Things to do and places we recommend
The Costa Blanca South has many beautiful places visit and things to do, so we have compiled a list of places that we would recommend for you.
Mud Baths
We recommend you take a day trip to the famous Mud Baths of Lo Pagan at the Mar Menor. The Mar Menor is known as “The Sea of Health” because of its warm shallow waters and healing muds. The mud baths here have therapeutic properties known since antiquity and have been used in both medical and beauty treatments for thousands of years. These “Baños de Lodo” are especially good for those suffering from arthritis and other rheumatic conditions, bone illnesses, pain and skin diseases. However, they will make anyone feel great, and it guarantees a fun day out!
You can either go directly to “Las Charcas” to enjoy the muddy experience from the source or you can visit one of the fantastic Spas and hot springs for more extensive treatments and massages. Enjoying the mud baths at Las Charcas can be a fun experience for all the family. The mud is actually under the water, so take a bucket or an old tub to help you scoop it out, at first it does smell quite eggy but you do become immune to the smell after a few minutes. Once you have pasted the mud on, you can do the custom strut along the promenade, hulk pose for photos or just relax on the board walk while the mud dries in the sun. Once you are dry, go back into the water where you can wash the mud off. Your skin will feel amazing and I have even seen it help those pesky mosquito bites which is an added bonus.
Rio Safari Park
Another great place to visit is Rio Safari park in Elche, about a 30 minute drive from Quesada. This park is located in a beautiful palm tree field and is home to hundreds of amazing animals. The park has multiple shows daily as well as an open jeep-style train that takes you around the park and through some of the enclosures. The park boasts a good size petting area, where some of the animals can be fed and a small monkey enclosure which you can enter at specific times. A great day out for everyone.
Guadalest
If you like charming country villages then Guadalest is definitely worth a visit. It is located in the mountains and it has some beautiful views with sky blue lake. You will see many citrus groves, pine forests and almond trees which makes the journey quite picturesque. It is about 1.5 hour drive from Ciudad Quesada and about 30 minutes to Benidorm. The village itself has a lot of character with a few shops, restaurants and small museums. Sometimes you can take a boat ride along the river if on offer. You can then follow the path uphill towards the San Jose 17th century castle. There is an old house which you can visit and look around, the castle itself is not really accessible and it is mostly ruins now however the views from the top are wonderful, just remember to take a hat or fan and some water and sunscreen as it can get very hot in summer.
Algar Waterfalls
If you go early enough to Guadelest then you could also go to the Algar waterfalls, just a 30 minute drive from Guadelest and 1.5 hours from Ciudad Quesada. It is a natural cave like area with fantastic waterfalls and springs. You can walk around the waterfalls and rock pools and go for a swim. The crystal clear spring waters were originally known as “the source of health” and can be a little fresh when you first enter them. Water shoes are advised if you have them but many people do go in trainers or flip flops if they do not have, although water shoes can be bought outside or quite cheaply from your local bazaar shops and are great for using at the beaches or for watersports as well. Next to the waterfalls are a couple restaurants and a Dino Park, which have large robot dinosaurs, a 3d dinosaur video and parking right outside. Parking in the area is usually €5 for the day, however if you decide to go to the Dino Park, which is just a few kilometers from the waterfalls then parking is included in the admission price, so it may be something to consider. It can be a great day out for everyone of all ages, from families to adults.
Watersports
There are some great watersports facilities all along the Costa Blanca coast, from Alicante to Mar Menor and Torrevieja. In Torrevieja there are a few sports facilities such as Maremoto in Torrevieja, where you can rent Jet Skis, kayaks, sailing boats, banana and paddle boats. You can also do parasailing and fly boarding. It is best to book these in advance either online or in person. You can be on your own jet ski here but without a license you will need to be accompanied by an instructor.
Parks
There are some nice parks here that you can go for a nice walk or picnic. Many have water fountains, children’s play parks and a variety of birds and turtles. Some are open 24/7 and some close in the evenings but usually after 10 or 11pm. Some parks we would recommend are “The garden of Nation” and “Molino de Agua Parque” in Torrevieja as well as “Parque Reina Sofia” and “Parque Alfonso X11” in Guardamar. Alfonso Park, is more of a forest style walk with a wooden path which leads to a beach cove. These can be beautiful walks all year round and with all the family.
Adventure Sports and Bikes Rentals
For those who enjoy cycling the Costa Blanca has a variety of routes, from easy flat routes to some more challenging routes. You can rent bikes in most towns, such as Cyclogical in Ciudad Quesada or MTB in Torrevieja. You can rent your general push bike or electric bikes which are recommended if you are planning to cycle where there are a lot of hills, as this can be quite a challenge even if you are used to cycling. For those who are not as keen on cycling and like a little more speed, you can go on some quad bike trips which last anything from 1 hour to a day. There are multiple places offering quad bike tours and other adventure sports from Alicante, Benidorm to Torrevieja. Lo Rufete Multiaventura Park in Torrevieja – Orihuella offers a mixture of adventure sports from Quad biking, horse riding and zip lines or Costa Blanca Quad Tours which carries activities out in different regions, offering Quad Tours, Air rifle shooting, Sea Scooter Snorkeling and more. Perfect for individuals, couples, groups and families.
Shopping
For those who wish to do a bit of shopping, there are a few shopping centers that can be a nice day or evenings out. There is Habaneras at Torrevieja, it is a small open air center about a 10 minute drive from Ciudad Quesada and it is open late at night. There is a much larger center another 15 minutes from Habaneras called La Zenia Boulevard and that has a large variety of shops and restaurants and is open quite late at night as well. You may also wish to do some shopping in Alicante itself.
Golf
The Costa Blanca has a great range of golf courses from La Marquesa in Ciudad Quesada to courses such as La Finca, Vistabella and more close by.