Fuentes Del Algar

The Fuentes Del Algar (Algar Waterfalls)

There are plenty of places to visit along the Costa Blanca and one which is a must is the Fuentes del Algar (Algar Waterfalls) a natural park which receives a huge amount of tourists.

It is an easy trip meandering through the groves of nisperos, the fruit we wrote about some months back. These groves are covered by huge frameworks of netting to protect them from the birds. Some 22 million kilos of nisperos are produced in the Guadalest and Algar valleys.

To get to Algar take the road to Callosa d'en Sarriá and then follow the signs for the Fuentes del Algar. On my recent visit the road between Callosa and Algar had a slight diversion which
proved a bit bumpy but no doubt they will be improving the road as quickly as possible.

On arrival there are numerous parking areas under the shade of trees or carports and most are watched over by attendants. The price for each vehicle is a couple of Euros and the ticket you are issued with you can then use to redeem some of the cost of refreshments in the ajoining bar.

You then walk up past various bars and restaurants some of which boast swimming pools - one is even the shape of a guitar! There is also a small train museum signposted. You pass a couple of souvenir shops selling the usual selection including bottled nisperos and nispero products.

Entrance to the waterfalls is free and you actually enter through a bar/restaurant. At this time of year there are a couple of photographers capturing the moment as you enter and the finished product is on display as you leave for a small fee. As most people don't even realise they are being photogarphed or aren't expecting it there are some very surprised faces amongst the lines of photographs!

By this time you will feel the fresh mist filled air and the noise of the cascading water is amazing. By taking a dozen steps down you will be at the main pool where the largest of the
waterfalls cascades down to. Lots of people do take a dip so if you are up to cold, fresh mountain water swimming take your cossie.

A small wooden bridge has been erected across this pool so you can climb the steps the other side up to the top, although I assume due to the torrential rainfall earlier in the year, the
bridge is damaged and cordoned off at the moment. You can still climb to the top however, following the steps which are situated behind the bar/restaurant. They are fairly steep as you can imagine but its worth going up and following the path around to the left. You will arrive at the top of the main cascade under rushes, orleanders and fig trees.

Definately take a camera or video. They are not the largest waterfalls in the world but truly wonderful to see.

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