. Firstly, a fascinating tunnel or 'Forat' which passes through the mountain, around 50m in length and requiring you to stoop or drawn in the centre section. Secondly, an abandoned fort overlooking Altea and the glistening Mediterranean. The summit is possible in good weather but the route requires navigating a very steep, poorly marked scree slope.

Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/xYDbvT8cNJkAPmZ57

Ruta de Los Acantilados walk

A lovely cliff walk with interesting views and a number of old stone structures that served as resting places for animals and workers of the land.

This is a one way walk so you will need to return to collect your car.

Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/GTdgCtCkcyzepbdN8

Once parked, head back up the hill for around 50m till you reach the information sign on the left. This is where the walk starts. Steep for the first 10m the path then flattens out and hugging the cliff with views back towards Javea and out to sea. The route is relatively flat with a couple of boulders to step over. Around 2.5km in, you will drop down quite steeply into the bay 'Cala Llebeig' or 'Smugglers Cove' as it is known locally. Only accessible by boat or on foot, the bay is rugged with a number of doorways into the cliffs which are used by local families for overnight stays when fishing.

The route continues steeply up a scree slope but I would suggest to leave the Wikiloc trail once you have dropped down into the bay. You will see a sign post and you want turn right here, continuing west which will take you up a dried up river bed and onto the road . When you reach the road, you can turn right and your friends house if a 5 min walk up. You can then drive and collect your car from where you parked.