El Palmeral is one of Alicante’s main parks. Its characteristics and its privileged coastal location make El Palmeral a fantastic place to visit in the city of Alicante, where you can do a wide range of activities.
Visiting the El Palmeral park is a great plan if you’re going to travel to Alicante with children. Besides the park’s excellent natural features, it also boasts a play park and several other activities that your children are sure to love.
In this article, we’ll tell you what you can expect to find and suggest some things to do during a day out at El Palmeral park.
What is there in El Palmeral park?
The most notable feature of this park, which was opened in 1997, are its more-than 2,000 palm trees of varying shapes and sizes, which are an attraction in their own right. Palm trees are commonly found in eastern Spain, particularly famous in the cities of Elche and Orihuela.
When it was first opened, El Palmeral was home to 7,000 different palm trees. It initially formed part of the El Carmen estate: a huge ranch that was owned by Navy Minister Mariano Roca de Togores, and later by entrepreneur Juan José Soler. Renowned painter Joaquín Sorolla, a good friend of Soler, would paint his piece ‘El Palmeral’ in the park itself, which was commissioned by the Hispanic Society of New York.
The Alicante City Hall would purchase the estate in 1944, which had gradually reduced in size as a result of poor protection and the installation of industrial sites in its nearby surroundings.
Besides its palm trees, the park also boasts a series of trails, bridges and water areas in the shape of small artificial rivers, waterfalls and a lake, lending a great beauty to the park and cooling the atmosphere on the hottest days. A stroll around the park is always a pleasant experience, with the sea—located other side of the main road—serving as a permanent backdrop to the walk.
Play areas
El Palmeral is particularly suited to family outings due to its various play areas and cultural spaces, making it a good option for a family day out. For example, visitors can rent a boat and row it around the lake, which children always love doing!
The park also has various swings. Surrounded by palm trees, children will feel like they’re playing in the middle of the jungle. The park also has a zip wire, which is one of the most popular activities amongst visiting children.
Sport also has its place in El Palmeral park, with its own BMX course, football pitches and designated spaces for other sports.
If that wasn’t enough, El Palmeral is also the perfect spot for enjoying other more relaxing games. There are also tables for Ludo, the Game of the Goose and chess, as well as designated pétanque courts. Visitors can also play with radio-controlled boats in the lake.
Cultural space and services
Another of El Palmeral’s main plus-points are its cultural activities, conceived for audiences of all ages. The park’s bandstand hosts various theatre displays, puppet shows, clown performances and other activities for younger audiences, which are always free of charge.
El Palmeral also offers a another type of service, ensuring that all bases are covered for your visit. The snack area is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic with your kids. If you need any assistance, feel free to swing by our information kiosk!
A palm grove beside the sea
The other main characteristic of Alicante’s El Palmeral park is its proximity to the sea. Unfortunately, the park and the Mediterranean are separated by national motorway 332 and the tracks for the train that travels to Elche.
Despite this, and the small amount of coastline that remains, the coast can still be enjoyed in the odd spot. By passing through an underground tunnel located at the side of the park, you can pass underneath the motorway and the train tracks and arrive at the tiny Cala de Ali: a thin strip of sand that remains unspoiled, where you can still take a refreshing dip or watch the sun go down from a secluded location.
By walking barely 500 metres along the coastline in the direction of Alicante, you’ll come across the Playa de San Gabriel: another small beach where you can swim in the sea close to El Palmeral park. Why not combine your visit to the park with a plunge in the Mediterranean?
