Cabo de la Huerta is a rocky headland located just north of Alicante between the beaches of Albufareta and San Juan. The old name
is l'Alcodre, derived from the Arabic Al-Kodra which means something like the green one.
The rock has two clearly separate sedimentary
layers. The top layer consists mainly of yellowish sandstone and dates from the Tyrrhenian Period, about 0.2 million years ago. The
lower layer consists of limestone and was deposited about 9 million years ago during the Tortonian Period on a shallow continental
shelf.
The south side features several small secluded coves, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. On the east side, the rocks stretch
out to sea like long horizontal fingers, where after each tide, ample seafood is available for the always hungry Seabirds
.
The area used to be dominated by orchards, especially after the completion of the Tibi Dam in 1594, that made reliable irrigation from the Monnegre River possible.
In the 16th century, a watchtower was built to warn the population of attacks by the notorious Barbary
pirates.
In 1856, the tower was replaced by a lighthouse and to this day this white-painted cylindrical tower is the iconic
face of Cabo de la Huerte.
Today, the top of the Cape is fully urbanized, but at sea level a micro reserve for flora and fauna remains. This coastline area is accessible by a narrow and sometimes difficult trail that runs around the Cape.