On this private full-day excursion in Spain, you will be accompanied by your English-speaking tour guide, where you will set out to discover sweeping and panoramic vistas of this incredible area. As you leave the port area, you will begin to make your way to Benidorm, a seaside resort on the eastern coast of Spain and part of the Valencia region’s famed Costa Blanca.

This was a tiny fishing village up to the 1960s but has now become a popular Mediterranean holiday destination known for its nightlife. The two wide sandy beaches, Levante Beach and Poniente Beach, are backed by palm-lined promenades, bars and rows of skyscrapers. This leisure and holiday town is located 25 miles from Alicante and is one of the most popular choices of millions of holidaymakers every year in Spain and Europe. Boasting one of the world’s largest and vibrant resorts, it continues to be the ultimate holiday destination and in commonly known as “land of light and fun”.

Continue to Guadalest, a Valencian town and municipality located in a mountainous area of the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Spain. Surrounded by the Aitana, Serella And Xorta Mountains, the village was a strategic military stronghold with fortifications dating back to 715AD and the period of Moorish occupation of Spain. Its long history includes action seen during the Moorish occupation. A strong earthquake in 1644 seriously damaged the fort and houses of the village and during the War of the Spanish Succession, it again suffered serious damage from a mine explosion.

The town grew up around the fortress and originally the population lived within the protection of the castle walls. The castle can only be entered by one small tunnel cut through the rock at the San Jose gate. The area inside the walls includes the ancient city dungeon, the bell tower, Saint Joseph castle, the Orduna House, parish church and the Moorish fortified building called Alcozaiba. The houses the Moors lived in then were built outside the San Jose gate. This part of the town, “”el Arrabal””, with its little streets and squares is where most of the shops, museums and restaurants are today. The river Guadalest flows through the area and has been dammed to form a spectacular a reservoir below the town. Guadalest has been declared a ‘Monument of Historical and Artistic Value’ and is a major tourist attraction in Spain.

As you make your return to Alicante, you will have a panoramic tour of the city including a view of the great Castle of Santa Barbara, one of the best-preserved castles in Spain. Make a stop for a walking tour through the old town of Alicante where you will have some free time to wander and explore on your own.

This port city in Spain’s southeastern Costa Blanca is the capital of the Alicante province. Its old town, Barrio de la Santa Cruz, has narrow streets, brightly painted houses and a nightlife scene. In all of Spain’s mainland provincial capitals, Alicante, is the most influenced by tourism, nevertheless it is a dynamic and attractive Spanish city. At the end of the day you will be returned to your ship and pier area.

This private half-day excursion in Spain, accompanied by your English-speaking tour guide, will provide you with sweeping and panoramic vistas of this incredible area. As you leave the port area you will make your way into the city, Alicante is the capital of eastern Spain’s Costa Blanca holiday region. The name comes from the endless sequence of white sandy beaches in this part of the country. The city is full of history with many sights not to miss including a medieval fortress towering over the city and a classic Mediterranean old-town with whitewashed houses and cobblestone streets.

Start your day with a view of the bullring, The Plaza de Toros de Alicante was inaugurated on June 15, 1888. From the year 1928, with the creation of the festivities of “Les Fogueres de Sant Joan”, the Bullfighting Fair of Las Hogueras was consolidated. Throughout its existence it has held numerous events that have structured the social activity of Alicante up to the present day, in which the activities of the largest public congregation are scheduled: concerts, congresses, private events and the renowned Bonfires Fair.

Move on to the central market and discover that the markets in Spain are something similar to food religion and Alicante’s is no exception. Find an enormous amount of fish and meat stalls, as the seafood stalls are a particular highlight with counters all but overflowing with squid, lobster, crab and so much more. Fruit and vegetables are also available and you can explore for regional specialties such as Mistela, a sweet dessert wine.

Stars Square or The Plaza de los Luceros, was named for the stars that outline the fountain that dominates its center. One of the most emblematic squares in Alicante, it is located right in the heart of the city and it is here that the famous firecracker displays are held every year as part of Alicante’s main festivals, las Hogueras.

Crowning Benacantil Mountain, the vast, monumental rock looming over Alicante, is a fortress with medieval Arab origins. The most recent renovations took place during Spain’s Golden Age in the 1500s, but if you look closely, you’ll find little fragments from Moorish times. From here, an elevator or a steep climb leads to medieval Castillo de Santa Barbara, set on a hilltop with sweeping views of the Mediterranean coast.

Make your way next to the old town, Barrio de la Santa Cruz, featuring narrow streets with brightly colored houses. This area is a typical residential Mediterranean area with a peaceful atmosphere and lively locals.

Continue and pass by historical buildings such as the Cathedral, built on the remains of a mosque, the town hall with a baroque style construction and the Carbonell House, the residential palace from 1924 with a modernist style.

You will finish this experience walking by the Spanish Esplanade, the pedestrian street located near the seaside.