Exploring the wild side of the Costa Blanca
Exploring the wild side of the Costa Blanca
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Do you want to escape the busy beaches in the summer, where it is difficult to park your car, and where dogs are often not allowed?
Avoid the waves, the jellyfish, the sand (which gets everywhere!!) and the warm salty water.
Plunge into in fresh, cold, crystal-clear mountain water and swim in waterfalls Alicante instead!
All you need to do is travel inland, away from the coast, and you can find some of the most beautiful hidden gems in the Costa Blanca.
Avoid the crowds, and immerse yourself in nature with these beauty spots.
Visit lesser-known locations, walk through lush vegetation, and gaze in awe at the natural landscapes.
In August 2024 I went on a mission to find appealing mountain water to swim in, in and around the Alicante region. I discovered some true delights!
Here are just some of the places where you can swim in waterfalls Alicante, and cool off on a hot summer day. Each swimming spot has one or more waterfalls, all of which are unique in their own way.
Some of these secret corners of the Costa Blanca are good for swimming laps, whereas others are great to cool off and hang out, but my favourites are those that are perfect for cliff jumping!
The hidden gems perfect to swim in waterfalls Alicante are:
I have listed these hidden gems in my order of personal preference, based on my personal experience over the summer in 2024.
Want to explore the HIDDEN GEMS of the COSTA BLANCA with a local guide?
My favourite place to swim in waterfalls Alicante is along the “Ruta de las 3 Cascadas” (the 3 waterfalls route).
This comprises of a short walk (2-3km depending on which route you take), in really beautiful surroundings.
I love the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas because of the variety it provides, and because you can work your way up the river as far as you dare to explore!
The route begins in the small town of Anna in the La Canal region.
It is perfectly suitable to do the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas during the heat of summer, as it has some shade, and you are rewarded with three beautiful waterfalls, two with awesome pools that you can swim in.
The final waterfall, the 20-metre high “Cascada del Salto” is great for cliff jumping, as well as the Gorgo de la Escalera, which can also be accessed from the Ruta de las 3 Cascadas.
My second favourite place to swim in waterfalls Alicante is Pou Clar. Although my top two swimming spots were really difficult to choose between!
This ss a series of pools, technically four pools, each flowing into the next.
My favourite Pou Clar pool is “Pou Fosc”, which is the pool that the waterfall and dam flow into, because it is a vision of paradise and great to cliff jump into!.
Looking for CHALLENGING HIKING ROUTES in the JALÓN VALLEY?
Pou Clar is great for cliff jumping, as there are lots of opportunities there! I love jumping into my favourite pool, but there are much higher jumps that I haven´t dared to try, including from the brink of the waterfall!
The water at Pou Clar is impeccable! It is perfectly clear, so if you have a snorkel, take it with you for a closer look into the water.
The “Pou de la Reixa” is 50 metres long, and therefore perfect for swimming laps.
However, it is also colder than other mountain water due to the size and depth.
So, if you have a wetsuit, then you could swim in waterfalls Alicante all year round.
Recommended gear for hiking:
OSPREY HIKELITE 32l backpack (unisex)
7 colours and 2 sizes available
My third choice of places to swim in waterfalls Alicante is the “Salto de Chella”.
It is truly spectacular, and the most impressive waterfall that I have come across in the area, due to its height and environment.
Technically the Salto de Chella waterfall is 25 metres high. However, it is actually made up of two parts, with another “brink” further up, which more or less doubles its height!
Looking up from the “beach” below, the Salto de Chella really is a sight to behold.
You can visit the Salto de Chella with a guide and transport included from Alicante or Benidorm.
There are other waterfalls of similar height, such as the “Salt de Fleix” in the Barranco de l´Infern and the Xorro el Salt (Alcoy), but it is very rare that you see water flowing from these cliffs nowadays.
The Salto de Chella waterfall is guaranteed, even when water levels are low due a lack of rain for 2 years! That amount of water dropping from such a height causes immense pressure as it plummets into the pool below, making it difficult to swim very close by!
The pool below the Salto de Chella, however, is splendid, and it is big enough to swim properly. For example, around the edge, or across the pool.
The water begins clearer, but becomes a forest green colour, which is apt to the natural microclimate environment in which the Salto de Chella is situated.
My number 4 place to swim in waterfalls Alicante is “Les Fonts de l’Algar”: The Algar waterfalls.
These are the most popular waterfalls in the area, well visited on guided tours from Alicante, Albir, Benidorm, and Denia/Moraira/Jávea/Calpe.
The main waterfall is about 20 metres high with a lovely clear pool below it, that is well-photographed!
However, if you ascend the steps, there is a rectangular “pool” that you can jump into.
Following the river up, there are several places where you paddle in shallow water, as well as another pretty waterfall pouring over a dam-like structure.
My favourite part, however, is at the very end. There is a long stretch of narrow canyon that you can swim up, leading to a pool with a “beach”.
Recommended gear for water adventures:
Inflatable Backpack
One part inflates while the other part stores your essentials
This is the best place to relax, in my opinion, if you want to escape the crowds and enjoy some peace. If you do want to spend time in this area, then you will need a swimming bag, so that you can transport your valuables with you as you swim up the canyon.
The next location to swim in waterfalls Alicante is Gorgo Catalan, which you can read more about here.
It is situated in the town of Anna, very close to the “Ruta de las 3 Cascadas”.
It has a charming little waterfall, which breathes life, as well as water, into the area.
Gorgo Catalan is literally designed for swimming, but it is not widely known, like other similarly laid out swimming spots.
It is partially natural terrain, and partially constructed like a swimming pool, with an access ladder, and a concrete perimeter with a (rusty) rail around the inside.
There are steps leading up to a rudimentary diving board comprised of a wooden plank and metal frame structure to hold onto, as well as a tree swing for maximum fun!
Interested in an EASY HIKING ROUTE to visit 2 GIGANTIC LIMESTONE ARCHES?
This top-secret place to swim in waterfalls Alicante is another one for adventurers.
The Fuente in Sella is a small pool, one of several wild swimming spots in Sella.
The pool is fed by a small waterfall travelling down from the nearby Assut del Salt de Sella, both of which are part of the “Ruta del Agua Sella” (an easy hiking route along a waterway in the picturesque valley near the town of Sella).
The only way to enter the pool is to cliff jump, or to climb down the waterfall via the attached rope.
The final spot that I recommend to swim in waterfalls Alicante is Los Chorradores.
This is a series of waterfalls located in Navarrés, along a very short hiking route (2-3km, depending on where you park) with a dedicated picnic area.
The main waterfall is 25 metres high with a beautiful turquoise pool below that is great for cooling off in summer!
The waterfall is not guaranteed here, but with just a little rain in the area, of in the mountains nearby, it can turn into quite a marvellous sight!
The main pool, however, is splendid at any time.
There is also a second smaller waterfall with a rocky pool below. With the right conditions, this can be a great place to take a dip too.
Recommended gear for wild swimming:
Adult changing robe
Waterproof, windproof and warm
I cannot write this article without mentioning Gorg del Salt, which is part of the Barranco de la Encantada.
This is a well sought after hidden gem with stunning photos regularly shared online, but nobody ever reveals the actual location! However, you can discover the location and more here.
Unfortunately, its potential as a wild swimming spot has declined over the last few years due to the lack of rain. The pool is now a bright green colour and the waterfall has reduced to just a trickle.
Consequently, it is not the ideal place to swim in waterfalls Alicante,
However, it remains a special place that is definitely worth a visit.
Fancy hiking along a WATERWAY in MUTXAMEL?
Wild Swimming blog posts
These are just some of the places that I discovered on my trip in August 2024, to swim in waterfalls Alicante.
I also found some other great places to swim where there are no waterfalls, as well as hidden gems with incredible waterfalls but where it is not possible to swim (e.g. the Assut de Sant Joan waterfall near San Juan).
I have another list of potential swimming spots ready to explore in August 2025!
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Wild Swimming books
If you prefer to read physical books to find out where to swim in waterfalls Alicante, as well as in other parts of Spain, then perhaps this book is also for you!
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