Javea: Cala Portixol Kayak, Snorkel & Cliff Jumping Tour

4.90

(279 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll never forget the first slap of saltwater on my face as we pushed off from Javea’s shore. The sun was already making everything shimmer, but it was quiet — just our group and the soft clatter of paddles. Our guide, Dani, grinned and pointed out Isla de Portixol ahead. I’d seen photos of Cala Portixol tours before but being there felt totally different. The air smelled like wild rosemary mixed with seaweed (not a combo I expected), and the cliffs looked way taller up close.

We stopped at Cala el Pom first — you can only get there by sea. Dani tossed me a snorkel mask and I slid into the water (cold shock, then perfect). There were fish everywhere, darting around these underwater rocks that looked almost sculpted. I tried to follow one bright orange guy but lost him in a patch of waving seagrass. At some point I just floated on my back, listening to muffled splashes and someone laughing about how their GoPro “definitely didn’t catch that.”

Paddling under Cap Negre made me feel tiny — that rock wall is massive, streaked with rusty colors from who-knows-what minerals. Dani told us a bit about the geology (I only half-remember it, sorry Dani) but mostly I just stared up at the sky through the gap above us. Then came the cave at Isla de Portixol — we squeezed inside and everyone’s voices echoed weirdly off the stone. It smelled damp and old, like something ancient lived there (maybe it does?).

The best part was jumping into the blue lagoon. Ten meters deep and so clear you could see every ripple below your toes. My legs shook a little before I jumped — not gonna lie — but after that rush of cold water I felt wide awake in a way coffee never does. We hung around there for ages; nobody wanted to leave yet. Even now when I close my eyes I can picture that light bouncing off the rocks, all turquoise and white flashes.