Guadalest & Algar Waterfalls: Day Trip from Alicante or Benidorm

4.51

(154 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the road to Guadalest to wind so much — it’s like the bus was climbing into some secret world. Our guide, Marta, pointed out olive groves and tiny white houses clinging to the cliffs. When we finally stepped out, the air smelled kind of sharp, almost herbal, and there was this hush you only get in old villages. I tried to take a photo of the view but honestly, my phone didn’t do it justice. There’s something about standing above those valleys that makes you feel small in a good way.

We wandered through cobbled streets where cats lounged in patches of sun and old men played cards outside a café. Marta told us about the castle — apparently it’s survived earthquakes and pirates (I thought she was joking but nope). The stones felt warm under my hand. I bought a lemon ice from a lady who called me “guapa” and laughed when I tried to say thank you in Spanish. The village is tiny but somehow you keep finding new corners: a blue door here, an old bell tower there. It’s not polished or touristy — more like stepping into someone’s memory.

The drive to Algar Waterfalls was shorter than I expected. You could hear water before you saw it — that rushing sound mixed with people splashing and kids yelling in Spanish. The path is shaded by fig trees and everything smells green (if that makes sense). I dipped my feet in one of the pools and nearly jumped out — it’s cold even when the sun is blazing. Some locals were picnicking under a wooden bridge, passing around something that smelled garlicky. We had enough time to swim if we wanted (I did), or just sit on a rock and watch dragonflies skim the water. It felt like summer should always feel.