One van ride later, Costa Blanca magic starts. This small-group tour strings together two very different old towns, from Villajoyosa’s color blocks to Altea’s whitewashed maze, with time for views, photos, and real local rhythm. I especially like the family-run chocolate stop in Villajoyosa and how the day feels paced for wandering, not rushing. You should know there is some walking on cobblestones, and the chocolate factory visit changes on Sundays.

Two things I’d pick on purpose. First, the Villajoyosa chocolate factory includes an entry and tasting time built into the schedule, which makes it more than a quick photo stop. Second, Altea’s guided stroll plus free time gives you both context and choice, so you can linger near the sea or drift uphill for mountain-and-coast panoramas.

One consideration to plan around: on Sundays the chocolate factory is closed, so the visit won’t happen that day. Also, one review noted the guide sometimes shared personal political opinions, so if you prefer a strict facts-only vibe, keep that in mind.

Key things to know before you go

• Small-group feel: up to 7 participants (max 8), which usually means more questions and better timing.
• One guided stop, one win for wandering: Villajoyosa gets a guided look, Altea mixes guided streets with free time.
• Chocolate factory includes entrance: you get inside the artisan production and tasting time.
• Altea viewpoint energy: the blue-and-white church and sea-and-mountain panoramas are a big draw.
• Photo stops are built in: you are not forced to shoot while sprinting between stops.
• Sunday schedule change: chocolate factory visit is omitted on Sundays.

From Meliá Alicante to Costa Blanca charm, the route that makes sense

This is a half-day style tour that works well if you want more than just Alicante city sights but do not want a full day in transit. You start at Meliá Alicante, meeting outside the main entrance and waiting opposite taxis. That pickup setup is simple, and it matters because half-day trips feel longer when the start is smooth.

Once you board the van, you get that classic Costa Blanca transition right away: city energy fades, then the coast opens up. The drive to Villajoyosa is about 40 minutes. You are not stuck staring at a window forever, though. The schedule moves you from transportation into a historic center where walking actually counts.

And the group size helps. With a small headcount, guides can manage the pace so you can stop for photos without the whole van chain-stretching behind you. It also makes it easier for the guide to answer questions on the fly, and several reviews singled out guide Alberto for balancing fun with solid local context.

Villajoyosa, La Villa, and why the colors feel like a story

Villajoyosa is often called La Villa, and you can see why fast. This is a coastal town where the old heart is visually loud in the best way: colorful houses, sea air, and a historic vibe you notice immediately when you step off the van.

You get around an hour in Villajoyosa with a guided visit and sightseeing time. That hour is a sweet spot. Long enough to get oriented, short enough that you do not feel trapped inside a rigid script. You’ll be walking through the historic core, taking in the golden-sand coastal mood from the town’s relationship with the sea, then shifting into a more specific focus with the artisan stop.

The chocolate factory visit, more than a sales pitch

Villajoyosa is famous for chocolate, and this tour leans into that with a family run artisan chocolate factory stop. Entrance is included, and the schedule gives you about 30 minutes for food tasting after the guided time.

What makes this valuable for your day is that the factory visit is not just about buying sweets. You get to see the production world behind the product, then taste different flavors. Several reviews highlight that you can sample multiple options and even take chocolate home after the tasting, which turns the stop into a real memory instead of a quick sugar hit.

A quick planning note: on Sundays, the chocolate factory is closed. If you are traveling on a Sunday, you still get the Villajoyosa part of the tour, but you will miss that specific factory experience.

Seafront stroll, the kind you can actually feel

After the factory time, you also get to walk along the seafront promenade. This is not the grand boulevard version of seaside walking. It feels more like the kind of relaxed coastal path locals actually use, and it gives you a breather between the guided chunks.

If the weather is warm, the breeze matters. Several reviews mentioned the high temperatures, but the tour pace was comfortable, with stops and timing that avoid turning sightseeing into a marathon.

Altea’s whitewashed lanes and the view from the tiled church

Next comes Altea, about a 30 minute van transfer. Altea feels like the tonal opposite of Villajoyosa. If Villajoyosa is colorful and coastal-first, Altea is all about whitewashed streets and that hillside labyrinth feel where every turn seems to open another angle.

You get about 30 minutes for guided touring and walking, then a longer stretch of free time and a photo stop. The guided portion helps you read what you’re seeing. You’ll move through cobblestone streets full of character and get pointed toward major visual anchors, including the blue-and-white tiled church.

That church is not just a landmark. It is a natural magnet for photos and a mental reset point. Once you see the tiles up close and look out from that area, the town’s scale and its relationship to the Serra de Bèrnia mountains and the Mediterranean Sea snap into focus.

Free time that does not waste your energy

The best part of Altea on this tour is that you are not over-managed. After the guided walk, you get roughly 1.5 hours of free time plus shopping. That time is where you can make the day yours.

Here’s how I’d use it:

• Start with a slow wander for the best streets. Altea’s charm is in the small lanes and sudden pockets where you catch a view.
• Then pick one café or restaurant for a break. The tour specifically frames it as a good moment to sit down and enjoy the micro-climate, and the palm-tree lined promenade gives you an easy way to recover without giving up the atmosphere.
• Save shopping for later. When you shop first, you end up looking at everything like it’s a clock. When you wander first, you can shop with your actual favorites in mind.

Many reviews praise this exact freedom, especially because it gives room for lunch choices instead of stuffing you into a fixed meal plan.

Pacing, comfort, and how the timing shapes the experience

This trip runs about 6 hours total, but it feels shorter because the schedule includes natural transitions. You’re not spending the whole day locked in the van. The major time blocks are built around actual place-based experiences:

• A transfer window to Villajoyosa
• A guided historic look and time for chocolate tasting
• A transfer to Altea
• A guided Altea walk, then free time and shopping

The walking is not described as extreme, and reviews mention it as manageable, even for people who were cautious about walking more. Still, you should expect some uneven cobblestone and stair-like street gradients in old towns, especially in Altea’s higher-feeling lanes.

If you want a simple rule: wear supportive shoes, and do not treat cobbles like flat pavement. You’ll enjoy the views more when your feet are happy.

What the guide adds, especially Alberto

A half-day tour lives and dies by the guide, and the reviews consistently put Alberto at the center of the experience. People mention that he mixes a good sense of humor with local context, and that he answers questions without turning the trip into a lecture. One review also talked about how the information flow felt right, not overwhelming, which is exactly what you want when you have limited time.

Another detail that impressed me as a practical value point: you get help finding good food. Several reviews say the guide guided lunch choices by recommending specific cafés and menus, and one review mentioned getting a leaflet with local restaurant ideas. That is useful, because after you leave Altea and Villajoyosa, you still need options in the wider area, and the leaflet gives you a head start.

One balanced note from a review: there was at least one instance where the guide expressed personal political views. If that kind of conversation throws you off, you might want to set your own boundaries in your questions or politely steer the topic back to local culture and practical sightseeing.

Price and value: why $79 can feel like a smart spend

At $79 per person, you are paying for more than transport. The value is in the blend:

• a live English guide
• transfers between Alicante, Villajoyosa, and Altea
• guided walking time in two towns
• entrance to the artisan chocolate factory
• built-in tasting time and multiple photo-friendly moments
• a comfortable small-group setup that helps keep the experience personal

If you tried to do this on your own, you would likely spend more time coordinating transport, and you might still miss the factory access and structured tasting window. This tour packages those pieces so you spend your energy on the villages, not logistics.

Also, the small group matters. With fewer people, you tend to get better pacing and more opportunities to stop, ask, and photograph without the guide having to cut conversations short.

Who this tour is for, and who might prefer a different plan

This tour suits you if:

• You want to see two Costa Blanca villages near Alicante without committing to a full day.
• You like old-town walking with enough guidance to understand what you’re seeing.
• Chocolate tasting is part of your idea of a good day, not an afterthought.
• You prefer small-group attention, not a large bus shuffle.

You might choose something else if:

• You mainly want beach time and nothing else. This is sightseeing-forward, even if the coast is part of the scenery.
• You are highly sensitive to cobblestone walking. It’s not described as extreme, but it is still old-town terrain.
• You are traveling on Sunday and chocolate factory access is a must for you.

Should you book Villajoyosa and Altea from Alicante?

I think this is a strong choice if you want an efficient, scenic day with real local flavor. Villajoyosa gives you color, sea air, and the artisan chocolate stop with tasting time. Altea gives you the whitewashed lanes, the blue-and-white church, and viewpoints that make the time on your feet feel worth it.

Book it if you like guided orientation plus free time, and especially if you want the chocolate factory included in your itinerary. If your trip is on a Sunday, do the math with the factory closure in mind, then ask yourself whether Altea and Villajoyosa alone are still worth your half-day.

FAQ

What villages does this tour include?

You visit Villajoyosa and Altea, with sightseeing and walking time in both.

How long is the tour?

The tour duration is 6 hours total.

What is the price per person?

The price is $79 per person.

Is the chocolate factory visit included?

Yes. Entrance to the artisan chocolate factory is included, and there is food tasting time in Villajoyosa.

Is the chocolate factory visit available on Sundays?

No. The chocolate factory is closed on Sundays, so the tour will not include a visit to the chocolate factory on that day.

How big is the group?

It is a small group limited to 7 participants (max 8).

Where do we meet for pickup?

Meet outside the main entrance of the Hotel Melia Alicante, and wait opposite taxis.

Is the tour guided in English?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.