Jalon Valley and The Cave of Skulls Tour

Leave the resort behind for a day. This trip combines Jalon’s mountain-framed wine country with the unusual Cova del Rull caves, giving you two very different reasons to head inland from Benidorm. I especially like the almond trees in bloom during February and March, and the chance to spend two hours at Jalon’s large Saturday car boot market.

The main consideration is pace. You can spend about 45 minutes each way on the coach, two hours in Jalon, and another two hours at the caves. The village itself may feel modest if you skip the market, and the cave visit is not suitable for people with claustrophobia or mobility impairments.

Key points to know before booking

• Jalon’s almond trees are at their best in February and March, when pink and white blossom covers the valley.
• Saturday departures include the Costa Blanca’s large rastros market, with goods, antiques, and a farmer-market atmosphere.
• The Cova del Rull caves are the tour’s strongest sightseeing stop, with rock formations and traces of life dating back more than 50,000 years.
• The tour costs $29 per person, including coach transport and cave admission, but not food, drinks, or any optional wine tasting.
• The day lasts 6 to 7.5 hours, with several pickup and drop-off points around Benidorm, Calpe, and Albir.
• English is the tour language, and guides such as Leisa have earned particular praise for making the day run smoothly.

Why this day trip works beyond Benidorm

Benidorm is easy to enjoy, but its high-rise seafront can start to feel like the whole Costa Blanca if you never leave town. This excursion gives you a look at the inland side of the region, where vineyards, orchards, almond trees, and mountain valleys replace hotel towers.

I like the mix because the stops do not repeat each other. Jalon, also written as Xaló, offers open-air browsing and a taste of local rural life. The Cova del Rull provides a darker, more geological experience below ground. One stop is casual and social. The other is focused and atmospheric.

This is not a wine tour in the narrow sense. Jalon is famous for its wine, and you pass through a major wine-making area, but wine tasting is not listed as an included part of the day. If tasting local wine is your chief aim, check the exact arrangement before you book. The tour is better understood as a general countryside outing with market and cave visits.

The 45-minute ride inland from Benidorm

Pickup is available from seven listed points, including the Gran Hotel Bali, Mercadona, Sol Pelícanos Ocas, ESTIMAR Calpe Suitopia, Albir Playa Hotel & SPA, Hotel Cap Negret, and Hotel Poseidon Playa. Your exact meeting point depends on the option selected, so check it carefully before the morning begins.

The coach ride to Jalon takes about 45 minutes. That is long enough to watch the built-up coast give way to valleys and orchards, but short enough that the journey does not dominate the day. Transport is included in the $29 price, which helps keep the outing good value for anyone who does not want to arrange a rental car.

The coach also creates the day’s main limitation. Pickup routes can add time, and the total trip may last anywhere from six to seven and a half hours. A punctual pickup and a safe driver can make a big difference. One account specifically praised the punctual pickup, friendly guide, and careful chauffeur, while another reported that a road closure connected with a marathon caused a much longer walk from the drop-off point. That kind of disruption is not normal sightseeing, but it is worth keeping in mind when you have limited mobility.

Two hours in Jalon and its Saturday rastro

The Jalon stop lasts about two hours. On Saturdays, that time is designed around one of the Costa Blanca’s oldest and largest rastros, or car boot sales. Expect stalls with household goods, antiques, odd finds, and small items that are more interesting for their local character than for their polished presentation.

This is not a carefully arranged museum market. It is a rummage. That is part of the appeal. You can browse at your own pace, look for a souvenir with a little wear and history, or simply watch the market rhythm around you. One particularly positive account praised the flea market and the chance to take home a few treasures. Another highlighted the farmer-market atmosphere and music.

Two hours is a useful amount of time here. You should have enough room to browse without sprinting from stall to stall, though you may need to choose between shopping, eating, and seeing more of the village. Bring some spending money if you enjoy secondhand finds, but do not expect lunch or drinks to be included in the tour price.

The market is also the part most tied to the day of the week. If you travel on a Saturday, Jalon has a stronger purpose and a livelier feel. On another day, the stop may feel quieter and less substantial. One person found the village itself underwhelming after skipping the wine tasting, but still considered the supermarket a highlight. That is useful advice: keep expectations realistic. Jalon is valuable here as an inland base, market town, and scenic valley, not necessarily as a major architectural sight.

Almond blossom, vineyards, and orange orchards

The valley is lined with almond trees, and February and March are the best months to see them flowering. Pink and white blossom can transform the view, giving the coach route a seasonal quality that you will miss at other times of year.

The surrounding scenery includes vineyards, almond orchards, and orange trees. You do not need a long hike to enjoy it. Much of the pleasure comes from the changing view through the coach windows and the contrast with the coast. The trip is especially appealing if your idea of Spain includes working farmland and small inland communities, not just beaches and promenades.

The timing matters. If you are visiting in late winter or early spring, this may be the strongest reason to choose the excursion. At other times, the valley still offers mountain views and agricultural scenery, but the almond blossom will not be there. The tour description does not promise a specific vineyard walk or orchard visit, so think of these as scenery along the route rather than formal stops.

Entering the Cova del Rull, the Cave of Skulls

After Jalon, the coach continues inland for roughly 45 minutes to the Cova del Rull, known as the Cave of Skulls. The cave is the more distinctive stop and the part that gives the tour its title.

The cave system is believed to have formed around 150 million years ago. It also contains traces of life dating back more than 50,000 years. Those figures give the visit useful scale: you are not just looking at a damp hole in the ground, but at a natural space shaped across an enormous span of time and connected with very early human presence.

Inside, you can see unusual rock formations. The cave visit lasts about two hours, although the information supplied does not specify how much of that time is spent inside the cave itself. Plan for a focused visit rather than a quick photo stop. Bring a camera, but also give yourself time to look at the shapes and textures without rushing from one formation to the next.

Several people considered the caves spectacular or amazing, and that praise is easy to understand. The cave provides a stronger visual payoff than the village for many visitors. It is also the stop least dependent on the day of the week. The market changes with the calendar, but the cave remains the core attraction year-round.

There are two clear cautions. Claustrophobia can make the visit uncomfortable, and the experience is not considered suitable for people with mobility impairments. The activity information also describes the experience as wheelchair accessible, so the safest approach is to confirm the exact access arrangements before booking if you use a wheelchair or have difficulty walking. Do not assume that coach access means every part of the cave route will be easy.

What the $29 price really covers

At $29 per person, this is a low-cost full-day outing. The price includes return coach transport and entrance to the caves. For visitors staying in Benidorm, Albir, or Calpe, that combination removes the cost and effort of arranging independent transport to two inland stops.

Food and drinks are not included. You should bring water and plan to buy lunch or refreshments during the free time in Jalon. If you want to shop at the rastro, bring money for purchases as well.

The value is strongest when you want variety for a modest price. You get countryside views, a market, and cave admission in one day. The value is weaker if your priority is a guided wine tasting, a long visit to Jalon’s historic center, or a small-group tour with detailed commentary at every stage. One account described the program as good but felt the information provided was limited. That is a fair warning for anyone who wants a lecture-heavy cultural tour.

Guides, information, and the pace of the day

The listed tour language is English. The quality of the day will depend partly on how much explanation your guide provides during the drives and stops. Several people described the day as excellent, and Leisa received specific praise for being a fantastic guide.

At the same time, not every departure will feel equally rich in commentary. One account found there was not much information during the program. I would book this as a sightseeing day with guided support, not as a specialist archaeology or wine course.

The schedule gives you enough free time to set your own pace. That helps at the market, where some people will want to rummage through every table while others will be ready for a coffee. It also means you should pay attention to meeting times. A coach excursion cannot wait indefinitely, and the return route includes several drop-off locations.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want to see more of the Costa Blanca than the coast and prefer an affordable organized day. It suits people who enjoy markets, rural scenery, unusual natural sights, and a relaxed mix of planned visits and free time.

It is also a good choice for repeat visitors to Benidorm who have already had their fill of the beach. The almond blossom season adds a special reason to go in February or March, while Saturday brings the best version of the Jalon stop.

You may want a different excursion if you dislike coach travel, need a fully step-free experience, or want a day centered on wine tasting. The village can feel slight without the market, and the cave is not a good match for claustrophobia. Also think carefully about the total duration if you tire easily.

The tour allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your plans are still flexible. Smoking and pets are not allowed, although assistance dogs are permitted. Comfortable shoes, water, and a camera are the sensible basics.

Should you book the Jalon Valley and Cave of Skulls Tour?

Book it if you want good variety for $29 and like the idea of pairing a Costa Blanca market with a genuine cave visit. The Cova del Rull is the strongest reason to go, while the rastro and almond blossom can turn the day into something more local and memorable.

For the best version, choose a Saturday in February or March if your schedule allows. You will have the market and the flowering almond trees, plus the cave that gives the trip its real character. If you go outside those conditions, expect a pleasant countryside outing with one excellent natural stop, rather than a full wine-and-village experience.

FAQ

How much does the Jalon Valley and Cave of Skulls Tour cost?

The tour costs $29 per person.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts about 6 to 7.5 hours, depending on the departure option and schedule.

What is included in the price?

The price includes coach transport and the entrance fee to the Cova del Rull caves.

Are lunch and drinks included?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included, so bring water and plan to arrange food during the day.

Where can I be picked up?

Listed pickup points include the Gran Hotel Bali, Mercadona, Sol Pelícanos Ocas, ESTIMAR Calpe Suitopia, Albir Playa Hotel & SPA, Hotel Cap Negret, and Hotel Poseidon Playa. The exact meeting point depends on the option booked.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The listed tour language is English.

When is the best time to see the almond blossom?

February and March are the best months, when the almond trees in Jalon Valley flower pink and white.

Does the tour visit a market?

On Saturdays, the tour includes about two hours in Jalon, where you can browse one of the oldest and largest car boot sales in the Costa Blanca.

Is the cave suitable for everyone?

No. The experience is not suitable for people with claustrophobia or mobility impairments. The activity is also described as wheelchair accessible, so you should confirm the specific access arrangements before booking if you need step-free access.