Anyone traveling to the Alicante area should know that the Valencian region is one of the richest corners of the country from a landscape and natural point of view. Alicante is perfect for hiking, picnics and mountain bike rides and any other activity that allows you to get in touch with nature.
One of the most attractive points of the Costa Blanca in Alicante is the Cova dels Arcs. This enclave has become one of the most powerful points of attraction for those who set foot for the first time within the limits of the province. And more and more travelers are returning again and again to enjoy this spectacle for the eyes.
The Cova dels Arcs is a natural cave that marine erosion has carved into the rock over thousands of years. But that’s not all: it is a magical space with many attractions, from its shape to the leisure activities that can be done in it.
La Cova Dels Arcs: What Makes it so Special?
Almost as if it were an extraterrestrial landscape, in which the rocks take on extraordinary shapes, this cave in Alicante is one of the best examples of drainage of a karst system.
Said so that it is easily understood, it is a space in which the limestone has been affected by the water until it dissolves in parts. This is what gives karst areas those special and “Martian” shapes.
In the case of the Cova dels Arcs, this process is even more impressive, since the enclave began as a continental area and, with the passage of millennia, became an underwater area.
That happened about sixty millennia ago, in the last great rise in sea level, when the cave was completely flooded and this erosion process began in an evident way, the results of which can be enjoyed by tourists and visitors today.
A Space Full of History
The Cova del Arcs not only stands out from the geological point of view: like almost all these striking spaces, it has not only become a point of interest now, but human beings, throughout their history, have thought of this cave as a kind of “sacred place” of interest.
Divided into several rooms, the cave has been used as a marine refuge and water supply point by the previous societies that have settled on the Alicante coast. This shows that, for centuries, the Cova dels Arcs has been a very valuable place due to its orography and disposition facing the Mediterranean Sea.
A Stone Cathedral
One of the first sensations you have when you enter this place for the first time is that you are in a kind of “cathedral”. When searching the Internet for Cova dels Arcs reviews from thousands of travelers agree on this sensation: and the space seems to have been modeled by a modernist architect in the manner of spaces such as the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Arches, skylights and holes deform the stone to create rooms, corridors and windows from which to look at the open sea. This is just a part of what this cave of the Arcs offers, where many activities of all kinds are carried out year after year.
Where is the Cova Dels Arcs
The Cova dels Arcs is located in Benitachell. To get there you have to go to this municipality, which is one hour north of Alicante and only 35 minutes from Benidorm.
Located next to municipalities such as Jávea and Calpe, once in the town you have to head towards the Cala del Moraig, another area of great interest to take a bath or enjoy a clean and natural sea at any time of the year.
Although the cave appears signposted on GPS with an Internet connection today, it is enough to follow the road that leads to Cumbre del Sol, a tourist urbanization from which reaching the cave is a matter of minutes.
It is important to keep in mind that access can be somewhat complex, slippery and risky. Therefore, to enter the cave it is recommended to wear quality booties or jelly shoes, with non-slip soles.
In addition, it is also essential to contact the tourist office of the municipality, which will help you know if the day chosen to access the area is a good time or if, on the contrary, the sea is too rough and it is better to leave it to try again at another time when the tide is calmer.
What Can You Do in the Cova Dels Arcs
What can you do in the Cova dels Arcs? The truth is that this small space lends itself to a variety of activities that include water sports and more artistic alternatives.
Snorkel in the Main Room
The first space that opens to the visitor is the well-known sala dels inmersionistes, since it is the one that offers the most ease to tourists who want to enter the open sea from the cave.
At this point, the waters are turquoise and crystalline, so it is a perfect space to practice snorkel and get to know the marine depths in a unique place.
Photographs with a Special Setting
Without a doubt, any photographer—professional or amateur—will take the space as one of the best natural settings in Spain to make a report both of the enclave and of someone who has the place as a beautiful background to take the best portraits they could have.
The light conditions of the space, the color of the rocks and the wonderful presence of the sea elevate any photograph to the category of art.
Contemplate the Sunrise
One of the most repeated plans in the Cova dels Arcs is the contemplation of the sunrise. And it is that the structure of the cave makes it a perfect place to observe how the sun rises, fills the surface of the sea with golden tones and its rays are “kissing” the stone little by little to fill everything with unique nuances.
Enjoying the murmur of the waves while a new day is born there is something you can’t miss if you are on vacation in the Benidorm or Alicante area.
These are all the characteristics of the Cova dels Arcs, one of the most impressive points of the entire Costa Blanca, a perfect place to get in touch with the sea and with nature and to take away a unique memory of your trip. If you are interested in these landscapes, we recommend reading our post about La Cova Tallada, in Jávea.
