Behind Teulada the land rises sharply, and the third shelter in the Catxupa series sits where the first foothills begin. It is not an obvious place for an ancient painted site. The coast is only a few kilometres away, and the view toward the sea is partly built over. But the Levantine rock art tradition ran right down to this edge of the Mediterranean, and the overhangs of the hills here were used by people long before anyone built a villa.
Think of it as a gateway. A few minutes inland from Teulada the road starts climbing, and within half an hour you are in a landscape of terraces, almond trees and narrow lanes more typical of the Marina Alta interior. The Coll de Rates is the great local climb, a pass of around six hundred metres on the road between Parcent and Tàrbena, and it is a favourite with cyclists and motorcyclists alike. From the top the view back toward the Mediterranean is worth the hairpins, and a bar there serves a decent coffee and a plate of olives.
The area is also known for its wine. Moscatel de Alejandría, the sweet muscat grape, thrives on these slopes, and the villages of the Jalón valley make a wine that tastes of raisins and orange peel. Raisins are still dried in sheds called riurau, open-fronted porches that you will spot on farms beside the road, a tradition that dates back to the Moors.
Roads on this side of the hills are twisty and sometimes narrow, with surfaces that vary. Traffic is light on weekdays, but on Sundays you will share the bends with cyclists, so keep your speed sensible. In summer the middle of the day can be punishing, and in winter the mountains can be cold and damp. Autumn is the best season, with warm days and clear air.
Teulada is only three kilometres away and has everything you need: fuel, cafés, supermarkets. Carry water, as the shelters have none.