Mar 15, 2023 | Activities/Services, Events, Otros pueblos
Cherry blossom time is one of the year’s great events. Every springtime the cherry blossom in the Vall de la Gallinera, in the Marina Alta, rewards us with this spectacle. It is a phenomenon that usually occurs mid-March to early April depending on the weather.
The Costa Blanca Norte in general and Cumbre del Sol in particular is one of the loveliest places in Spain, known for its beaches and coves, but also for its interior. This area inland is one of the best places to see the cherry trees in bloom. It is a spectacle that has been acknowledged by the Comunitat Valenciana Tourist Office and also travel magazines such as Condé Nast Traveler. This district is up there with the best known parts of Spain, such as Alfarnate, in Málaga, the Valle del Jerte, in Cáceres, El Hornillo in Ávila and the Valle de las Caderechas in Burgos as one of the best places to view one of nature’s spectacles.
Historically known as a cherry producing area, La Vall de Gallinera is a village of 570 inhabitants that lies in a valley. The river Gallinera runs through it and it is ringed by the mountains of the Sierra del Almirante, the Sierra de la Albureca and the Sierra Foradada.
Benirrama, Benialí, Benissivà, Benitaia, La Carroja, Alpatró, Llombai and Benissili make up the area where you enjoy a unique sight in the Comunitat Valenciana region along the “8 Villages Trail”. This is the ideal way to discover the area as you pass by the natural springs, water troughs, charming little streets, the surrounding countryside and of course cherries. We tell you the best way to go about it!
Discover inland Costa Blanca Norte
The “8 Villages Trail” is a route that you take at any time of the year, as we have mentioned it is particularly recommended in March, to coincide with the cherry blossom that carpets the slopes of Vall de Gallinera with a blanket of white.
The trail is 14 kilometres long, although you can walk just parts of it as you wish. The route is signposted and runs mainly through tarmac farm tracks, with only slight inclines (with the odd exception) and so it is ideal for children on one of those sunny Sundays that are perfect for a family outing.
However, this is not a circular route, so the entire return trip is 28 kilometres which might be a bit much if you simply want to enjoy the countryside. So instead we recommend one of the following options:
- If you travel with 2 cars, you could leave one at the start, and park another one at the end of the trail, and that way you can walk the whole 14 km just one way.
- Simply walk a part of the route. In that case you could start out from one of the villages along the way. It would probably be best to choose one of the central villages which have the most services and facilities if you are planning to stop and eat, Benialí, where La Vall town council is located, is a good choice.
One of the main attractions along the route are the innumerable springs that bubble up fresh and clear from the mountain peaks of the Serra Foradà, on the southern side of the valley and from the Serra de l’Almirall, which encloses the valley to the north.
The trail is indicated at all times. In each village you will find panels containing information, as well as signposts at regular intervals along the way.
In short, this is a route for everyone, because you can walk the trail (and see the springs, public laundry places and enjoy the countryside in this beautiful valley) or by car and enjoy exploring all the villages.
The area is well kept with a lot of history and architectural, artistic and natural heritage. A spectacular landscape with its high mountains and a lively environment. We cannot think of a better plan close by, as spring approaches, than to have a wander around these eight villages with the cherry blossom as an added extra.
Aug 10, 2022 | Activities/Services
The Costa Blanca is one of the most incredible places for enjoying the countryside. Circled by the Mediterranean sea and its rocky mountains, the area is full of places for you to disconnect and discover the local landscape.
Thanks to its wealth of flora and fauna, the Costa Blanca is an ideal tourist destination for couples, friends or families.
La Sierra de Mariola
The Sierra de Mariola Natural Park lies between the districts of la Hoya de Alcoy, El Condado de Cocentaina and Valle de Albaida. This area extends over 17 thousand hectares and is rich in plant life and vegetation. Aleppo pines cover most of this mountain range. The incredibly profuse plant life boasts around 1200 species in this area alone.
This beautiful spot is immensely valuable in environmental terms and it is perfect for hiking or family tourism. The “Green Route: in the shade of the ice houses” is one of the best known trails. There are others too, such as the “Blue Route. The water trail” the “Red route,: a date with history” and the “Yellow route : Solana lookout point”.
The Sierra de Mariola has an amazing wealth of birdlife, mammals and reptiles. The natural park is home to many species. These include Iberian lizards, rabbits and partridges.
The river Polop separates this natural area from the Natural Park of la Font Roja. Two amazing places inland on the Costa Blanca for you to wander and explore.
La Font Roja
The Font Roja Natural Park is also known as ‘El Carrascal’. This area, extending over 2,200 hectares was designated a nature reserve in 1987 and is set in the districts of Hoya de Alcoy and Ibi. It has some extremely diverse ecosystems thanks to different microclimates in the zone. It’s a true wonder of nature!
With its fantastic landscapes and ecology it is one of the most important parks in the Comunidad Valenciana. It is particularly striking for its deciduous woodland. The extensive forest has led to a wealth of rich and diverse wildlife. Robin, wild boar and sparrow hawk are just some of the species that inhabit this nature reserve.
The la Font Roja Natural Park has several hiking trails such as the ‘Yellow Route: El Menejador’, the “Red Route: Barranc de l’Infern’ and the ‘Blue Route: El Xicotet’.
The countryside around the towns of Dénia, Jávea and Calpe on the Costa Blanca are worth exploring at any time of year.
Serra Gelada
The Serra Gelada Natural Park is a protected area of the Costa Blanca. A nature reserve that encompasses both land and sea, with plenty of trails for hikers and walkers. The abundant vegetation of this mountain range harbours caves, fossilised dunes and paleontological remains, all interesting for tourists. The mountains roll down to the sea in the form of cliffs over 300 metres high. A walk here with amazing sea views is a real treat!
At Serra Gelada you will come across two micro reserves with some very interesting plant species. Sea birds provide the most interesting fauna on land. Breathe the pure oxygen in a place where humans have left no trace of activity. Switch off, do some sport and enjoy nature. Yes, it can be done!
El Peñón de Ifach
This is one of the city’s most iconic places. El Peñón de Ifach Natural Park is in Calpe. This impressive rock adjoining the land rises 322 metres above the sea. The surrounding natural park has a rich historic heritage and some unique plant life. One of the most frequently visited tourists spots on the Costa Blanca!
La Granadella Natural Park
La Granadella Natural Park lies south of Jávea, and extends over 750 hectares. It is one of the few totally unspoiled places on the Mediterranean coast. It is the perfect place for hikers and walkers. Discovering the native plants will be an easy task here. Aside from the spectacular view you can explore the wealth of plant life which is unique to this place and found nowhere else!
There are times when it is not easy to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, enjoy nature and breathe pure fresh air. However, it’s possible at Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol! Visit the Costa Blanca and explore its natural treasures. Unique and exclusive places, where you can simply appreciate the wonders of nature.
May 5, 2021 | Grupo VAPF, Real Estate
The quality, the service, the leisure activities, the climate… if you want to find a reason to choose Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol, there are plenty of them! There are many factors that will lead you choose one of our villas or flats.
From the very first moment, our clients are our top priority. That is why we offer personalised attention in your native language throughout the whole process. As well as guarantees such as access to an extranet to follow the work progress on your new home. And if that’s not enough, we also help you with utility set-up and keep a key to your home on hand if you wish.
As Anne, one of the residents of Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol says, we involve the client in the entire process. “I had a lot of feedback, and I felt comfortable to share it; I knew that when I asked for something, they would do their best to make it happen.” This is what Anne shared about the construction of what has been her home for the last ten years.
Anne and her husband Bob had been looking for a second home in a European country such as France or Italy for some time. However, “we always found something we were hesitant about, and finally, at Cumbre del Sol, there were no hesitations. It was a ‘yes’,” she says.
Something similar happened to another of our neighbours, Kenny Belaey, at Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol. With different goals than those of Anne and Bob, he was looking for a place to practice his favourite sport: trial cycling, a very common sport in Spain. At first, he had Barcelona, Valencia or Torrevieja in mind as cities to relocate and buy a new home. But it was a friend’s recommendation that eventually led him to Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol. He told him about the wonderful views, the mountains and the surroundings. This place became home for him nine years ago now.
Our clients have always been content with the amenities and services in the surrounding areas. Mr. Wim chose one of our apartments in the Montecala Gardens development at Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol. He specifically says he chose it because of its “top quality.” Now, he values the space he has in his home so that he can have guests and still preserve his privacy.
The residents at Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol also appreciate the range of activities that their surroundings offer. “The days here are very short,” says Anne, who can’t even count the numerous plans she and her husband have already made at Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol: “We like to snorkel, scuba dive… we have many good friends here with whom we have barbecues as well.”
Mr. Wim also values the nature that surrounds his apartment. It allows him to have a greater connection with it, be it through hiking trails or swimming. From a more youthful perspective, Kenny is clear: “You can do everything. You can relax, eat good food, in the summer go to good parties….” Various ages, hobbies, tastes… there’s something for everyone!
You too can create a new community and have barbecues like Anne and Bob or visit the sea every day like Mr. Wim! At Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol, we have considered every last detail for you. Are you ready to experience it?
Dec 26, 2019 | Cumbre del Sol
Living at Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol, located between the sea and the mountains, you are immersed in a unique natural setting on the Costa Blanca. For this reason, we’d like to suggest some measures to take care of the environment and to preserve this earthly paradise that allows us to live out our dreams.
At VAPF, we know that the nature that surrounds us is important because, thanks to it, our residential complex has a special charm, which is also why it deserves to be looked after by all of us. That’s why we like to carry out actions to raise awareness among residents, such as our Day of the Tree, which we organised for the second consecutive year and during which we planted 100 trees with Lady Elizabeth School students and some neighbours. With this project, we want to have as many green areas as possible at Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol, but it’s also a way to make the youngest generations aware of the ecological challenges of our era and to instil values in them that include looking after and respecting the environment in which we live.
The climate at Cumbre del Sol is something we benefit from greatly because it is quite easy to grow trees in this region with a hot climate in the summer and a mild climate during the winter. Therefore, under the same principle just as our Day of the Tree, we invite you to plant different types of vegetation in your garden and take the opportunity to reconnect with nature.
To bring more vegetation and greenery to Cumbre del Sol, you can reorganise the outdoor spaces of your home to enjoy a good Mediterranean garden. To do this, you have to choose plants that don’t need a lot of water and are very resistant. It is also important to create shaded areas, which will allow them to be protected from the sun and where you can take a nap without getting too hot. In addition to the classic palm trees, you can plant pines, cypresses, eucalyptus, olive trees, arborvitaes, laurels, red shrubs…And to give it a slightly wilder touch, you can introduce some agaves, aloe vera plants and also cacti and succulent plants.
Once you have chosen the plants you like the most, you can add a little colour to your garden with lilies, daisies, lantanas, red valerian, gauras, hibiscus, gazanias, geraniums, African daisies or vincas. Another option is to dedicate a portion of your garden to cultivating aromatic plants. Some possible options are mint, thyme, oregano, basil or rosemary plants to season your dishes and enjoy an explosion of flavors. And for those who really have a green thumb, they can have their own vegetable patch.
We all must work together to take care of the environment and preserve this natural paradise, in order to live in harmony with nature. Moreover, if the little ones grow up with the values we pass down, there is no doubt that they will always take care of the environment that surrounds them as well. The Day of the Tree is already a tradition among all Lady Elizabeth School students and Cumbre del Sol residents, but we would also love to see all the villas with green oasis gardens that would offer lovely spring photographs. Let’s join together and help take care of our surroundings!
