Free walking tours in Guardamar del Segura and what to see

Must-sees

Guardamar del Segura is in southern Alicante, where the river Segura flows into the Mediterranean. Its most distinctive feature is the pine forest covering the dunes, planted in the early 20th century to stop the sand advancing on the town. Within it are the Alfonso XIII and Reina Sofía parks, with ponds, ducks and shade, lovely for a stroll.

The town has more than eleven kilometres of fine-sand beaches, such as Playa del Centro, Babilonia or Los Viveros, with dunes and few buildings. On the hill above the town are the remains of the castle. Among the dunes, archaeologists excavated the Rábita Califal, a 10th-century Islamic complex, and a Phoenician settlement. The Archaeological Museum displays finds from these and other sites.

Free tours and guided visits

Free walking tours are rare in Guardamar. The norm here is guided visits to the archaeological sites and excursions from the town. If you want a pay-what-you-like free walking tour, you can find them in Alicante, Elche or Murcia, focused on their historic centres and main monuments, such as Santa Bárbara castle in Alicante.

Among paid activities, guided walks through the pine woods and the mouth of the Segura are worthwhile, as are visits to the nearby La Mata and Torrevieja salt lagoons. Trips to the Elche palm grove, boat outings to Tabarca island from nearby ports and getaways to Cartagena or Murcia are also popular.

How long to spend

The town and its parks can be seen in a morning, and the castle and museum in a few more hours. To enjoy the beaches and the pine woods at a relaxed pace, three or four days is a good plan. If you stay a week, add trips to Elche, Alicante and Tabarca, and keep the afternoons for strolling among the pines.

Where to stay

The most convenient area is the centre, near Reina Sofía park and Playa del Centro, with shops, restaurants and the pine woods a few minutes’ walk away. If you want more peace, the developments by the southern beaches, such as El Moncayo, offer seafront apartments. For excursions around the province, a car will help.