Archive for the ‘Benidorm’ Category

Canelobre caves


A natural beauty lies forty kilometers away from Benidorm in Spain. It is closer to another city Alicante at 27 kilometers and gives both the cities a wonderful option for excursion. Based on the Cabeço d’ Or (Spanish for Golden hill), this place is famous as the Canelobre Caves.

It is hosted by the city of Busot. From the edges of the city, as the Golden hill creeks up and around into numerous edgy formations, the beautiful caves remain planted in one of the flatter projections at a height of 700 meters. The caves have been a source of great revenue to the country’s coffers. Tourists from all over the world make plans to visit this natural hollowed sculpture.

A manmade path takes you to your great exploration inside the cave. People who have fear of closed spaces can take refuge on the three 45X45X35 platforms built inside. They were used as bases for aircraft engine repair in the 1930’s during civil war. These are made in the huge vault that the caves boast of.

Canelobre caves have been existent since the Dinosaur era. The brightest point is that they still grow and are alive. Though the growth is too miniscule to be gauzed by humans naturally - 1 cm in 100 years.

Curious lighting arrangements have been made in the curious caves. They throw light on the amazing natural creations on the wall caves. The natural mystique of the caves comes into the fore when illuminated by the fusion of lights.

Stalactites and stalagmites, technical names for pointed formations of ice crystals from the roof and base of the caves, are the major feature of the caves. They are still occurring and a new innovation called helictite can also be seen on the walls.

There is little scope for life owing to the excessive damp conditions. However a year round temperature of 18 degree centigrade allows germination of algae, fungi and other sub specie.

The unique creations of limestone are built in the shape of candelabra. Perhaps that gives origin to the name of caves. Caves have a unique glow, which one has to see to believe.

Canelobre caves have excellent natural acoustics, with rough edges providing ready voice throwers. This has led to many concerts having been held here in recent past. When the applause echoes within the cave, the feeling is awesome.

People have used the caves for mining purposes and as a nice hiding ground in the past. One wonders how they could have survived in the extreme cold and lack of illumination then however. That was until the Civil War begun.

Caves are open for the whole year and so the tourists can choose their own convenient time to visit them. It is better if you choose spring and autumn to avoid the heat and cold hassles.

You can even make a hiking tour from the top of the hill down to the caves. You will get to see micro-reserves with rare plant specie. You will feel the touch of nature closely as you venture forth along historic mines.

Posted On: April 11th, 2009
Posted In: Benidorm

El Cisne Flea Market

Benidorm is an amazing Mediterranean recess. The best thing about it is the fact that it shakes away Spanish attributes and tries a cosmopolitan flavor. Because the British come in throngs, the nightlife and restaurants are bent towards the British populace. There are two special markets in Benidorm: Benidorm Outdoor Market and the El Cisne Flea Market.

The El Cisne Flea Market has made quite a name for itself. If you walk towards the Alfas De Pei, you will find the by-pass converging with N-332. That’s exactly where the El Cisne Flea Market is situated. If you cannot still navigate for it, just ask someone where Benison camping is. El Cisne Flea Market is quite proximal to the camping.

It offers a vast repertoire of things. There are junks, treasures, souvenirs and daily use objects. The market is open on all Sundays and any given Saturday in the month. The market roughly opens at 8 am and keeps going till 1 pm. A more-than-strong tourist force can cause the market to open an extra Saturday here and there.

If you are looking for the hottest bargains, rush to the El Cisne Flea Market. You will be able to negotiate on a Diaspora of handicrafts, objects of indigenous make and a variety of antiques. Just remember to keep an eye on your wallet when the place gets overcrowded.

El Cisne offers great weekend opportunity to shop but at the same time, the motley crowd gives pickpockets a fair chance too. El Cisne Flea Market is best known for its high quality antiques at a moderate price. The problem with antiques is that you cannot set a price for them and hence you don’t know if you are getting a super deal or are being fleeced.

Foietes street market sand Pueblo street markets are another couple of small-time markets operating in Benidorm. These are also quite a treat in terms of what they offer. The entire Benidorm city is laden with antique sellers.

If you come to Benidorm, make sure that you have enough push in your wallet to make a sound dash for the El Cisne Flea Market.

Posted On: April 6th, 2009
Posted In: Benidorm

Visiting Algar Falls

Along the southern coast of Valencia, Spain lies a paradise known by tourists from all corners of the globe. Benidorm is a seaside escape that boasts of adventure, fun, and unforgettable vacation memories. Also called the Manhattan of Spain, Benidorm has a booming tourism industry, with numerous hotels, resorts, shops, restaurants, and beaches to suit any tourist’s fancy. But besides seeing the cool attractions and experiencing the vigorous night life in Benidorm, a recommended agendum would be to take a retreat and see one of the region’s natural wonders: the Algar Falls.

Take a drive down the A-7 motorway, and be nearer to this paradise nestled behind the mountains in Altea. Known in the vernacular as Fuentes de Algar, this breathtaking sight is situated within a national park and nature preserve. The Algar river is the source for the crystal clear waters, and the falls can be found within 3 kilometers from the village of Callosa d’Ensarria. This region of Spain is well-known for nisperos, a sweet fruit of genus Manilkara zapota, which grows in abundance. Even within the Algar Falls park, you will find many nisperos trees.

The Algar Falls is in an area that has been left almost untouched over the decades. Around its cool water pools is an abundance of trees, flowers, and shrubs, giving you a calming feel of the sanctuary’s natural beauty. Many tourists are encouraged to take a dip in the waters along Fuentes de Algar, but be mindful that the temperature can be very cold, even during the summer months.

For visitors who want to take photos of this marvel, they can climb up towards a viewing bridge. Though it can be quite a steep climb, many tourists claim that the effort was well worth it, seeing the splendor of the waterfalls up close.

When you come to Algar Falls, you will also find facilities to help make your stay more comfortable. For your convenience, there are designated parking areas, barbecue puts, picnic areas, as well as rest rooms and shower rooms. There is also a restaurant near the viewing bridge. The Algar Falls has been known to be a popular destination by many tourist buses, as there are also other attractions near the area that are worth checking out.

What else is in store for you when you come visit Fuentes de Algar? The Algar Cactus Company is an attractive cactus garden which makes for great vacation photos. Don’t’ forget to stop by the Museum of the Environment, which features local efforts of preserving the waterfalls as well as the flora and fauna surrounding it. There is also a railway museum, and an arboretum, which is a botanical garden where flowers, essential oils, and spices can be found. Nearby is Castell de Guadalest, which is an animal sanctuary that even young children would enjoy viewing.

On your next holiday, why not take the time to relax and commune with nature? Visit the exhilarating sights and enjoy the natural charm of Algar Falls, and you and your family will surely have a vacation to remember.

Posted On: March 27th, 2009
Posted In: Benidorm