# Rice fields, cherry valleys and palm groves – by camper from Valencia through the Costa Blanca hinterland

> From the Albufera lagoon via Xàtiva, the cherry valleys of the Marina Alta, Montgó and Cap de la Nau to the castles of the Vinalopó and the palm grove of…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-212-valencia-costa-blanca-hinterland/

**At a glance:** 8-day road trip of about 353 km (219 mi) with 14 stops, from Valencia to Elx. About 4 h 52 min of driving in total. From the Albufera lagoon via Xàtiva, the cherry valleys of the Marina Alta, Montgó and Cap de la Nau to the castles of the Vinalopó and the palm grove of Elche: around 485 kilometres on which the best nights are usually a few bends back from the coast.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 353 km (219 mi) |
| Driving | 4 h 52 min |
| Suggested days | 8 |
| Stops | 14 |
| Route | Valencia → Elx |
| Countries | Spain |
| Updated | October 10, 2026 |

*From the Albufera lagoon via Xàtiva, the cherry valleys of the Marina Alta, Montgó and Cap de la Nau to the castles of the Vinalopó and the palm grove of Elche: around 485 kilometres on which the best nights are usually a few bends back from the coast.*

## The spirit of the route

This route lives on the contrast between lagoon, rock and terraced hillside. In the morning mist hangs over the Albufera rice fields, herons stand in the canals, and through the sliding door you smell silt and salt. A few hours later the camper winds through valleys where almond, olive and cherry trees grow on Moorish dry-stone walls, villages are little more than a church and a wash house, and the evening smells of thyme. Then the coast opens up again: limestone cliffs at Cap de la Nau, the blue domes of Altea, Montgó like a sleeping animal above Dénia. Inland, castles crown every second hill, Alcoi has bridges over deep gorges, and at the end tens of thousands of date palms wait in Elche. You learn quickly here: on the coast you are managed as a camper, in the hinterland you are welcomed – so head for the valley in the evening rather than the beach.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Valencia (City of Arts and Sciences) to El Saler (Albufera) (approx. 15 km)

- **The drive:** A city day with a short drive: don’t take the camper into the centre, but head straight south on the V-30 or the coast road CV-500 onto the spit between sea and Albufera. The CV-500 runs flat through pine forest and dunes of the Devesa, with heavy day-trip traffic from late afternoon. Pure driving time is around 20 minutes; go back into the city by bus.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in the former Turia riverbed: Hemisfèric, Museu de les Ciències and Oceanogràfic – reachable from the old town on foot or by bike along the 9 km-plus Jardí del Túria.
  - Old town with the Llotja de la Seda (UNESCO World Heritage) and the Mercat Central – best in the morning, when the market hall is full.
  - Evening walk through the dunes of the Devesa de l’Albufera to El Saler beach.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Several campsites lie on the El Saler spit near the CV-500, such as Camping Coll Vert and Devesa Gardens; electricity, sanitary facilities and service points are standard, but check season and pitch sizes with the operator beforehand. Bus line 25 runs from El Saler beach to the city and towards El Palmar – check routes and frequency locally. More private camper areas lie on the northern edge of the city (around El Puig/Puçol) and in the west near Aldaia and Xirivella; they are better suited to a night before sightseeing in the city by metro or bus.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The Devesa belongs to the L’Albufera natural park: camping is prohibited in the dunes and pine forest, and the beach car parks sometimes have barriers or height bars and are meant for daytime only. Wild camping is not an option in Valencia itself either – motorhomes are not welcome on public squares, and checks are frequent.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Valencia has a low-emission zone (ZBE) inside the ring formed by Ronda Nord, Av. dels Tarongers, Serreria and Bulevard Sud, monitored by number-plate cameras; since 1 December 2025 the city has treated cars, motorcycles and mopeds without a DGT sticker that are registered outside the province of Valencia as committing a serious offence, with a €200 fine. According to the city, vehicles with foreign plates must prove they do not belong to the most polluting group – check registration and the current position on the city’s website before you drive; with a base at El Saler and the bus, you avoid the question altogether.

### Stage 2: El Saler to Xàtiva via El Palmar (approx. 75 km)

- **The drive:** On the CV-500 to El Palmar, the fishing village in the middle of the lagoon, then along narrow roads between rice fields towards Sueca and on inland via Alzira to Xàtiva. Flat, but the farm tracks along the canals are narrow and have no passing places – stick to the numbered roads. Around 1.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Boat trip on a traditional Albufera barge from El Palmar or the landing stages on the CV-500; in the evening the boats return against the light.
  - Muntanyeta dels Sants near Sueca: a chapel hill in the middle of the rice fields, above flooded fields in early summer, above stubble and waterfowl after the autumn harvest.
  - Castell de Xàtiva on the ridge above the town, below it the Colegiata and the Museu de l’Almodí with the upside-down portrait of Philip V – a reminder that Bourbon troops burned the town down in 1707.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** For Xàtiva, the municipal Área de Autocaravanas at Bellús near the reservoir of the same name is an option, a good 6 km to the south-east; according to the municipality with water and electricity, but check facilities and fees beforehand. As far as we know there is no campsite in Xàtiva itself.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The Albufera is a natural park and Ramsar wetland; overnighting at the canals and landing stages is not permitted. The DANA of 29 October 2024 hit the Horta Sud west of the lagoon hard – the flood in the Barranc del Poyo devastated places such as Paiporta and Catarroja and, according to studies by the Cavanilles Institute, washed around 700,000 tonnes of sediment – as much as in about 30 years normally – plus large quantities of rubbish into the lake. Reports from the Generalitat now attest to the lagoon’s remarkable resilience, but pollutants, sediment and rubbish continue to occupy researchers and clean-up crews. Please drive through the affected towns respectfully and don’t stop to photograph the disaster.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In El Palmar it is worth having lunch rather than dinner: all i pebre (eel stew) and rice dishes are traditionally served at midday. Don’t struggle up the castle road in Xàtiva with the camper – it is steep and narrow; park at the bottom and walk or take the tourist train. From October, gota fría weather systems bring torrential rain: heed AEMET warnings and never park in barrancos or dry riverbeds.

### Stage 3: Xàtiva to Vall de Gallinera (approx. 70 km)

- **The drive:** Take the CV-40 to Albaida, cross the hill country of the Vall d’Albaida and at Muro de l’Alcoi join the CV-700 to Planes and down into the Vall de Gallinera. The CV-700 is twisty, often has no centre line and is only one vehicle wide at pinch points – in large motorhomes go slowly and sound the horn before blind bends. Just under 2 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Planes with its castle and aqueduct, and below it the Barranc de l’Encantà with pools in the limestone – don’t enter after heavy rain.
  - The eight villages of the Vall de Gallinera with cherry terraces: blossom mostly between mid-March and mid-April depending on the year, harvest of the Cireres de la Muntanya d’Alacant in May and June.
  - La Foradà: the hole in the rock in the ridge above the valley, through which the sun shines for a few days around the equinoxes in March and early October.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Espai Recreatiu El Safareig near Alpatró, a municipal area for motorhomes and caravans: overnighting is free according to the Mancomunitat of the Marina Alta, with grey- and black-water disposal, water and electricity against tokens (check status and prices beforehand). A quiet alternative with full service is the campsite in the neighbouring Vall de Laguar (see stage 4).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Outside the El Safareig area the narrow villages offer hardly any space; verges along the terraces are private land. If you come during the cherry blossom, use the municipal area – on spring weekends it gets full, so arrive early.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Fill up with fuel and shop in Xàtiva or Albaida before the valley; Gallinera has only small shops. At blossom time excursion coaches drive through the valley at weekends – travel on weekdays. In early summer you buy the cherries directly from the cooperatives and stalls in the villages.

### Stage 4: Vall de Gallinera to Dénia via the Vall de Laguar (approx. 60 km)

- **The drive:** Down the valley to Pego, up via Orba on the CV-718 into the Vall de Laguar with the hamlets of Campell, Fleix and Benimaurell, back to Orba and through orange groves via Ondara to Dénia. The CV-718 is steep and narrow with tight village streets; vehicles over 7 m only with experience. Around 1.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Barranc de l’Infern: a circuit from the valley floor over thousands of Moorish stone steps, often called the “cathedral of hiking”; a full day, sturdy footwear, only in dry weather.
  - Mirador at Benimaurell with a view over the terraces down to the coast.
  - Castell de Dénia above the harbour, with the fishermen’s quarter Baix la Mar below.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** For Dénia: Camping Los Llanos in the beach area of Les Marines north of the town, with electricity, sanitary facilities and service point, popular with winter visitors – book early from November to March; Camping Los Pinos lies to the south at Les Rotes, quiet, but the access road is narrow. If you stay in the Vall de Laguar: Camping Vall de Laguar in Campell, small, with terraced pitches; ask about pitch size beforehand.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Overnighting is not provided for in the Marjal de Pego-Oliva natural park or at the beach car parks of Les Marines; Dénia carries out checks, especially in summer. At the hikers’ car park in Fleix, park during the day and drive on at night.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Dénia is a ferry port for the Balearic Islands; on ferry days traffic backs up on the approach to the port. The Cova Tallada on the coast at Les Rotes is accessible from 15 June to 30 September only with advance reservation with the Montgó natural park – check the current position beforehand. The market in Dénia is worth a visit for citrus and vegetables; in Les Rotes there is hardly any parking for motorhomes.

### Stage 5: Dénia to Xàbia and Cap de la Nau (approx. 30 km)

- **The drive:** Take the CV-736 over the saddle below Montgó to Cap de Sant Antoni and down to Xàbia, then south through villa districts up to Cap de la Nau. Short but twisty; the roads to the capes and coves are narrow, turning places are rare and the car parks at the viewpoints are small.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Montgó (753 m): ascent from the natural park on the Dénia side, steep and shadeless, only in the early morning and outside the hot months; around 5 hours there and back.
  - Mirador at Cap de Sant Antoni with lighthouse and a view over the bay of Xàbia.
  - Cap de la Nau: lighthouse on the cliff, in the evening a view of the island of Portitxol and on clear days as far as Ibiza; plus the windmills of La Plana.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Jávea on the edge of the old town centre, with electricity, sanitary facilities and service point, occupied all year and in winter heavily booked by long-stay guests; alternatively Camping El Naranjal. At both, state your vehicle length when booking.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Xàbia is one of the coastal municipalities with strict rules for motorhomes; checks are carried out at capes, coves and at the Arenal. Wild camping is not an option here. At Montgó and in the marine protected area at Cap de Sant Antoni too: park only during the day at designated spots.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Don’t drive to Cala Granadella and the narrow coves in the motorhome – in summer (from mid-June) Xàbia regulates access to Granadella and Portitxol with a barrier and quota-limited, paid parking; a municipal shuttle also runs to Granadella then. Leave the camper on the site and carry on by bike or bus. Xàbia draws part of its mains water from the desalination plant; it is drinkable but many people don’t like the taste – refill drinking water in a canister.

### Stage 6: Xàbia to Fonts de l’Algar via Altea (approx. 60 km)

- **The drive:** Via Benitatxell and Teulada to the N-332, past Calp and the Penyal d’Ifac to Altea and inland via Callosa d’en Sarrià to the Fonts de l’Algar. The N-332 is dual carriageway with heavy traffic and many roundabouts; the detour to Altea leads through narrow one-way streets. A good 1.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Penyal d’Ifac at Calp: the limestone monolith as a natural park; the number of summit visitors per day is limited, and for the ascent through the rock tunnel you must reserve a place with the natural park in advance.
  - Old town of Altea with the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo and its blue glazed domes, with a view across the bay to the Serra Gelada.
  - Fonts de l’Algar: cascades and pools of the Riu Algar with bathing spots, admission charged; quietest at opening time in the morning.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Fonts de l’Algar right by the waterfalls, quiet among loquat and citrus gardens; check facilities and season beforehand. On the coast at Calp there are several private camper areas with service points, which are occupied by winter visitors in winter.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Altea, Calp and Benidorm municipal by-laws regulate the parking of motorhomes; overnighting on the seafront promenade or in old-town car parks can lead to fines. In the hinterland around Callosa there are hardly any suitable spaces – use the campsites and areas.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In Altea don’t drive into the old-town lanes; the car parks at the foot of the hill sometimes have height limits – check beforehand in the pitch apps, or leave the camper at the site and take the TRAM d’Alacant (line L9, Benidorm–Altea–Calp section) along the coast. The loquats (nísperos) from Callosa are ripe in April and May.

### Stage 7: Fonts de l’Algar to Biar via Guadalest and Alcoi (approx. 100 km)

- **The drive:** Via Callosa on the CV-755 up to Guadalest, then on the CV-70 via Benimantell and Confrides to the Port de Confrides (just under 1,000 m) and down into the highlands to Alcoi. From there via Ibi and Castalla to Biar. The CV-70 is twisty but well built and a popular motorcycle route; in Alcoi there are steep streets and tight bends. Around 2.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Guadalest: the castle village on the rock, reached through a tunnel cut into the rock, with a view of the turquoise reservoir.
  - Alcoi: Modernista façades, bridges over the Riquer and Molinar gorges and the Museu Alcoià de la Festa on the Moros i Cristians.
  - Font Roja natural park above Alcoi with Mediterranean mountain forest of holm oak, ash and maple.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Small municipal Àrea d’Autocaravanes in Biar on the edge of town; check facilities and number of pitches beforehand. If you want to stop earlier: Camping Benimantell in the Guadalest valley or Camping Mariola near Bocairent in the Serra de Mariola.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Guadalest itself has a large, paid car park at the entrance to the village for coaches and motorhomes, but no permission to overnight. Camping is prohibited in the Font Roja and Serra de Mariola natural parks; in the wildfire season a fire ban applies, and at high alert levels the Generalitat can close access roads.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Around Sant Jordi in April Alcoi celebrates its Moros i Cristians – the town centre is then closed for days and pitches are full. If you have bicycles with you: the Vía Verde del Serpis starts at Alcoi and follows a disused railway line through the Barranc del Cint and the Serpis gorge towards the coast.

### Stage 8: Biar to Elche via Villena (approx. 75 km)

- **The drive:** From Biar a few kilometres to Villena, then on the A-31 through the Vinalopó valley via Sax, Elda and Novelda and finally to Elche. Autovía, easy driving; in the valley stand the vineyards with table grapes that hang on the vines in paper bags from late summer. A good 1 hour.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Villena: Castillo de la Atalaya above the town and the Museo Arqueológico with the Villena Treasure, a Bronze Age gold hoard.
  - Novelda: the Modernista Santuari de Santa Maria Magdalena next to the castle ruin of La Mola.
  - Palmeral d’Elx (UNESCO World Heritage): gardens with tens of thousands of date palms, including the Hort del Cura with the many-armed Palmera Imperial, plus the Basilica of Santa Maria, setting for the Misteri d’Elx in August.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Lomas de Balsares Camper Park between Elche and Santa Pola, private with service point; or La Marina Resort in La Marina d’Elx near the beach, large and occupied all year. For both, in winter: book early.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the urban area of Elche and on the coast at Santa Pola and La Marina, overnighting in car parks is not tolerated. The Clot de Galvany, Salines de Santa Pola and El Fondo natural parks are bird reserves: go to the observation hides during the day, drive on at night.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Alicante has a low-emission zone in which vehicles without a sticker are excluded only from the Casco Antiguo; Elche has approved a ZBE for a small inner-city area. Check the current position and the treatment of foreign vehicles beforehand and park the camper outside the centre if possible. You buy dates from the Palmeral in late autumn and winter. From Alicante-Elche airport the route is also easy to drive in the opposite direction.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- In the Comunitat Valenciana, the Generalitat’s tourism law regulates campsites and pitches; free camping outside such sites is not provided for. Basic Spanish principle: sleeping in a legally parked vehicle is allowed, whereas camping with anything that extends beyond the outline of the vehicle is not. Since 1 October 2026, Real Decreto 518/2026 (new Art. 92.4 of the Reglamento General de Circulación) states explicitly when a motorhome counts as correctly parked: nothing protruding beyond the outline of the vehicle (no awning, chairs, support legs, steps), resting only on its tyres (safety wedges, “calzos o cuñas de seguridad”, are permitted) and no draining of liquids. Municipalities may still regulate parking times, zones and maximum duration but, according to the DGT, may not penalise solely because of the vehicle type; rules for protected areas and coasts apply regardless. Implementation on the ground may take time – follow the signage.
- On the Costa Blanca, what matters are the municipal by-laws (ordenanzas municipales): many coastal towns between Dénia and Santa Pola ban the parking or overnighting of motorhomes on public land entirely or in certain zones, often with signs at beach car parks and promenades. The Policía Local carries out checks mainly in summer and in the winter-stay season; fines vary from municipality to municipality.
- Natural parks on this route: L’Albufera, Montgó, Penyal d’Ifac, Serra Gelada, Marjal de Pego-Oliva, Font Roja, Serra de Mariola, Clot de Galvany, Salines de Santa Pola and El Fondo. Camping is prohibited there, and the car parks are intended for day visits.
- Wildfire risk: the Generalitat publishes daily pre-alert levels (Preemergència 1 to 3); at high levels fires, barbecues and work that throws sparks are banned in and around forests, and paths may be closed. Cook paella only on the campsite or in designated barbecue areas.
- Storms: since the DANA of October 2024, municipalities and civil protection take warnings seriously – the Generalitat sends mobile phone alerts (ES-Alert) when there is danger. At AEMET warning level orange or red, don’t park in barrancos, ramblas or underpasses and don’t drive through flooded fords.
- Wintering: from November to March campsites and private camper areas between Dénia, Calp, Benidorm and Elche are heavily occupied by long-stay guests; many offer monthly or winter rates. Finding a pitch on the spur of the moment is then hard – book early. Useful apps: park4night, Campercontact, Áreas AC.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Water supply and waste disposal: municipal areas such as in the Vall de Gallinera sometimes work with tokens or coins, the length of stay is limited on many municipal sites; private camper areas on the coast mostly offer full service against a daily rate. Empty grey and black water only there.
- Water is scarce and expensive on the Costa Blanca: tap water is mostly hard, on the coast partly desalinated and chlorinated. In dry spells municipal water-saving rules apply. Fill the fresh-water tank in the hinterland, use a water filter and plan on bottled water for drinking.
- Gas: in Spain, Repsol and Cepsa butane cylinders and Campingaz cylinders are common; foreign exchange cylinders are not swapped. Autogas (LPG) is offered mainly by filling stations on autovías and around Valencia, Alicante and Elche – rarely in the hinterland. For refillable cylinders bring the right filling adapter.
- Electricity: on campsites usually 6 to 10 A; in winter many long-stay guests heat electrically, and billing is then often by meter. Pack a CEE adapter and a long enough cable.
- Shopping and fuel: Valencia, Gandia, Dénia, Alcoi, Villena and Elche have large supermarkets and filling stations; in the Vall de Gallinera, the Vall de Laguar and around Guadalest there are only village shops.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Speed limits: motorhomes up to 3.5 t drive like cars (autopista/autovía 120 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h). Over 3.5 t and with caravans lower values apply (90 km/h on motorways, 80 km/h on rural roads). In built-up areas 50 km/h only on roads with at least two lanes in each direction, 30 km/h on roads with one lane in each direction, 20 km/h on single-level shared-space streets.
- Tolls: the AP-7 between Valencia and Alicante has been toll-free since 1 January 2020; the AP-7 Alicante bypass (Monforte del Cid–El Campello) has also been free of charge since July 2024, and in December 2025 the government decided to make that permanent. The AP-7 south of Alicante towards Cartagena, which is not part of this route, remains tolled. The A-7 and A-31 are toll-free autovías. No vignette.
- Low-emission zones (ZBE): since 1 December 2025 Valencia fines cars, motorcycles and mopeds without a DGT sticker that are registered outside the province €200 (camera monitoring, urban area inside Ronda Nord, Av. dels Tarongers, Serreria and Bulevard Sud); foreign vehicles must prove they do not belong to the most polluting group. Alicante excludes vehicles without a sticker from the Casco Antiguo (up to €200), Elche has approved a ZBE for a small inner-city area. Foreign number plates carry no Spanish sticker – before entering, check on the cities’ websites whether registration or equivalence is needed.
- Warning equipment: for Spanish vehicles the connected V16 warning light has been mandatory since 2026; according to the DGT, foreign vehicles may use the equipment of their country of registration, but a V16 makes sense on the narrow mountain roads. A high-visibility vest is compulsory when you get out. Projecting rear carriers need the V-20 warning plate.
- Alcohol limit 0.5 per mille (novice and professional drivers 0.3), mobile phone at the wheel only hands-free. In some old towns, such as Valencia and Altea, access restrictions apply, sometimes with cameras – set the sat nav to your vehicle’s dimensions.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Water filter and two 10-litre canisters – on the coast the tap water is hard or desalinated, in the hinterland there are good springs and village fountains.
- Insect repellent and mosquito nets for the sliding door – at the Albufera swarms buzz over the rice fields from dusk.
- Walking boots with a grippy sole and a head torch for the stone steps of the Barranc de l’Infern and the ascent of Montgó.
- Bicycles or a folding bike for the Jardí del Túria in Valencia, the Vía Verde del Serpis and the tracks to capes that you can’t reach in the motorhome.
- Gas filling adapter for Spanish LPG pumps and a full spare cylinder – there is hardly any autogas in the hinterland.
- Small heater or fan heater and woollen blankets for winter nights: in the highlands around Alcoi and Villena night temperatures fall below freezing in winter.

_As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [Ajuntament de València – Moratoria DANA en la Zona de Bajas Emisiones (ZBE)](https://www.valencia.es/cas/actualidad/-/content/moratoria-dana-val%C3%A8ncia-zona-bajas-emisiones-1)
- [Ajuntament de València – Preguntas frecuentes ZBE (enero 2026)](https://www.valencia.es/documents/d/guest/preguntas-frecuentes-zbe_enero-2026-pdf)
- [Alicante Plaza – Alicante activa su ZBE con restricciones extra en picos de polución](https://alicanteplaza.es/alicante-activa-zbe-restricciones-extra-polucion)
- [Alicante Plaza – La ZBE de Elche no exigirá la etiqueta ECO hasta 2060](https://alicanteplaza.es/la-zbe-de-elche-no-exigira-la-etiqueta-eco-hasta-2060-compromis-denuncia-queperpetua-la-contaminacion)
- [Alicante Plaza – El Gobierno consolida la gratuidad en el tramo de circunvalación de Alicante de la AP-7](https://alicanteplaza.es/alicanteplaza/alicante/el-gobierno-consolida-la-gratuidad-en-el-tramo-de-circunvalacion-de-alicante-de-la-ap-7)
- [Alicante Plaza – Cómo aparcar en las calas de la Granadella y el Portitxol de Xàbia: restricciones y precio](https://alicanteplaza.es/alicanteplaza/marina-alta/como-aparcar-en-las-calas-de-la-granadella-y-el-portitxol-de-xabia-restricciones-y-precio)
- [Jávea.com – Visitas a la Cova Tallada: del 15 de junio al 30 de septiembre será necesario reservar previamente](https://www.javea.com/en/visitas-a-la-cova-tallada-del-15-de-junio-al-30-de-septiembre-sera-necesario-reservar-previamente/)
- [Turisme Comunitat Valenciana – Parque Natural del Penyal d'Ifac](https://comunitatvalenciana.com/es/alacant-alicante/calp/espacios-naturales/parque-natural-del-penyal-d-ifac)
- [Parc Científic Universitat de València (ICBiBE) – DANA caused the usual 30-year sedimentation volume in the Albufera in one day](https://news.pcuv.es/en/home-pcuv-institutos-pcuv-icbibe-dana-caused-the-usual-30-year-sedimentation-volume-in-the-albufera-in-one-day-according-to-icbibe-studies)
- [El Salto – Ni arrasada ni recuperada: qué revelan los estudios sobre la Albufera tras la dana](https://www.elsaltodiario.com/valencia/arrasada-recuperada-revelan-estudios-albufera-dana)
- [BOE – Real Decreto 518/2026 (Reglamento General de Circulación)](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13889)
- [Autofácil – Aparcar autocaravanas: qué cambia el 1 de octubre](https://www.autofacil.es/nueva-normativa-aparcar-autocaravana-real-decreto-518-2026/)

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Valencia** (Spain)
2. **El Saler** (Spain)
3. **El Palmar** (Spain)
4. **Xàtiva** (Spain)
5. **Benialí** (Spain)
6. **Dénia** (Spain)
7. **Xàbia** (Spain)
8. **Cap de la Nau** (Xàbia, Spain): A lighthouse on a limestone headland, the easternmost point of the Costa Blanca, with a viewpoint over coves and the island of Portitxol. The road down to Cala de la Granadella nearby is steep and narrow.
9. **Altea** (Spain)
10. **Callosa d'en Sarrià** (Spain)
11. **Guadalest** (El Castell de Guadalest, Spain): A castle village on a rock pinnacle, entered through a tunnel in the rock, above a turquoise reservoir. Busy at midday with coach tours, so come early or late.
12. **Alcoi** (Spain)
13. **Villena** (Spain)
14. **Elx** (Spain)

## Best time to go

The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, August and December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## Practical notes for the road

- **Spain: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels.** Many former toll motorways are now free; some AP roads still charge. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.

## FAQs

**How long is Rice fields, cherry valleys and palm groves – by camper from Valencia through the Costa Blanca hinterland?**
8-day road trip of about 353 km (219 mi) with 14 stops, from Valencia to Elx. About 4 h 52 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Rice fields, cherry valleys and palm groves – by camper from Valencia through the Costa Blanca hinterland?**
We suggest 8 days: about 4 h 52 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Rice fields, cherry valleys and palm groves – by camper from Valencia through the Costa Blanca hinterland start and end?**
It starts in Valencia and ends in Elx.

**Which countries does Rice fields, cherry valleys and palm groves – by camper from Valencia through the Costa Blanca hinterland pass through?**
Spain.

**Where can you camp along Rice fields, cherry valleys and palm groves – by camper from Valencia through the Costa Blanca hinterland?**
OpenStreetMap lists 148 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Camping Park El Saler, Camping Valencia El Saler and Bungalows Park Albufera.

**When is the best time for Rice fields, cherry valleys and palm groves – by camper from Valencia through the Costa Blanca hinterland?**
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, August and December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)