Discover Cautivador: Nature, Culture and Trails

Cautivador is an old hamlet between Altea and La Nucía. At the CEM El Captivador, the Mediterranean nature is combined with the history of La Nucía: the visitor complex aims to bring both closer to the public.

When you choose a holiday apartment in Cautivador, you can compare your preferred travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective offer pages as part of planning your trip. The themes of nature, culture, trails and cycling provide an objective basis for choosing your holiday destination.

Nature and landscape

The CEM El Captivador lies between the Serra Gelada Natural Park and the Ponoig-Puig Campana protected area. Ponoig-Puig Campana is located west of the CEM. The complex covers 15,189 m² in the municipal green area of Tossal del Captivador, which has a large number of trees.

The CEM includes an arboretum that serves as a botanical garden for the preservation, study and communication of plant diversity. Traditional crops, aromatic and medicinal plants, as well as cacti and succulents, can be seen there.

Culture and history

The Ermita de Sant Vicent del Captivador was built in 1804 in honour of San Vicente Ferrer.

According to tradition, San Vicente Ferrer preached at this site in 1410 during his journey from Teulada to Orihuela and the territories of Castile; no document confirming this has been found.

The CEM’s Ethnological Museum covers almost 180 m² and has three exhibition rooms dedicated to local culture, traditions, crafts and agriculture.

El Captivador was a Moorish settlement until 1609.

The Séquia Mare irrigation system was established by Beatriz Fajardo in 1666. Part of its course runs through the CEM.

Trails and cycling

The La Nucía Trail Network comprises four signposted circular routes totalling 20.5 km and includes the CEM El Captivador. The extensive pine forest contains rest and picnic areas; the trail network also has several drinking-water points. Extensive signage and educational panels provide information about the natural surroundings and their resources.

The La Nucía mountain biking network comprises four circular routes with varying difficulty levels. In the central area, they pass through the Bike Park, which has five downhill runs with wooden features for different levels of mountain biking ability.

One mountain biking route leads into the Captivador pine forest, has two technical sections with several steps, and then passes the Ermita de Sant Vicent, where there is a spring. Another mountain biking route runs through the Captivador area and La Nucía’s sports complex. In addition, one mountain biking route runs uphill and downhill on trails through the pine forest of the Ciudad Deportiva–El Captivador area for 70% of its length.

The different circular routes, technical sections and forest passages offer several ways to compare trails and cycling as related themes.

Festivals and gatherings

The San Vicente festival is celebrated on the Monday after Easter Monday in the Cautivador natural area, where the hermitage dedicated to the saint stands. The festival includes regional dances, performances by Valencian folk groups, running competitions, barbecues and concerts.

At the CEM’s Granja Escuela, visitors can see the animals.

For further regional planning, you can also find L'Albir.

Geographical location

To reach Captivador and the Ermita, take the road from La Nucía to Altea; after approximately 5 kilometres, a sign points to the destination.

For the broader travel overview: L'Alfàs del Pi.