Can anyone advise me about walks up the mountain and getting out of the more hectic tourist areas? we are staying in Ricon?

A walk to the Cross sounds like your cup of tea.

Have you seen Sanji's videos, they're great, take a look, there is one of her dragging her poor hubby up there.

Have fun.

Sue

Thanks for the reply sue

Is there some info about the cross on here? got a link?

Recommend one of the free blanket trips or green tours. You will see people in the street offering them. They are fine although you have to sit through a talk about bedding but are not pressured into buying. You then go on to a few different places like the Water falls, Guadalest etc. A really good day out siteseeing and free. Regarding the cross, you can get a taxi up as its a hard trek and walk down in about 45 minutes. Don't think there are any organised walks up to it. People tend to do it on their own. Video of walk to cross from sanji here: Karen

Thats great mrnkar Thankyou Loved the music, its got me excited about going now
Waterfalls sound good are there any vids of that? and what is guadelest?

My husband is off tomorrow as he's working out there tiling a floor and I will be joining him next week, we have friends with an apartment so if I like it we may go more often

Waterfalls sound good are there any vids of that? and what is guadelest?

No vids of Guadalest yet, it's on the "to do" list
If you don't fancy the trek to the cross, then there is a fork in the road which I refer to as the "bottom road," and this just winds around the mountain, passed the nudist beach and is relatively flat all the way.
After miles it finally comes to a dead end with an old pirate "look out" perched on the edge of the rocks...which is nothing to look at and is covered in graffitti, but it is a very pleasant walk running most of the time along side the coast, with the mountain by the side.
There is nothing en route, so take some water with you, but the view and the countryside is lovely.....just be aware that being on your own that you are isolated and there can be no one around you, but it doesn't take long for a motor bike to appear.
I'm not trying to put you off or frighten you, but I live in the real world and these things do happen......just don't set off thinking it is the land of perfection.
If you want another walk...For one euro, get the number 10 bus to Altea, get off at Albir, find the promenade and you can walk all the way to Altea.
This is a lovely walk although not "countryside" and more " walking by the sea"....it won't be as isolated as the walk on the "bottom road" but it won't be as busy as Benidorm and again, lovely views of the coast and the town of Calpe.

If you like churches, a visit to the parish church in Altea is a must and this gives you a feeling of being in "real Spain".
From just outside the church, there is a viewing platform and you can see Benidorm's skyscrapers in the distance.
It is a tourist attraction, but it is a different attraction than Benidorm has to offer....if that makes sense.
The walk to the cross is very popular and depending how fit you are, it can be quite challenging, but hey, if I can do it, you young uns have no excuse.
Just don't forget the water because you'll need it.

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Thanks Sanji I think I will do all of those, I want to see the real spain as much as I can rather than a warmer (possibly) Brighton type experience. I will print this off and take it with me
Can you tell me where the waterfall is? I would love to go there I think part of my reluctance to go is because it all seems so dry and desolate, not gardeners country at all (which is what I do) I'm not as young as I was either being halfway to 90 lol but I still have to climb a mountain if I see one

Here's a bit about the falls: http://benidorm.henorita.com/index/8253/benidorm/hen/weekend/activities/algar/waterfalls/index.htm There is also a few other places to visit including Guadalest, details on the website. Karen

but I still have to climb a mountain if I see one

I don't know how serious you are about climbing a mountain, but Benidorm is surrounded by mountains and experience climbers go to the Costa Blanca to tackle them.

Going back to the cross for a mo....most people (me included) usually walk up the road to the cross, but there are other routes via the mountain, I think one of the routes springs off from the "bottom road".
When we were up the top by the side of the cross, there were people appearing from other directions and they had not got there by walking up the road.

Guadalest is pretty difficult to get too, unless you have a car or go on one of these excursions, I do believe there is only one bus a day and it only gives you a couple of hours there, at the max before returning back to Benidorm.

It doesn't take long to walk away from the concrete skyscrapers and find yourself surrounded by wild flowers particularly Lavender and wild poppies, but the most striking thing is the silence and the only noise you can hear is the birds and your own heartbeat and maybe the sea......unless there is a blinkin pile driver going off somewhere
I think you'll have plenty to keep you happy just exploring the area around the cross.

sanjiiiiiiiiiiiii

...not gardeners country at all...

That's a bit of an understatement There's plenty of plant life in the town itself, but there's more vegetation on Mars than in the surrounding countryside.
There are some spectacular hills inland but unless you hire a car I have no idea how else you can get to them. Maybe the much touted downhill bike ride would suit you, not proper "walking" as such but at least you get transport out of the town.

There are websites specialising in climbing holidays based in Benidorm, maybe you should Google for one of them.

but there's more vegetation on Mars than in the surrounding countryside.

You must walk around with your eyes closed then Colin or drive by so fast that you fail to see the plant life
Apart from wild lavender, poppies, thyme, almond trees and nisperos fruit trees, there are some queer looking plants and birds, and it will depend on the time of year that you visit the Costa Blanca, whether you see an half dead "weed" or the beautiful flower it produces.

One one side of the mountain (looking down from the cross,) it is a sheer drop of a gorge, full of plant life and I can't image many people have trod the grass there.
Have you ever been in the countryside within walking distance of Benidorm and explored the area around the cross and beyond ?

Sanjiiiiiiiii

I have to agree with Sanji

Drive towards the Guadalest area and your engulfed in lemon and orange groves. Some beautiful countryside. Just because it isn't the dull green of home but a different brown, doesn't mean its devoid of beauty

As cliched as it, I dare anyone to travel to Algar or Guadalest in the high of summer and look at the mountains reflect on the crystal clear waters and not be ingrossed

http://www.rhodoland.nl/flora_costa_blanca.en.htm

If you hold the cursor over the pictures, it will tell you the botanical name.

The purple flower on the left, (mattilo fruticulosa) on the last 6 pictures (above the blue one) we spotted that growing just below the cross in the part where you leave the road and have to follow the path around the mount before climbing up the last stretch.
Wish I had taken a photo now.

Sanji

Thanks for that link, Sanji.
I had noticed wild flowers before but never so many. I will see how many I can spot this trip. Not certain though how many I will see from the balcony of room ***. Thanks for all your help.
Have a good holiday and might see you if you visit the Dalmatas.

Helen

Thanks peeps I love the wildflower site will definately be going on a wildflower safari lol

My husband is there now and working hard so he's finished for when I get there

Hi type2tattoo.

If you catch a bus to Cala Finestrat (1 Euro) there is a walk you could do up a hill/mountain there.

Have a lovely time and get out exploring, I've been going 9 years and still find new places to see.

Sanji. Have a great time, look forward to hearing your latest thoughts on Beni.

Lizzie.

Random question here

Has anyone on the forum ever ascended, or know someone who has, the mountain range where 'Isla De Benidorm' is mythically said to come from?

Don't know anyone personally, but if you google "Puig Campana", then you will see there are plenty of websites of people who have done it....and the route from Finestrat.

Sorry, rushing this post from Benidorm.

Sanji x

As ever Sanji

A fountain of knowledge!

Planning a run up the mountain in October, for the cooler temps!

I'm also planning to scale around Guadalest if anyone has any tips on that area!

Just looked at the weather forecast and it says its going to rain all week

The forum wouldn't let me post an u r l but its according to the yahoo weather link from here
in your opinion are these forecasts right? and if so can you give me some ideas of what to do inside?

Many Thanks