The Costa Blanca is highly associated with it´s gorgeous blue flag beaches, and dazzling Mediterranean coastline, but it is also a paradise for hikers! You will find lush, forests and stunning mountains that offer break-taking views. Here we have touched on just some of the trails that the Costa Blanca has to offer.
The second-highest peak in the province of Alicante, with an altitude of 1408 metres, Puig Campana, in the municipality of Finestrat is one for the serious hikers. A clear day will bestow those who reach the top with unforgettable views of the coastal landscape, and you can even catch a glimpse of the island of Mallorca. The trail also has some micro-reserves with protected flora and species.
A choice in route offers the daring hikers steep, rocky areas that make for a challenging ascent to the top, or there is a circular path for those who wish for a slightly easier route without the steep ascent to the top. (Note that this hike is not recommended for those who are not accustomed to sport, or young children).
One of the most well-known mountains in the Valencian region, that can be seen from Denia, and Javea is Montgo. It has been considered a natural lighthouse for sailors as it stands alone off the coast, and contains many curiosities such as man-made caves, a plethora of nearly 700 species of flora, many of which are specific to the area, and fauna such as birds, and shrews, and forest rabbits.
At the summit, one has views of Pitiusas, Ibiza, and Formentera, as well as the beautiful local landscape. There is a choice of routes that range from easy, with estimated durations ranging from 35 minutes to an hour, to high difficulty trails with estimated durations ranging from 1 hour 45 minutes to 7 hours 45 minutes.
An icon of the Costa Blanca, of significant environmental importance that led to it being declared a Natural Park in 1987, is El Peñón de Ifach. The oldest natural park in Alicante, located in Calpe, is also one of the most popular in the Valencian Community, which has since made it necessary to request an appointment to ascend its summit. A special refuge for many species of birds whose homes are threatened by urbanisation, and several endemic flora makes this area of significant importance for wildlife. To ascend and descend the 300-meter altitude of the mountain takes an estimated 3 to 4 hours, and as it is considered high difficulty level, children under 18 will find that they are not permitted to surpass a certain point.
This 2.3km route is easier than the latter than is suitable for those with little hiking experience and involves a round-trip route with an estimated duration of two to three hours. In the Marina Alta region of Alicante, you will be lead from the beautiful Cala del Moraig, with stunning clear waters and coves, to Cala Llebeig, with one of the very few “virgin” beaches in the province of Alicante.
“The Route of the 8 Villages”, so called as it connects 8 charming towns of the Vall de Gallinera. This linear 14 km route is considered easy, and will lead you through various agricultural roads, and if you go in March, you will be bestowed with the beauty of the cherry tree blossoms that blanket the valley. It is located in the Marina Alta region, in the north of the Costa Blanca, and the estimated duration is four hours one way.