Alicante Secret Society Exploration Game and Tour

A secret society, 16 riddles, and Alicante’s old town make an appealing combination. You follow clues from the marina to the historic center, using your phone instead of a live guide. Along the way, the game points out statues, churches, architecture, and small details you could easily walk past.

I like the freedom to stop when you want, and the very low price of $6.04 makes this an easy add-on to an Alicante visit. I also like the way the route mixes famous sights with less obvious corners, giving you a reason to look up and around instead of simply following a standard sightseeing path.

The main caution is that the game system may take a little getting used to. You receive the next map after completing each chapter, and the final part includes steep steps, so this is not the best choice if you need an entirely level route.

Key points at a glance

• Sixteen riddles guide the route: Each puzzle leads you to a real place in Alicante rather than keeping you inside an app-only world.
• The route links the marina and old town: You begin at Porta del Mar and finish near Villavieja Street, about five minutes from Postiguet Beach.
• You control the pace: The stated time is about 90 minutes, but stops inside churches and pauses for clues can stretch the outing to three hours.
• Audio and mood music add atmosphere: The app combines story, sound, and missions, with easier and more difficult challenges for different ages.
• Steep steps appear near the end: Most participants can take part, but the route may not suit people with limited mobility.
• The cost works well for small groups: A pair of tickets worked for three people in one party, though you should check the booking details for your own group.

Starting beside Alicante’s marina

The experience begins at Pl. Puerta del Mar, beside the waterfront and close to the Porta del Mar station. This is a useful starting point because you can reach it by public transport, and it puts you near Alicante’s marina before the route turns into the old quarter.

You do not meet a guide. Instead, you use your mobile phone to receive the story, clues, and maps. That makes this a private activity for your own group, with no fixed pace and no need to keep up with strangers.

The concept is simple: a secret society has left a trail through Alicante, and you solve 16 riddles to follow it. The story gives the walk a purpose. Rather than merely checking off monuments, you look for visual details, symbols, and features that help answer each puzzle.

The advertised duration is about one hour and 30 minutes. I would treat that as a brisk playing time, not a firm appointment. If you solve clues quickly and keep moving, you may finish near that mark. If you enter the churches, pause for photographs, or stop for a snack, allow closer to two or three hours.

One useful detail is the chapter system. You generally complete one part of the game before the next map appears. This can be confusing if you expect the entire route to open at once, but it also keeps the trail from becoming a long list of directions. Read the instructions before setting off, and use the help feature if a riddle holds you up.

Finding Icarus with a surf wing

One of the first major clues leads along Avenida Conde de Vallellano to The Return of Icarus with His Surf Wing. This sculpture takes the familiar Greek myth and gives it a modern, playful form. Icarus is not shown in a traditional ancient scene. His surf wing connects the old story with Alicante’s seaside setting.

The statue works well as an early puzzle stop because it is large, unusual, and tied to the waterfront. You are asked to find it, study its story, and solve a riddle based on its meaning. That is more engaging than simply being told the name of the artwork.

This section also gives you a good sense of how the game works. You are not just walking from address to address. You need to inspect what is in front of you, connect the clue with the setting, and use the answer to continue.

The waterfront is one of the easiest parts of the route for walking. If you are visiting in warm weather, the open promenade may feel more comfortable early in the day or later in the afternoon. The game is available from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., so you have room to choose a cooler time.

Searching for the Ship in the Trees

Another waterfront clue points you toward a striking installation often called the Ship in the Trees. Its nautical form reflects Alicante’s connection with the sea, while its placement among the palms gives it an odd, memorable look.

This is the kind of stop that makes the activity useful even if you already plan to visit Alicante’s best-known sights. You may pass the installation without knowing its story, but the riddle encourages you to stop, inspect it, and think about the symbols around it.

I like this part of the route because it uses public art as a doorway into the city. You are not confined to churches and official monuments. The game treats modern sculpture and waterfront design as part of Alicante’s character too.

The exact time spent here depends on your group. A quick answer keeps the route moving. A family or group of friends may pause to discuss the clue, take pictures, or compare answers. Since the experience is private, nobody has to hurry you along.

Reading Alicante City Hall through its details

The trail then moves toward Alicante City Hall, an 18th-century Baroque building in the center. Its façade features Solomonic columns and twin towers, so even a short look gives you plenty to examine while you work on the clue.

City Hall has two details that make it especially suitable for a puzzle. Inside, the Cota Cero marks Spain’s sea-level reference point. The building also includes Ciudad Descubierta, where archaeological remains can be seen below the modern city.

The game uses the building’s architecture and history as the basis for another riddle. You are encouraged to notice more than the front entrance. Look at the columns, towers, interior markers, and the relationship between the old building and the traces beneath it.

This is also where the activity begins to feel less like a waterfront walk and more like an old-town investigation. Streets become tighter, buildings become older, and the clues ask you to connect Alicante’s present-day center with earlier layers of the city.

Do not expect a formal indoor presentation from the game. It directs your attention, but the app is not a substitute for a museum guide or a detailed architectural tour. Its strength is prompting you to look and then giving the location a narrative role.

Entering San Nicolás through a Renaissance and Baroque setting

The Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás de Bari is one of the route’s most rewarding stops. Built between 1613 and 1662 on the site of a former mosque, it combines Renaissance planning with Baroque decoration.

From outside, the cathedral is fairly austere. Inside, the tone changes. A blue dome rises 45 meters above the interior, and the Communion Chapel has ornate Spanish Baroque decoration. The contrast between the plain exterior and decorated interior gives the game a strong visual change of pace.

The clue here draws on the church’s architecture and past. You may solve it quickly, but I would allow time to look around before moving on. One of the pleasures of this format is that you can pause the game and visit a church properly rather than treating it as a backdrop.

The activity does not include admission to attractions unless specifically stated, and the supplied details list no attraction tickets as included. Keep that in mind if you want to enter every interior or spend time at paid sites. The game itself supplies the trail and riddles, not a live explanation at each location.

San Nicolás is also a useful point for families and mixed-age groups. The missions range from simpler to more difficult, so younger players can take part without every clue feeling impossible. Adults still have enough detail to make the activity more than a children’s treasure hunt.

How the 16-riddle format works

The best way to approach this experience is as a shared walking game. One person can read the clue, another can study the building or artwork, and a third can keep track of possible answers. The group format makes teamwork part of the entertainment.

You receive help when a riddle proves difficult. That matters because a city puzzle can lose its appeal if one answer stops the entire route. Use the hints rather than spending too long guessing, especially if you have limited time.

Audio and mood music accompany the experience. These touches give the route a little suspense and make it feel different from a printed self-guided walk. They will not replace a human storyteller, but they help create a sense of a continuing mission.

The app-based design also means you should begin with a charged phone and a reliable connection, although the provided information does not specify technical requirements. The practical point is simple: your phone is the guide, map, clue sheet, and answer box, so you should be ready to use it throughout.

A small group is likely ideal. Two or three people can discuss each riddle without crowding the process. One party found that two tickets worked well for three people, which suggests that the cost can be especially good for a small family or friend group. I would still check the booking terms before assuming one ticket covers everyone.

The walk, the steps, and the timing

The route begins beside the marina and ends on C. de la Villavieja, about five minutes on foot from Postiguet Beach and Porta del Mar station. That makes the finish convenient. You can continue to the beach, return toward the waterfront, or stop for food in the old center.

The route includes walking through historic streets and a final section with several steep steps. Most people can participate, but this is not a fully accessible route. If stairs are difficult for you, contact the provider before booking rather than relying on the general statement that most participants can take part.

The timing is flexible but not necessarily short. One group completed the route in about three hours because they stopped at churches and took their time. That is not a problem if you plan for it. It only becomes an issue if you have a tight lunch reservation, a museum booking, or a scheduled departure.

I would set aside at least two hours if you want to play without rushing. Add more time if your group includes children, if you plan to inspect the churches, or if you expect to use hints and discuss each answer.

What $6.04 really buys you

At $6.04 per person, this is one of the less expensive ways to add structure to an Alicante walk. You are not paying for a guide, transport, or attraction admission. You are paying for a themed route, 16 clues, app support, and a reason to notice the city.

That is good value if you enjoy puzzles and already plan to walk through the marina and old town. The activity can turn an ordinary sightseeing loop into a shared challenge, and the low price makes the risk small.

The value is weaker if you want expert commentary, a set schedule, or a detailed explanation at every monument. A live guide can answer questions and adjust the route. This game cannot do that, though its private format gives you more freedom.

Group discounts are available, and the activity is booked an average of nine days ahead. That does not mean you must reserve far in advance, but booking ahead is sensible if you are visiting during a busy period or want a particular start time.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, you receive no refund, and changes are not accepted. The experience is offered in English.

Who will enjoy this Alicante quest most

I would choose this for friends, couples, and families who like to move around a city with a purpose. It is especially useful on a first visit when you want a route through the center but do not want to join a standard group walk.

It also suits repeat visitors. The clues draw attention to public art, architectural details, and corners you might otherwise miss. You may already know the main sights, but the game can give you a fresh reason to examine them.

It is less suitable if you dislike phone-based activities or want a quiet, unstructured stroll. The riddles require attention, and some players may find the chapter progression confusing at first. The steep steps also rule it out for some people with limited mobility.

The private format is a real advantage for families. You can take breaks, repeat a clue, or stop for food without holding up anyone else. The route also works for a small group that wants light competition without a full escape-room setting.

Should you book the Alicante Secret Society game?

Book it if you want a cheap, flexible way to connect Alicante’s waterfront, public art, City Hall, and San Nicolás Cathedral. The strongest parts are the teamwork, the freedom to stop, and the way the clues make ordinary details worth noticing.

Skip it if your priority is a professional guide, a fully level route, or a tightly controlled 90-minute schedule. Prepare for the app instructions, allow extra time, and expect steep steps near the end.

For most visitors who enjoy puzzles, $6.04 is a fair price for a self-guided old-town adventure. I would book it as a playful sightseeing layer, not as a replacement for a traditional history tour.

FAQ

Where does the Alicante Secret Society game start?

It starts at Pl. Puerta del Mar, 579, 03002 Alicante, beside the marina and near Porta del Mar station.

Where does the activity finish?

It ends at C. de la Villavieja, 19, 03002 Alicante. The finish is about five minutes on foot from Postiguet Beach and Porta del Mar station.

How long does the experience take?

The stated duration is approximately one hour and 30 minutes. If you stop at churches or take your time with the riddles, it can take around three hours.

How many riddles are included?

The experience includes 16 riddles set at real locations around Alicante.

Is a live tour guide included?

No. This is a mobile, self-guided activity, and there is no live tour guide.

What language is offered?

The experience is offered in English.

Is the activity suitable for people with limited mobility?

Most participants can take part, but the route includes steep steps toward the end. It may not suit people with limited mobility.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.