Almond Blossom February Only!
The Jalon Valley is situated in the Marina Alta area in the Costa Blanca North and is quite simply stunning at anytime of the year. During the almond blossom season (normally the first two or three weeks of February) the scenic drive through the valley is even more amazing.
Gata de Gorgos, the first stop of the day, has a long tradition of wicker making and there are plenty of shops selling all things wicker from dog baskets to table mats and even light shades! Then the almond blossom trail begins. The fields are filled with a delicate blanket of pink and white almond blossom and with the magnificent mountains as a back drop you'll find yourselves stopping again and again to admire the views and take photos. Along the route you can stop in the village of Jalon with its Bodegas, in Alcalali which is a traditional Spanish village, at the top of the mountain pass where there is a wonderful restaurant with 360 degree panoramic views and at the end of the route in the village of Polop.
Places to stop during a day out in the Jalon Valley enjoying the Almond Blossom
- Gata de Gorgos: well known for its tradition of producing wicker goods, a great place for a morning coffee before starting the scenic drive through the Jalon (Xalo in Valencian) Valley.
- Jalon Valley: not a stop, but part of the journey. The valley is renowned for its almond, olive and citrus tress as well as the vines which produce the grapes for the production of wine. Pretty at any time of the year it is absolutely stunning in February when the valley is a sea of pink and white as the almond blossom is in full bloom.
- Jalon: great for sampling the local wine, Jalon is very close to Alcalali so you might like to stop at one or the other.
- Alcalali: small inland village which is typical of the area, it has more of a Spanish feel to it than Jalon does.
- Coll de Rates: you'll feel as if you're on the top of the world. There are 'pull-in viewpoints' along the mountain pass which are great for picnics, alternatively the Coll de Rates restaurant has a fantastic panoramic terrace and a great menu.
- Polop: near La Nucia, Polop is a charming village with a lovely plaza. The ruins of a 12th century Moorish castle are perched on the hill overlooking the village.
Places of Interest
1 Gata de Gorgos Town Centre
N38o46.549 E0o05.032Parking: is in any of the side streets off this main road and is free. It is best to continue just past this coordinate and then turn right into any of the side streets and park where you can.
From here: walk back to the main road and to the small Plaza de Espana, where the shop with lots of plates set into the wall is. Whilst walking to here you'll have passed some wicker shops and cafes, the rest of the small town is ahead of you, on the other side of the plaza.
Top tip: you'll be driving back to this Plaza de Espana and then along the narrow street to the right of the Cam bank to start your journey into the Jalon valley, so walk along it now, after a few hundred meters you'll see a small sign on the wall at the first road on your right that says Jalon / Xalo, you'll be turning right here in your car.
Places of interest and things to do in Gata de Gorgos Town
- Town Centre: the main high street and a few sides street, there are some specialist wicker shops selling local produce. Have a little walk and explore, there are lots of lovely little cafes for a morning coffee.
2 Jalon or Xalo Valley
Parking: this isn't a stop but the name of the valley, it is well known for its almond blossom, so if your making this journey during February you'll be in for a treat!
From here: drive along the valley, you can stop where you like to take photos, as long as it is safe to do so.
3 Jalon or Xalo Village Centre
N38o44.547 W0o00.838Parking: is on the side of the road and is free, it is best to avoid entering the village as the streets are narrow so try to park as close to the bodegas as possible.
From here: head for the church spire to discover the streets of the village.
Places of interest and things to do in Jalon Village
- Village Centre: take a wander around to get a feel for the village.
- Bodegas: there are two bodegas close to the parking area, pop into these and sample the locally produced wines.
4 Alcalali Village Centre
N38o45.106 W0o02.466Parking: is on the side of the road and is free, it is best to avoid entering the village as the streets are narrow so try the unpaved car park area just before the crossroads.
From here: head for the church spire to discover the streets of the village.
Places of interest and things to do in Alcalali Village
- Village Centre: the main high street and a few sides street, there are some specialist wicker shops selling local produce. Have a little walk and explore, there are a couple of lovely cafes for a coffee.
5 Coll de Rates
N38o43.431 W0o03.571Parking: is in the restaurant car park and is free.
From here: admire the views, you can visit the restaurant or take a short walk along the track.
Places of interest and things to do in at Coll de Rates
- Viewpoints: there are a few 'pull in viewpoints' along the mountain pass that are ideal for a picnics.
- Coll de Rates Restaurant: has amazing panoramic views from its terrace. It serves gorgeous German and Austrian influenced food everyday from 11.00-17.00.
6 Polop Village Centre
N38o37.386 W0o07.941Parking: the streets in the village are very narrow and parking places are very limited, so it is best to park here on the waste ground.
From here: cross the roundabout and walk down into the centre of the village.
Places of interest and things to do in Polop Village
- Village Centre: lots of lovely little streets to explore and plenty of cafes, there is a delightful village square, or you can walk up to the ruins of the Moorish castle on top of the hill.
