An intense smell of orange blossom and the murmur of waters announce the proximity of the area known in the Levantine region as the "Font de Fonts". It is a natural space consisting in waterfalls, fountains, small springs and natural swimming pools in the region called La Marina Baixa.
Inside the facilities, in order to make the visit around the area comfortable and avoid any obstacles, some easily accessible paths have been fitted out both in the fountains and other interesting areas. The most attractive spots are the real natural swimming pools, where you can take a refreshing swim in crystal-clear waters.
First you should visit the Font Moro (Moro Fountain), which doesn't stop overflowing transparent water. Then, you can reach the first and most spectacular waterfall: it is the Toll de la Caldera, known as the Algar, which is also the name of the river into which this waterfall flows and the name given to the whole spot. A bit upwards, where an old mill erects and water seems dammed up, conditions are ideal to refresh in the almost always gelid waters of the Algar.
It is really difficult to find so virgin waters and such a virgin spot as this one, apart from the especially protected spaces. Outside the swimming area, at the top of the valley, a wide natural space is fitted out with any kind of facilities (barbecues, tables and benches, firewood warehouses, camping area, toilets, showers, etc.) for the picnic and resting area. Adjacent to this area, we find a wide free parking space.
There are many information signposts to guide you through the different facilities, as well as punctual detailed information. Inside the installations, in order to make the visit around the area comfortable and avoid any obstacles, some easily accessible paths have been fitted out both in the fountains and other interesting areas. The most attractive spots are the real natural swimming pools, where you can take a refreshing swim in crystal-clear waters.
As we go up into the mountains, wonders multiply at the view of the Picos de Aitana (more than 1,500 metres high) or the Pico de Serrellas (1,360 metes high). The huge orchards of loquats and other fruit trees surrounding Callos give this place an almost supernatural appearance than bring us to other far places, further away in the Oriental Mediterranean Sea.
A recommended visit in the Fuentes del Algar is the Environment Museum, where you can learn about the process of distillation of natural essences, as well as about the "in vitro" fertilization of autochthonous plants.
There are also additional activities such as horse walks, a visit to the train museum, a visit to the cactus nursery, etc.
From here we can access a walk, in which a collection of aromatic and medicinal plants from this Mediterranean area grow on both sides.
At the same time, there are information signposts that will guide you through the different facilities, as well as punctual detailed information.
Other projects in the pipeline are reafforestation, a hostel, a refuge directed at training in environmental specialities, a botanical garden where autochthonous varieties may grow, as well as the creation of a water museum where, apart from resting and leisure areas, there will be some illustrative examples of watering systems and tools for the treatment of water in the Comunidad Valenciana.
It is an extraordinary spot of cascades, fountains and small springs right in the region of the Marina Baixa, not far from Callosa d'en Sarri` and a few kilometres away from the densely populated city of Benidorm.
All this area invites you to go for a long walk and several possible paths to go over this spot are signalled. Very near, you should look for the signals to go to the interesting Environment Museum. Despite the proliferation of restaurants and snack bars in the surrounding area, miraculously a heavenly place like this still survives so close to the most developed coastline in the Mediterranean area.
A bit upwards, approximately at a league, you find the Guadalest Castle, which has an Arab origin as almost everything in this area of the province of Alicante.
The Fuentes del Algar (the Algar Cascades) are a beautiful and natural place located at the top of the mountains behind Altea. Walk along the paths next to the wonderful river overflowing from the mountain and swim in the natural swimming pools and cascades.
The crystal-clear swimming pools are plenty of springs and waters flow directly among the rocks. Many paths follow the course of the river and are constantly lined with the characteristic vegetation of the area, as for example giant reeds, bamboos and oleanders.
At the top of the valley, an open and wide space has been equipped with some facilities such as barbecues, tables, benches, toilets and showers.
An excursion to the Fuentes del Algar is a pleasant way to escape from the tourist areas in the coast, but be careful: the area is plenty of Spanish tourists during the high season.
There is also a bar and a restaurant, picnic areas and a first aid house.
Among other attractions near the Fuentes del Algar, we find a Train Museum and the Cactus Garden in the Algar.