Behind the Costa Blanca, only a few kilometres from the busy beaches of El Campello and the high-rises of Benidorm, the land climbs steeply into limestone mountains that feel surprisingly wild. The Cabeçó d'Or, a jagged massif above the village of Busot, dominates the area, and its slopes are riddled with caves and shelters. The Cueva de los Arcos is one of the sites in this area included in the World Heritage inscription of the rock art of the Mediterranean Basin, with faint painted motifs on the rock. Nearby, the Cuevas del Canelobre, a huge cave with towering stalactites, is open for visits and is one of the most impressive show caves in the region.
The hinterland of Alicante has a long history of farming and trade. Xixona, a short ride to the north, is famous throughout Spain for turrón, the almond and honey nougat eaten at Christmas, and the town's factories and museum tell the story. The villages around Busot and Aigües were once spa resorts, with springs that drew visitors in the nineteenth century, and the old Aigües spa building still stands on the hillside. The landscape is a mix of almond and olive terraces, pine forests and bare rock, with spectacular views down to the sea.
For riding, this area offers a great contrast to the coast. The roads up from El Campello and Mutxamel into the mountains wind steeply, with tight hairpins and stunning views over the coastline and the Mediterranean. The road over the mountains toward Xixona and Alcoy is a classic, with long climbs, curves and changing scenery. Traffic is light away from the coast, but some roads are narrow and the surfaces can be rough. Summer heat is intense, and winter can bring sudden storms, while spring and autumn are perfect for riding.
Villajoyosa and El Campello, about eleven kilometres away, have a filling station and somewhere decent for lunch, and Busot has a few local bars. Try local dishes such as arroz con costra, a rice dish baked with an egg crust, and of course turrón from Xixona. Visit the Canelobre caves, ride the mountain roads, and stop at a viewpoint to look down at the coast. It is easy to forget, up here, that the busy beaches are only a short ride away.