Which self-drive route from Benidorm is worth hiring a car for?
Updated October 19, 2026 · 7 min read
The route worth hiring a car for is Benidorm → Guadalest → Les Fonts de l’Algar → Benidorm. It combines a hill village and reservoir views with the waterfall site, while letting you choose how long to spend at each. Drive if flexibility is the point; book the guided tour if you want both attractions without navigation and parking. Do not add Altea merely to make the list longer: it turns a focused inland loop into a rushed three-stop day.
Start with Guadalest
Leave the resort after breakfast and make Guadalest the first substantial stop. The road climbs inland and becomes more winding than Benidorm’s avenues, so allow the confident driver to take it and avoid promising an arrival time based on distance alone. Guadalest’s visitor map identifies several car parks below the historic core. Park there rather than searching the narrow upper streets for a perfect space.
The value of having a car appears immediately: you can spend time at the viewpoints and village lanes without watching a group departure. The drawback is the same freedom in reverse. In busy periods, finding a space and walking uphill are your responsibility. Anyone who dislikes mountain-road driving gains little from forcing this itinerary into a rental day.
Continue to Les Fonts de l’Algar
Drive on towards Callosa d’en Sarrià and Les Fonts de l’Algar for the second half of the outing. The official site describes a free parking area by its tourist office, 700 metres from the main entrance. That distance matters when carrying swim gear or travelling with a tired child; other nearby car parks may operate on different terms.
The waterfall visit follows a 1.5-kilometre circuit with changes of level. The official visitor information says pushchair access is difficult because of the steps. Water conditions and permitted bathing can vary, so follow the notices on the day rather than treating a swim as guaranteed. In summer the site uses timed sessions; check the current ticket and arrival rules before setting off.
Why this is better than a random coastal drive
Altea and Calp are already reachable by TRAM, making a car less decisive for a simple town visit. Guadalest and Algar are the stronger rental-car case because independent public-transport connections are less direct and the two stops form one sensible inland line. The car buys control over sequence, pauses and luggage, not necessarily a lower total cost.
Return to Benidorm after Algar instead of collecting extra pins. That leaves enough margin for the walk back from the waterfalls, the mountain roads and refuelling. In winter, shorter daylight makes an early start more useful; in summer, heat and timed admission make a confirmed entry plan more important.
When the guided tour wins
The Guadalest and Algar Falls tour starts at €34, lasts 7–8 hours, is rated 4.5 from 873 reviews and states that skip-the-line tickets are included. It suits travellers who want both stops but do not want to handle the winding road or parking.
Check availability and prices for the Guadalest and Algar Falls tour
Driving is better for an unhurried village visit, an early waterfall slot or a family carrying equipment. The guided tour is better for a solo traveller, anyone uneasy on mountain roads, or a couple hiring a car solely for this one day. Its fixed timetable is the price of removing the logistics.
Verdict
Choose the self-drive loop only if you will use its flexibility: Guadalest first, Algar second, then straight back to Benidorm. Otherwise the guided tour delivers the same two headline stops more simply and, for one or two people, may be the more economical decision.
