WHAT TO VISIT NEARBY
The area around Torrevieja is very diverse. You can explore protected nature, water parks, a zoo with dolphins or the skyscraper city of Benidorm.
Laguna Rosa, Torrevieja
Laguna Rosa in Torrevieja is a unique salt lake about one kilometre from our house. The huge lagoon is famous for its intense pink colour and high salt concentration. Although swimming is officially prohibited, visitors come for the healing mud and to watch the flamingos.
Trip tip: A “pink train” runs from the centre of Torrevieja straight to the salt works. It’s a lovely experience with commentary for kids and adults alike.
Timetable: https://trainvision.es/tour-item/tren-salinas-torrevieja/
Trip tip 2: You can also cycle to the pink lake – it’s about a kilometre from our house. A cycle path runs around the lake.
Aquopolis Torrevieja
Aquopolis Torrevieja is a large outdoor water park right in Torrevieja, near the Habaneras Shopping Centre. It’s usually open from June to September. Tickets are a bit pricier, but it’s a full day of fun for the whole family.
Website: www.torrevieja.aquopolis.es
El Palmeral de Elche
About 45 minutes’ drive from Torrevieja, in the town of Elche near the airport, grows a huge palm grove over 1,000 years old – one of a kind in the world. In 2000 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. El Palmeral de Elche boasts two hundred thousand palm trees.
Alicante and Tabarca Island
The port city of Alicante is about 50 minutes’ drive from Torrevieja. The city of over 300,000 people is dominated by its castle and harbour. Boats regularly sail from Alicante, as well as from Santa Pola, to the nearby island of Tabarca.
Guardamar del Segura
Neighbouring Guardamar was once a fishing village and is now a modern, pleasant resort. It sits right on the coast where the Segura River flows into the Mediterranean. Guardamar is famous for its 800-hectare pine forest. We also loved the peacocks strolling among the visitors.
Lo Rufete Adventure Park
Lo Rufete Adventure Park is a year-round outdoor adventure and leisure park near San Miguel de Salinas. You’ll find horses, farm animals, quad rides and archery. A great afternoon for the whole family.
Zoo Murcia
We tested it so you don’t have to. We went to Murcia, a mid-sized city about 60 kilometres from Torrevieja. The goal? Its zoo. We give it three stars out of five at most.
The constant noise bothered us. True, it was Halloween, but radios playing horror music right in the middle of the animal enclosures were a real disappointment. Otherwise you’ll see giraffes, rhinos, hyenas, meerkats, giant tortoises and lions.
Our recommendation: go to Benidorm instead. It takes about the same time, but we think the zoo there is much better. It’s smaller with fewer animals, but you’ll also see dolphins. In summer the complex also has a large water park.
Benidorm is very modern and full of skyscrapers. For a moment you’ll feel almost like you’re in America.
