Costa Blanca North
Helicopter removes old power lines near Spain’s Montgó Natural Park
An unusual aerial operation has seen a helicopter lift ageing electricity infrastructure from the landscape between Dénia and Jávea, with work now set to continue in another Marina Alta town.
Helicopter lifts old electricity towers
The operation took place on Friday, October 16, in the Les Planes area, close to the Montgó Natural Park and the road linking Dénia with Jávea.
Workers from FCC, the company involved in the removal work, dismantled and prepared the redundant high-voltage electricity towers before a helicopter lifted the metal structures using a steel cable.
The helicopter transported the heavy equipment through the air to a temporary collection point around 100 metres from the operating base, allowing the dismantled infrastructure to be gathered for removal.
The operation was based at an open area beside the former Vicente Ferrer school in Les Rotes, near the junction towards Jávea. The site provided space for the aircraft to land and for ground crews to coordinate the work.
The unusual sight of a helicopter carrying metal structures near Montgó attracted attention, but the aircraft was being used to remove obsolete electrical infrastructure rather than carry out a rescue.
Why old power lines are being removed
The work forms part of efforts to remove disused overhead electricity lines from natural areas in the Marina Alta.
Redundant cables and supporting structures can pose a serious threat to wildlife, particularly birds, which risk colliding with power lines while flying through the landscape.
Removing these installations helps reduce hazards in sensitive natural environments, including areas around the Montgó, where protecting local biodiversity is important.
Using a helicopter allows large structures to be transported from difficult terrain without relying entirely on conventional ground transport. The aircraft can lift dismantled sections and carry them to a designated collection area, while workers handle the preparation on the ground.
Work will continue in Pedreguer
Once the structures had been transported away from the Les Planes section, the crews completed this stage of the operation.
The next phase is scheduled to take place in Pedreguer, where the removal of outdated electricity infrastructure will continue.
The work highlights the practical challenges involved in clearing redundant installations from the Marina Alta’s landscape, particularly in areas close to protected natural spaces.
While the helicopter operation was the most visible part of the project, it depended on the coordinated work of ground crews to dismantle the towers safely and prepare them for lifting.
The removal programme is part of the wider, gradual effort to eliminate obsolete overhead electrical infrastructure from the region’s natural surroundings.
Costa Blanca North
Benidorm Palace hosts Save My Life 16 charity gala for rescued animals in October
Benidorm charity gala raises funds for abandoned pets through live entertainment.
Photo Credit: Benidorm Palace
Animal lovers are being invited to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment while supporting abandoned pets when the Save My Life 16 charity gala returns to Benidorm Palace on Sunday, October 25. The fundraising event will bring together performers, volunteers and supporters to raise money for animal rescue organisations across the Costa Blanca. Funds raised will help provide essential care for abandoned dogs and cats, including veterinary treatment, food and shelter, while also supporting efforts to find animals loving new homes.
A popular fundraiser returns for its 16th edition
Now in its incredible 16th edition, Save My Life has become a highly anticipated event for supporters of rescue animals in the region. The gala combines live performances, music, comedy and surprises, offering guests an entertaining way to contribute to a cause close to the community’s heart.
An afternoon of entertainment for animal lovers on the Costa Blanca
This year’s programme features seven guest acts, alongside two speciality performers from Benidorm Palace itself. The event will be hosted by two presenters, with a varied line-up promising an afternoon of entertainment for attendees. Organisers expect that the event will raise vital funds for local animal shelters and rescue associations, many of which depend on donations and fundraising activities to continue their work.
The gala will also highlight the challenges faced by animal rescue organisations and the ongoing need to support abandoned and neglected pets. Donations can help cover the cost of veterinary care, feeding and sheltering animals while they wait to be adopted. The event also encourages responsible pet ownership and raises awareness of the importance of giving rescued animals a second chance.
Tickets and details for the charity gala: How to support abandoned animals by attending this incredible gala
With live entertainment, a vibrant crowd and a show to remember, Save My Life 16 will offer residents and visitors an opportunity to support adorable rescued animals on the Costa Blanca, all while enjoying a lively afternoon at one of Benidorm’s best-known entertainment venues.
The charity gala will take place at Benidorm Palace on Sunday, October 25. Doors are scheduled to open at noon, with the show beginning at 1:00pm. Tickets start at €12, making the event an accessible option for people who want to support local animal charities while enjoying live entertainment. Those interested in attending can find further information and ticket details through the official Benidorm Palace website.
Terra Natura’s Holiween combines fluorescent colours, Halloween entertainment and wildlife education.
Photo Credit: Terra Natura Benidorm
Families can celebrate Halloween with a vibrant twist when Terra Natura Benidorm hosts its fifth Holiween Festival on Saturday, October 24. Combining the spooky traditions of Halloween with the colourful Indian festival of Holi, the event offers an alternative to traditional scares, with music, dancing, children’s entertainment and a spectacular fluorescent powder party.
A glowing explosion of colour in a popular Benidorm park
The festivities will take place at Terra Natura, a wildlife park in Benidorm, Alicante. The event will give younger visitors a fun Halloween experience, without the scares of traditionally frightening attractions.
Family-friendly Halloween entertainment
Most exciting of all, the highlight of Holiween will be a colourful celebration in the Pangea area, near the park’s main entrance. As darkness falls, participants will be able to join a fluorescent powder party illuminated by ultraviolet lighting, creating a glowing spectacle of colour. More than 600 kilogrammes of fluorescent coloured powder are expected to feature in this year’s celebrations, according to local reports.
Music and dancing will help set the mood throughout the event, with entertainment from Peque Radio and theatrical performances by Estranya Compania Teatre, including La familia Vampy. The combination of Halloween characters, colourful effects and family-friendly activities aims to create a festive atmosphere for visitors of different ages.
A programme extending through November
Holiween forms part of Terra Natura Benidorm’s wider Halloween programme, which runs from October 24 to November 1. During the programme, visitors can also look forward to magic shows by Mag Malastruc, scheduled for October 24 and 31 and November 1, alongside themed activities that will entertain children.
Environmental consciousness merged with a Halloween spectacle of colour
The park is also using Halloween to highlight the importance of protecting wildlife and biodiversity. Under the message ‘The Real Fear: Losing Them Forever’, educational activities will explore animals often associated with Halloween, including snakes, spiders, bats and owls. The initiative will challenge common misconceptions about these creatures and explain the important roles they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
With its mix of glowing colours, live entertainment and wildlife education, Holiween offers families a different, engaging, and fun-filled way to enjoy the Halloween season on the Costa Blanca, no scares necessary.
calpe unemployment
Costa Blanca town records lowest unemployment in 20 years as jobless rate falls to 6.68%
Calpe has recorded its lowest unemployment rate in more than two decades, with fewer than 800 people registered as unemployed and a figure significantly below the provincial average.
The Costa Blanca town recorded an unemployment rate of 6.68 per cent, equivalent to 787 people, according to the latest figures reported in October 2026. The result places Calpe among the strongest-performing municipalities in Alicante province for employment, offering an encouraging picture of the local economy.
The figures represent a significant improvement on the difficult years following the financial crisis and the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unemployment falls sharply from crisis levels
Calpe’s current rate marks a striking contrast with the worst period of unemployment in recent history. In 2014, the rate reached 23.28 per cent as the consequences of the financial crisis continued to affect businesses and workers.
The situation deteriorated again during the pandemic, when unemployment climbed above 20 per cent in 2020.
The latest figures suggest that the town’s labour market has recovered considerably since those challenging years, with the number of registered unemployed now standing at 787 in a municipality with more than 28,000 registered residents.
The improvement is particularly notable given the pressures that can affect employment in coastal destinations, where businesses often depend on tourism and seasonal demand.
Tourism and construction support local jobs
Calpe’s economy continues to rely heavily on the services sector, with hospitality and retail playing important roles in providing employment.
Restaurants, hotels, shops and other tourism-related businesses form a substantial part of the local economy. Construction is another important source of activity, helping to support employment alongside the services industry.
However, the reliance on tourism also presents a challenge. Businesses can experience fluctuations in demand throughout the year, meaning that maintaining stable employment beyond the main holiday season remains an important consideration for the municipality.
The latest unemployment figure provides a positive indication of the local jobs market, although the headline rate alone does not reveal the quality of employment, wage levels or how many positions offer year-round contracts.
Calpe outperforms the Alicante provincial average
The difference between Calpe and the wider province is considerable.
The reported unemployment rate for Alicante province stands at 15.31 per cent, compared with 6.68 per cent in Calpe. That puts the town’s rate at less than half the provincial figure.
The figures highlight Calpe’s comparatively strong employment position within a region where tourism is an important economic driver.
The town’s governing coalition, comprising Somos Calpe, the PSOE and Compromís, has welcomed the positive trend, pointing to improvements in employment indicators during its time in office.
Maintaining that progress will be important as the municipality seeks to balance economic growth with the seasonal nature of much of its work.
For residents, the figures offer encouraging news about employment opportunities in the town, although continued monitoring will be needed to establish whether the improvement can be sustained throughout the quieter months.
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