A few kilometers from the coast at Villajoyosa on the Costa Blanca lies the small village of Orxeta with just over 800 inhabitants. There are traces of both Iberian and Roman settlements in the area, but it was not until the Middle Ages that the Moors established the old town as we see it today.
The walk goes along the river bed from Embalse de Amadorio and Bella Orxeta to the village of Orxeta. It starts on the dirt road that goes to the right just after the bridge over the river at the end of the dam.
In this valley, nature is green and lush all year round because of the water from the Rio Sella that comes from the mountains and flows into the Embalse de Amadorio.
Follow the road until you come to a sign for Orxeta. Then follow the path and road to the village.
At the start of the village you will come to Restaurante Poco. It can be recommended.
The first house on the right with a red facade is protected because of its special architecture typical of the village.
At the square around the old church, which was restored in 1914, there is also a bar. Continue along the main road that cuts through the village.
Eventually you will reach the place where the women washed clothes in the old days. Here, fresh spring water still flows through the basins.
On the outside there are water outlets from the same water sources. From this point you have two options. You can go back the same way, or you can continue straight ahead and take another way back.
On the other side of town there are signs for hiking trails to viewpoints up in the Orxeta mountain. Follow this route. You first walk a while on a road, then on a path down into the valley.
The path crosses the valley and continues up the other side. Here it is quite steep for a short distance, but not so steep that it is technically difficult.
When you reach a dirt road, turn right towards Pont Nou. After this, just continue along this road until you are back in Bella Orxeta.
Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful nature. And when you're there, you can relax with food and drink at the El Pantano restaurant. It has good, tall hamburgers as its specialty.
More excursions: www.turideer.com
Excursion of the week: Orxeta from Bella Orxeta along the Rio Sella - a hike along the river bed.
Suitable for: Anyone in generally good physical shape. Not for wheelchairs or prams.
Duration: The walk along the river from Bella Orxeta to Orxeta is 2 kilometers one way. If you go back and forth, the journey will be 4 kilometers and take approx. 1 hour. If you choose to go ahead and cross the valley on the upper side before returning on the opposite side of the river, the trip is 7 kilometers long. It will take approx. 2 hours.
Get there: From Alicante you can drive either the A7 or the N-332. In both cases, you should leave for Villajoyosa and then follow the signs for Sella and Orxeta on the CV-770. After a few kilometers you will come to a dammed lake on the left. A few hundred meters before the end of this lake, there is a restaurant on the right called El Pantano. This area is called Bella Orxeta. Turn right here. Park in the street that goes up steeply, or in the car park on the left side of the road. Do not park in the lot outside the restaurant.
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