Benicássim

What is Benicássim like?

When I first heard about Benicássim, I like most outsiders thought it to be a strange fitting name to be so close to Valencia. In fact, I did not know about the city until a friend sent me a link about a huge music festival there called FIB. Benicássim turned out to be a surprising little destination though.

In this part of the trip, I was staying close to the beach. Real close in fact. My hostel for Benicássim was Urbany Hostel. It was located directly across from the beach in front of the Windsurfing school.  For me it was a good location because I was able to easily access the bus to Castillón, walk to the beach, and even hit the city center for an evening drink. 

Valencia is a region rich with things to do. Benicássim is a very central location for those looking to do many things from one location. For example there are many hiking trails both in the city and around the region of Valencia. I hiked the Vía Verde, which was enjoyable even despite the Spanish heat (which I love). It took just a few hours, but is perfect for those who want to stop and enjoy the view along the way. There are tranquil cliffs with no one on them, then beaches, and even some wooded areas. It makes for a nice combination. 

I also decided to walk up to el desierto de los palmes. It is a tedious trek up a long paved road, but I enjoyed the view of the Mediterranean. There are no sidewalks on the main road so keep keen for passing cars. Within an hour or so from the base, I found myself at the top of the hill overlooking the mountain side and city-scape and I also had a great view of the Monastery that still stands in the mountain. 

Benicássim also boasts a long beach for those who love to bask in the hot sun. At the moment the weather is nice and hot. There was a lot of different activities going on along the beach side from windsurfing to volleyball to many other water sports. 

Be sure to make a walk by the special Villas that are situated along side the beach. Most of them were built in the late 19th to early 20th century and have lived interesting lives. They were used during the Civil war as hospitals and common places and have also served as residencies, hotels, and restaurants.

This article was written as part of my current promotional tour with REAJ, Hostelling International´s Spanish affiliate. You can expect more article on Spain for the next few weeks. Please feel free to follow along as I journey from city to city. Next up, Barcelona!