Benidoleig offers several highlights for your stay: the Cova de les Calaveres, a designated hiking route and historic sites in the town centre. To plan your visit, you can first decide whether you are particularly interested in the cave, a hike or local history.
Cave and prehistoric history
Palaeolithic people used the Cova de les Calaveres as a refuge more than 100,000 years ago. The dimensions also help you plan your visit: the tourist route through the cave is more than 300 metres long; its final section leads to the Toll Blau lake. The dry section is more than 400 metres long and open to the public; operating arrangements may change.
The entrance is outside the town centre, on the paved road from Benidoleig to Pedreguer. There is a car park for passenger vehicles. Check the latest visiting and parking conditions before your visit, as operating arrangements and parking conditions may change.
Hiking on the Sender del Seguili
The PR-CV 445 Sender del Seguili starts at Benidoleig Town Hall. The route is 11,693 metres long, with an estimated duration of 4 hours and 5 minutes. It is rated as easy. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
The hiking trail includes the Lloma de la Cova viewpoint. From there, you can see the valley of the neighbouring towns, Dénia Castle and the Mediterranean Sea. The route also passes close to the Fonteta del Marqués and then heads towards the Senda de Les Voltes. This lets you combine the route’s length and duration with specific stops and views along the way.
Church, schoolhouse and local history
The Ruta del Centre urbĂ leads to the EsglĂ©sia de la SantĂssima Sang and the Escoles Velles. The church is a 19th-century Neoclassical building, erected on the site of a former 17th-century chapel. The town-centre walk therefore links two distinct historic sites, without requiring you to include the cave or the Sender del Seguili in the same route.
The Escoles Velles is a historic school building that has been well preserved after several renovations. There is a large courtyard at the back. In the past, pupils were taught in separate classrooms for boys and girls. Today, the building is used for various events and has a large auditorium; the programme may vary.
Another recommended stop on a walk through the town centre is the Casa Señorial del Barón de Finestrat. Ca'l Durà , also known as Casa de Durà , is in a different condition and represents a different building type: this traditional 19th-century stone building is in ruins. The surviving features include a wine press, stone tables and a lime kiln.
Festivals and getting there
The festivals in honour of Sant Vicent Ferrer take place on the Monday after Easter Monday. They include the traditional Fireta i Porrat de Sant Vicent; the exact calendar date depends on the date of Easter. For those interested in local history and traditions, this provides a seasonal occasion to plan a stay, alongside the historic buildings.
Benidoleig can be reached via Pedreguer, which connects to the AP-7 E-15 motorway, and via Ondara, which connects to the N-332. Other access roads run through Orba and along the road between Pego and Callosa de Ensarriá. Check road conditions and signage before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Guadalest, Xinorlet, Los Montesinos, Casas del Señor, Sant Vicent Del Raspeig, Els Poblets, La Vall De Laguar, Margarida.
For the wider travel overview: Alicante.
