The River Viñalopó is, in fact, a stream which runs practically the length of Alicante Province, from north to south, discharging into the sea between Santa Pola and La Marina.
The little section treated here is approached by road. Leaving Santa Pola on the CV853 Elche road, after a couple of kilometres you reach a roundabout in front of an enormous ‘Night Club.’ Here take a left onto the CV851 towards El Hondo. Take the road for a good few kilometres, to just past the next roundabout, where the busy road crosses the eponymous stream.
Here everything depends upon water-levels. If there is just a little mud showing, waders can be very good, with Temminck’s Stint virtually certain at almost any season, and Little Ringed Plover breeding. Bluethroat and Grey Wagtail winter, as do Common Snipe and other species. If what you see is a rushing torrent, or the whole lot is chocked up with vegetation, don’t waste a lot of time!