Tag: Experience

Experience category is based on my own experience where I try to put everything in a way so you would feel like you are traveling with me.

  • Torrevieja Birding Guide & Map for the Best Spots

    Torrevieja Birding Guide & Map for the Best Spots

    Bird-Watching in Vega Baja del Segura

    Torrevieja is located within a unique area of Spain. Its low profile made it so that some parts of the region are below sea level. This has produced various water bodies within the area and when it comes to it in terms of bird habitats, whatever that occurred naturally, or was done by humans centuries ago to extract salt from the sea, the origins are not relevant. The plains of Vega Baja del Segura are natural wetlands, which provide good conditions to many migrating birds and some species who adapted to live here throughout the year. I’m confident that you’ll have many interesting encounters with various birds whichever you look for them or not. Certainly, the area is densely populated by both humans and birds. Situated between prime bird-watching locations like El Hondo, San Pedro del Pinatar, and the local salt lagoons of the city, one thing is certain – Torrevieja is great for birding enthusiasts.

    Muscovy duck in El Hondo Nature Park, Spain
    Muscovy Duck – there are usual and unusual visitors of El Hondo Nature Reserve. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Birding Spots Map

    El Hondo Nature Reserve

    If Costa Blanca belongs to ex-pats and tourists, El Hondo is a real metropolis of birds. Situated just about 30km / 19 mi from the Mediterranean Sea, this birds’ paradise would impress even casual visitors. Though El Fondo consists of many lakes and ponds, the main attraction is situated just next to the center of El Hondo Nature Park. A 1km long hiking trail is like a “bird safari”. You could spend hours observing the marvelous species even without actually starting the trail. Across the whole range of the hiking route, you’ll find four bird-watching cabins and a bridge over a pond filled with various ducks, hens, and other bird species. All of it covers only a small part of El Hondo. While most of it is preserved for the birds and the staff of the park only, it is possible to reach much more bird-watching cabins in the south, or contact the park rangers to arrange a bird-watching tour deep within El Hondo Nature Park. 

    Two flamingos walking in El Hondo Nature Reserve, Spain
    Though Greater Flamingos are a common sight, it is rare to see them from up-close. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Bird to See

    • Marbled teal
    • White-headed duck
    • Red-knobbed coot
    • Purple swamphen
    • Glossy ibis

    Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus at Marievale Nature Reserve, G
    Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
    El Hondo Nature Reserve, Spain
    El Hondo Nature Reserve is located just 30 km / 18.6 mi from Torrevieja. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Torrevieja and La Mata Nature Park

    Salt lagoons of Torrevieja and La Mata are an obvious destination for bird-watching. Together with the Segura River, they build a natural sanctuary for many birds. The vineyards surrounding the southeastern side of La Mata Lagoon make this part of the area exceptionally attractive to a great variety of species. No surprise that the very heart of the nature park resides here. From what I saw this is the best place for bird-spotting around Torrevieja, especially if you are a casual bird watcher. My personal favorites are hoopoes, red-legged partridges, Iberian grey shrikes, and many smaller species of birdies.

    Bird watchtower near La mata Lagoon, Spain
    There are plenty of bird-watching towers around the perimeter of La Mata Salt Lagoon. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    In the water of salt lagoons lookout for avocets, stilts, and various species of plovers. Endangered Kentish Plover is the dearest one of the area. Trees are the home for countless small birdies. You’ll probably be going to hear wrynecks from afar, but good luck spotting them. Graceful doves will be what you’d get. This is only a small forecast of what you’ll see in this birds’ paradise, the salt lagoons of Torrevieja and La Mata are. 

    Birds to See

    • Kentish plover
    • Iberian Magpie
    • Eurasian hoopoe
    • Red-legged padridge
    • Stone curlew

    Common_Hoopoe_Upupa_Epops_31_cm-2
    Nrik kiran, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
    La Mata Nature Park in Spain
    La Mata Nature Park has a high variety of natural environments and all of them are dominated by birds. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Santa Pola Lagoons

    Pink Flamingos – the main and certainly a good enough reason to visit the salt lagoons of Santa Pola. It is one of the sanctuaries of these majestic birds in the Valencian Community. Flamingos are so plentiful that spotting them is almost 100% guarantee at any time. No gear is required either, all you have to do is simply drive through the lagoons on the road N-332 between Santa Pola and Torrevieja. There are few parking lots, where you can stop to observe flamingos in detail but generally, they tend to shy away from these ponds to the ones further from the road.

    Greater Flamingos in Santa Pola Salt Lagoons, Spain
    Greater Flamingos tend to shy away from spotlight in Santa Pola Salt Lagoons. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    This is where binoculars or spotting scope comes in handy. Though spotting birds here is generally easy, the gear is mandatory to enjoy the company of pink greater flamingos and other birds. Together with gulls and stilts, these elegant birds usually dominate the lagoons, but keep your eye on

    Bird to See

    • Greater flamingo
    • Lesser flamingo
    • Black-winged stilt
    • Avocet
    • Kentish plover

    Pied_avocet_(Recurvirostra_avosetta)_France-2
    Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
    Santa Pola Salt Lagoon Tower (Torre del Tamarit) in Spain
    Tower of Tamarit is a perfect place for a quick birding stop in Santa Pola. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Cabo Cervera

    Big numbers of bird species find the sea as their natural home. The problem for bird-watchers is that the spaces are even bigger, thus observing birds might be not as convenient. The general rule of bird spotting by the sea – if they don’t come to you, you go to them. Walking along the coast will ensure encounters with many different bird species. My favorite place for birdwatching around Torrevieja is Cabo Cervera. This rocky cape is a wonder of nature worth exploring on its own but given the birds which feed here – walking along the coast is never boring.

    Kentish plover sin La Mata beach, Spain
    A Gang of Kentish Plovers – An endangered species in the area. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Don’t forget to look out the vast waters of the Mediterranean, where among various species of gulls, Northern gannets dive the sea for food. If you are lucky – you can observe an unlucky individual of these beautiful birds chased by a Great skua. During the off-season of tourism, the walking route could be extended to La Mata beaches for the small Sanderlings and Kentish Plovers. 

    Bird to See

    • Kentish plover
    • Northern gannet
    • Little egret
    • Common kestrel
    • Audouin’s Gull

    Morus_bassanus_adu-2
    Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons
    The Mediterranean Sea from Cabo Cervera in Torrevieja, Spain
    Wader birds, which dominate Cabo Cervera, specialize in finding hidden food. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Segura River Channel

    Segura is the longest river in the Province of Alicante. Naturally, it has been the source of life not only for people since prehistoric times but other lifeforms as well. To this day, the river plays an important role in human life and as the result – the delta of Segura river has been heavily industrialized. This greatly affects the potential of this natural hub for many animals including birds. Even despite all the human activities, the river is still filled with birds. The best spotting route from my experience goes from Guardamar de Segura, following the river to the Mediterranean Sea. From there you can follow the coastline and then turn inland through the Park of Alfonse XIII for the maximum variety of bird species. You’ll most likely be going to spot some grey herons, little egrets, great cormorants along with various ducks and hens. Be sure to visit Queen Sofia Park, located between Park of Alfonse XII and Guardamar, for semi-domesticated peacocks and other birds.

    Segura river delta in Guardamar, Spain
    Most of the birds are a bit further from the very delta of Segura river. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Birds to See

    • Grey heron
    • Iberian grey shrike
    • Eurasian coot
    • Great Cormorant
    • Eurasian moorhen
    Ardea_cinerea_(14172633837)-2
    xulescu_g, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

    Salt Lagoons of San Pedro del Pinatar

    There are many reasons to visit the Salt Lagoons of San Pedro del Pinatar and birds are definitely one of them. Within a fairly limited area, you can find the Mediterranean, Mar Menor, and salt lagoons themselves. No surprise this variety attracts a wide range of bird species. The lagoons are dominated by Greater flamingos, elsewhere look for the usual suspects of the Spanish coastline like Kentish plovers and their cousins, accompanied by countless species of gulls and smaller bird species. San Pedro del Pinatar has an exceptional landscape, worth a visit by itself, but you never know who else going to show up on any given day. 

    Bird to See

    • Greater flamingo
    • Kentish plover
    • Black-necked-grebe
    • Common shelduck
    • Audouin’s Gull

    Greater_flamingo_David_Raju-2
    Davidvraju, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
    Flamingos in Salindas de San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
    Even in urbanized salty ponds, flamingos are flamingos. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Personal Experience

    Without a doubt, I’m yet to fully explore all the depths of birding possibilities in the wetlands surrounding Torrevieja. The potential is so high that I imagine it can only be done throughout years of constant bird watching. There might be very few people alive who actually saw everything the area could show and even so – the diversity is probably always changing. Climate change for sure leaves its marks here. Nevertheless, the high diversity of different salinity water bodies provide in the region provide all year round or temporarily home to a great variety of birds. Birding around Torrevieja will be a real joy to any enthusiast of this endeavor. 

    El Hondo Nature Park, Spain
    All content and photos by Alis Monte. If you want to collaborate, contact me on info@wp.connectingcosta.com Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
  • Hiking to Cova Tallada from Denia in Montgo Natural Park

    Hiking to Cova Tallada from Denia in Montgo Natural Park

    About Cova Tallada

    Everything is written in its name – Cova Tallada – translated from Valenciana language that would be the Carved Cave. This makes the cave not just another cave – sculpted out of a rock by water waves as it was some kind of bad-tasted contemporary art sculpture – the cave is man-made. This naturally raises a question why would somebody carve a cave not too far but not too close to the settlement nearby – Denia – to which Cova Tallada’s destiny was bounded from the very beginning and still holds to this day.

    Despite Cova Tallada origins, its beauty is sought by lots of tourists and adventurers. So many that during the high season access to the cave had to be limited due to safety reasons. You see, from time to time some people tend to fall into Cova Tallada as they get ‘creative’ trying to take a selfie on the hole above the cave.

    The view from Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    Sneak Peak. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Cova Tallada Hike Details

    • Location: Montgo Natural Park – Denia
    • Starting location: Denia
    • Target location: Cova Tallada
    • Coordinates: 38º81’75 ″ N – 0º16’74 ″ ° W
    • Distance: 1km / 0.62mi
    • Duration: 30-40min
    • Difficulty: Easy/Moderate Depending on season and experience
    • Permit: Required between June 15 – September 30

    Map of Costa Blanca Hikes

    Despite all odds, I would easily rank hike to Cova Tallada among the best hikes in Costa Blanca. The route simply has so much to offer in such a short distance. If you can avoid the crowds, hiking to Cova Tallada is an absolutely must!

    The Official Rules of Cova Tallada Hike

    • Stay in the cave no longer than 2 hours
    • Bring water in abundance
    • Proper footwear
    • Do not bring bulky and cumbersome objects
    • Do not run or shout

    It is forbidden to:

    • Spending the night at the cave
    • Fishing and extracting any kind of species from the sea
    • Feeding the aquatic fauna
    • Pulling out plants
    • Littering
    Protected vegetation on Montgo natural Park, Costa Blance, Spain
    Montgo Natural park is the home to many protected & endemic species. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

     

    More information: Official website of Natural Parks in Valencia

    Is it Safe to Hike to Cova Tallada?

    The main thing everybody needs to understand before going to Cova Tallada is that all the warnings of danger are here due to the popularity of the hike. The route is nowhere close to being somehow exceptionally unsafe. All the fuss is just because the cave is not only popular among hikers but tourists as well thus the whole area gets really crowded. It is not a secret that the number of incidents increases with the number of visitors. The authorities are simply left with no other options once the tragic news get to the papers. Everything combined, my general advice – like during any other hike including steep slopes – the correct pace is always the safe pace. If you stick to this rule you will be all right. Let the idiots alone increase the incident roll.

    Walking to Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain6
    Your average road quality on Cova Tallada hike. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Is it Hard to Hike to Cova Tallada?

    The route itself is hard to describe, it doesn’t fit into any basic category. Physically – the walk is not difficult because it is very short but technically – the story is a bit different. With good shoes and some experience, many would mark the hike as easy though that totally doesn‘t do the justice to actually easy hikes. The best way to prepare for the hike would be to follow me through this article and decide it yourself because it really depends on your own skills and equipment.

    My Recommended Gear

    • Water shoes
    • Good hiking shoes for steep Rock climbing
    • Extra: If you like snorkeling, be sure to take your gear along

    Denia – Cova Tallada Yellow Route

    The first challenge of the hike is to find the beginning of the route. It should not be a problem if you are reading this article because I have already linked the coordinations on Google Maps.

    The road toward Mirador las Rotas and yellow route to Cova Tallada
    From the start of the yellow route to Cova Tallada to Mirador las Rotas the road is relatively civilized and the only way to get hurt is to get ‘creative’. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    Steps down toward Cova Tallada at Mirador las Rotas, Costa Blanca, Spain
    Some people tend to miss it but just before Mirador Las Rotas there are small steps down to continue the road toward Cova Tallada. When in doubt – always look for yellow route markings. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    The view from Mirador Las Rotas, Denia, Spain.
    The view from Mirador Las Rotas, Denia. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

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    Steps on the yellow route from Denia to Cova Tallada, Costa Blanca, Spain
    This is where the walk might get a bit tricky from time to time but if sightseeing and walking are not done at the same time everybody should be just fine. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Formation of Montgo Massif – Precursor to Cova Tallada

    Cova Tallada is located at the edge of Montgo Massif, which arose from the depths some 70 million years ago when continent plates of Europe and Africa were making love pretty hard. No surprise, passing through this place is not easy; but without it there would be no places like this beautiful cave.

    Montgo Natural Park on Costa Blanca in Spain
    Montgo Natural Park from Mirador las Rotas (viewpoint of broken). Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    Road to Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca,Spain
    The hike includes some steps. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Photo Tour to Cova Tallada

    From here on Cova Tallada is just behind two passages across hill cliffs, which I suggest walking extra-carefully. The basic rule is to let everybody from in front to pass the difficult part first because you never know, which passer-by might be a hot-headed idiot, who will use any given possibility to push you off the cliff.

    Pro tip: In case somebody enters a difficult range while you are on it, just stop on the safe side and let them pass on the outside. They chose to put you in a dangerous situation so let them do the walking.

     

    Grinded path to Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    The valley between the passages is less stressful but since the path is very popular – most of the rocks are ground almost as if it was done by a jeweler – thus might get a bit slippery with the wrong footwear. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    Hiking to Cova Tallada on a narrow path
    The second passage doesn‘t include steps but it is quite narrow, just stick to the rules I posted above and you’ll be fine. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

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    Cliff jumping near Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    Just before the hike turns into a rock climbing session, the road goes around a small gulf with Cova Tallada almost visible behind the next corner. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Getting Into Cova Tallada

    Sign to Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    Once you get to this sign ‘the walk in a park’ is over. To access the cave you have two options with neither of them being very simple. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    Stairs leading to Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    The official route goes down this road where you’ll have to take out your hands out of your pockets or if you are cool – take the risk of falling somewhere, hurting something. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    At this point, some of you might be already thinking – ‘I’m taking the second route’ but don’t be so quick to judge. The second option does not include the rock climbing session but instead requires hiking a bit further, descending from a way gentler cliff on unofficial route, fording to an islet nearby, crossing the islet (which is a total pain without water shoes) and swimming to the cave.

    An islet near Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    The second option to enter Cova Tallada goes through water. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Snorkeling at Cova Tallada

    Needless to say which route I took. After walking through the razor-sharp surface of the islet, cursing my flip-flops without stopping, I found myself only dozen meters away from Cova Tallada with the only obstacle being the sea.

    Snorkeling in Cova Tallada, Costa Blanca, Spain
    Moments before going for a snorkel toward Cova Tallada. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Cautiously I took my steps forward, getting deeper and deeper, toward the uncharted underworld. The same moment my eyes got below the surface of salty seawater, that world revealed itself to me. Everything changed instantly – like midday to midnight. For a moment, I forgot everything that I left above and swam deeper into this alien planet. Escorted by flocks of fish, I was navigating between giant rocks. They were like huge houses to other lifeforms, who were all carefully observing this unseen explorer tirelessly trying to reach his goal. Avoiding jellyfishes, somehow I reached the shallow waters, where crabs took the race for their lives just before I ascended above them to enter Cova Tallada.

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    Even though there was no thought process behind the decision, I don’t regret taking the second option. I had no idea about the first one until I swam to the cave just to find the entrance from the surface. I was quite surprised how all of these people got to the cave with all this gear and food, and pets, while I was there barefoot only with a phone and a snorkel in my hands. Don’t take this as an encouragement to skip the water shoes part, this venture cost me five cuts on my toes and it could have been way worse if not for my thick skin.

    Panorama view of Cova Tallada in Costa Blance, Spain
    Panorama view of Cova Tallada. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    The Antics of Cova Tallada

    LCova Tallada stretches from 15 meters in height to 75 meters in length but I imagine these numbers might not give the correct impression of the cave. An easier way to characterize the Carved Cave would be to compare it to a medium-sized flat, somewhere in the countryside near a sea.

    People entering Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    There is an entrance at the end of a hallway which leads to the stairs you need to climb before getting out of here. The flat is on the base floor after all. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    People having a picnic in Cova Tallada, Costa Blanca, Spain
    The hallway is connected to the main room which covers most of the total area. Acoustics are perfect here as the ceiling is astonishingly high. The dining room is combined with the room but due to ever-changing trends of design it is hard to notice where exactly the kitchen is. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

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    Holes on the roof of Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    Few windows on the roof will keep the main room enlightened for most of the day. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    Sea front view from Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    There is a terrace in the main room with a top-notch view. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    Natural pool of Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    The main problem with the flat is that the bathroom is located outside. Yes it includes a huge bath but when the weather is bad it might get annoying. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

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    Inside COva Tallada Cave, Costa Blanca, Spain
    …and last but not least is the beautiful sleeping room which is darker than other spaces of the flat – perfect for sleeping and other stuff. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    Arches to the sea in Cave Tallada, Costa Blanca, Spain
    The only illumination of the room is coming through several arches that are leading straight to the backyard where you’ll find plenty of space for your daily exercise. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots
    Inside Cova Tallada in Costa Blanca, Spain
    Overall the flat could maintain over a couple of hundred people though I wouldn’t signup for such a commune thus recommend visiting it off-season. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots

    Cova Tallada Secrets

    The beautiful arches of the interior withstand all the bad weather for a reason. Apparently, the rocks are more robust at this location and the whole cave was carved out by the people from Denia. They used these rocks to build important buildings in the city, including the Castle of Denia. So if you still think this hike is dangerous or hard – imagine the people carrying these rocks the same distance – which is untrue, since it is way easier to do it by the sea. I’ll leave you with that.

    Boat on a tour near Montgo Natural Park in Costa Blanca, Spain
    Your Ad of boat tours to Cova Tallada could be here. Photo by Alis Monte [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Connecting the Dots