Benitatxell coves: Moraig, Llebeig and Testos
El Poble Nou de Benitatxell has just three coves, but they sit beneath the most spectacular cliffs on the Costa Blanca: walls of more than 100 metres dropping sheer into improbably blue water. The most famous, Cala del Moraig, is also one of the most crowded on the Alicante coast, which is why the town council was among the first to regulate access with booking and payment. The other two, Llebeig and Testos, demand a real walk — or arriving by sea.
This guide covers what each one offers, how to get there and, above all, how the 2026 parking booking works, which is where almost every other guide gets it wrong.
Comparison table
| Cove | Seabed | Size | Access | Facilities | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cala del Moraig | Gravel and boulders | ~300 m | Car with booking, or shuttle | Lifeguard, restaurant, adapted toilets, amphibious chair | Snorkelling, caves, a beach day |
| Cala Llebeig | Pebbles and rock | Small | On foot, 20–30 min | None | Hiking and solitude |
| Cala dels Testos | Boulders | Small | Down-climbs with fixed ropes or by sea | None | Experienced scramblers only; better by kayak |
Moraig parking: how it works in 2026
From 1 April to 15 October, from 9:00 to 19:00, vehicle access to the Moraig area is controlled. It covers the car parks at Cala del Moraig, Testos and the ruta dels Penya-segats (cliff path).
- Any vehicle staying more than 20 minutes in the area needs a booking for that day, resident or not.
- Book at
calamoraig.es, through the Cala Moraig Reservas app, or the same day at the kiosk on site if spaces remain. - Visitor rate: around €12–15 per vehicle per day depending on the season (the price has risen year on year: confirm when booking).
- Registered residents who pay the municipal vehicle tax: free, with reserved spaces.
- Reduced mobility: free reserved spaces on presenting the blue card.
- Free shuttle bus between the car park and the cove in summer (roughly late June to early September), every 15–20 minutes.
- No pets and no camping.
If you turn up in high season without a booking, you will most likely be turned away. Book ahead or come outside those hours.
Cala del Moraig
About 300 metres of gravel and boulders at the foot of an amphitheatre of cliffs, with water so clear you can see the bottom from the path. It is the only cove in the municipality with full services: lifeguard and rescue post, sea-state signalling, daily cleaning, a restaurant, adapted toilets and an amphibious chair so people with reduced mobility can get into the water. It flies a Blue Flag.
Its great singularity lies underwater: the Cova dels Arcs, a sea cave — a natural monument — where an underground freshwater river reaches the sea, visible from the shore. It is a classic diving and snorkelling spot, but entering the cave is dangerous: there are currents and rockfalls, and access inside is restricted. Stay outside with a mask and enjoy the arch.
Full guide: Cala del Moraig. Views from above: Moraig viewpoint.
Cala Llebeig
On the boundary with Teulada-Moraira, on foot only: 20–30 minutes down from the car park, or following the ruta dels Penya-segats (SL-CV 50) from Moraig. Pebbles and rock, a few fishermen’s huts and no facilities. It is the quiet cove of the municipality, and the reward at the end of one of the finest walks in the Marina Alta. Guide: Cala Llebeig.
Cala dels Testos
Here we have to be blunt, because many guides are not: this is not a cove you simply walk down to. Land access is through the barranc de l’Infern, with three down-climbs equipped with fixed ropes — two of them about 7–8 metres — suitable only for agile people used to scrambling. The town council itself advises against descending from the Mirador dels Testos, as it is dangerous.
The sensible way to see it is by sea: kayak or paddleboard from Cala del Moraig, right next door. No facilities whatsoever.
The ruta dels Penya-segats (SL-CV 50)
The path along the cliffs of Puig de la Llorença between Moraig and Cala Llebeig is one of the most spectacular walks on this coast: viewpoints over the sea, views to the Penyal d’Ifac and old caves used by fishermen, farmers and smugglers. Its car park falls under the same Moraig booking system.
Take water and closed shoes: there is no shade, no fountains, and the ground is loose stone. More context in Benitatxell cliffs and Cumbre del Sol viewpoint.
Practical tips
- Water shoes: all three coves are boulders and gravel.
- Book parking several days ahead between June and September.
- Out of season (November to March) there is no access control and no shuttle: the best time for the cliff walk.
- There is no shade at any of the three.
Neighbouring guides
- To the north: Jávea beaches and coves
- To the south: Moraira beaches and coves and Benissa coves
- The district’s fiestas: Summer fiestas of the Marina Alta, including Santa María Magdalena in Benitatxell
- 🗺️ All the coves of the Costa Blanca — the index by municipality, from Dénia to El Campello