Altea offers visitors 6 km of coastline with steep
cliffs and beaches of shingles and pebbles.
Next to the town centre is the beach called Playa
de la Roda, with shingles but adapted for use by people with reduced
mobility. It is flanked by a seafront promenade with shops, ice-cream
parlours, small restaurants and two nautical and diving centres
open throughout the year.
Towards the south lies the beach of Cap Blanch,
which connects to the beach of Albir in the municipality of Alfaz
del Pi, and this has facilities for windsurf board hire.
On the 2km-long beach of Cap Negret, also of shingles,
there are sunbeds and paddleboats for hire. At the end of this
beach is the small cove called Cala del Soio, which provides a
beautiful panorama reaching from the Rock of Ifach to the cape
called Punta Bombarda.
Yet another busy beach is the L'Olla, with sand,
pebbles and rocks, offering magnificent water for swimming. Stringing
out from the cape of Mascarat, which is ideal for scuba divers,
are the shingle coves of Barreta, Galera and Solsida.
Sierra de Bernia
The Sierra de Bernia, with mountains rising to 1,129
m at their highest point, offers impressive views over the Bay
of Altea. In this area one can visit the remains of a fort called
the Fuerte de Bernia, an ancient 16th-C fortress built to control
the area against rebellions by the Morisco population once inhabiting
these mountains.
One recommendable excursion route around the Sierra
starts from Cases de Bernia (Jalón) up to Forat de Bernia,
a spectacular natural tunnel that goes through the crest of the
mountain. Once through the tunnel, the return route along the
southern slope leads past the fort. Other sights of interest are
the fountains called Font del Garrofert and Font del Runar.
The Algar Springs
Las Fuentes del Algar, or the Algar Springs, are
set in a natural water park made up of a series of waterfalls,
fountains and small springs. This is a picturesque spot that can
be visited using a variety of footpaths, were one can also visit
the Environmental Museum, which focuses on research and preservation
of the local aromatic plants.
