Alicante: outdoor adventurer's dream. The province of Alicante is the crown jewel of active tourism in the Community of Valencia. Primarily because it is in the heart of the Costa Blanca, but also because the entire province is naturally beautiful. Bigtime Aventura offers rock climbing, canyoning, hiking, ridge climbing, via ferrata, and coasteering in Alicante.
The vacation town of Benidorm, the Spanish beachtown turned skyscrapper capital of the Iberian peninsula, is the centerpoint for most visitors. With plenty of cheap flights to Alicante airport and cheap accommodation up and down the Costa Blanca, it's easy to see why so many Europeans visit Alicante each year. Wide clean beaches hugging the torquiose waters of the Mediterranean Sea are the usual stop for most visitors. However, just a few kilometers inland is some of the most remarkable mountain scenery in the entire Mediterranean. With this natural beauty goes a plethora of possibilities for mountain adventures and active tourism.
Rock Climbing in Alicante
It's hard to say which climbing area is the best because there are so many and they're all extremely high quality! Many people pick Sella for the abundance of it's limestone lined central canyon and for it's ease of access. For single-pitch sport climbing, a visit to Sella is mandatory. However, Alicante is probably the best province for multi-pitch climbing in all of Mediterranean Spain. The famous trio of massive rock walls are found here: the Peñón de Ifach, Puig Campana, and Ponoch (Ponoig). Along with these there are also other amazing multi-pitch areas such as: the Pared Negra (in Orihuela), Redovan (in Redovan), Cabezon de Oro (in Busot), and Mascarat (between Altea and Calpe). There are so many other places that it would take a few pages to list them all.
Single pitch climbing can be found all over the province, from Calpe along the coast, to Guadalest, Alcoy, Villena, and Sax, the quality is amazing everywhere you go.
Canyoning in Alicante
Alicante is also home to some incredible canyoning, most of which is dry canyoning. The mountainous limestone terrain lends itself beautifully to canyoning. Over millenia, water has carved its way through the porous limestone to create fascinating canyons, many of which are quite narrow. One of the top canyons of it's type in all of Europe is in Alicante, the Barranco de Infierno (Hell Canyon). Although it lacks any long rappels (the longest is about 10m), it has many technical sections, which increase in difficulty when water is running through the canyon (after heavy rain). The area where the Barranco de Inferno is located is also home to about 10 other canyons. It's a very interesting area where you could spend a few days canyoning. In the south of the province, the Sierra de Orihuela, is also home to many amazing dry canyons.
Via Ferratas in Alicante
There are many via ferratas in Alicante. Most are short and athletic with some explosive moves. However, the Via Ferrata de Ponoch is a little longer and has quite a bit of exposure. Via ferrata del Cid is an interesting ferrata because it follows a line up weakness up the north face of the butte called El Cid. It has a steel cable for its entirety, however, in many places there are no rungs. Therefore, you are obligated to use the natural rock features to climb. Very cool!
Ridge Climbing in Alicante
Alicante has a multitude of spectacular ridges for ridge climbing. These are not just hikes along wide crests. You will need to rock climb and sometimes rappel. One of the most famous ridges in all of Spain is found here, the Castellet Ridge, near Sella. It's so long that most groups break it into 5 separate sections and just do one section in a day. There are some harrowing sections on this beauty, where the only way to advance is by "horseback riding"; one leg on one side of the ridge and one leg on the other. Then slowly move yourself forward. Did we mention that there's a 30m drop on either side?!! Bigtime!
Of course the Sierra de Bernia is a major ridgeline as well with spectacular views of the Costa Blanca, the Peñón de Ifach and Benidorm. This is a long ridge that will take the better part of the day. The Sierra de Segaria in the north of Alicante is another ridge, similar to that of Bernia but less technical. There are many more ridges to explore in this fascinating province.
Hiking in Alicante
With all these mountains, of course there is a lot of hiking! The aforementioned Puig Campana is a nice day hike, summiting its peak (1406m) awards you with breathtaking views of the Costa Blanca to the east and views of the Sierra de Aitana to the west. There are lots more hikes in the Sierra de Aitana, including a hike that takes you to the top of the highest point in the province, the peak of Aitana, at 1558m. The Costa Blanca rightfully gets a lot of attention in Alicante but the ranges inland also have a lot to offer for the outdoor enthusiast. Hiking is no exception, there are numerous hiking trails scattered all over the province.
Coasteering in Alicante
Bigtime Aventura also offers coasteering in Alicante. The rugged sea cliffs along parts of the Alicante coast allow for amazing opportunities to hike, scramble, climb, snorkel, and explore this staggeringly beautiful area. The abundance of rocky walled coves is perfect for coasteering. There are many hidden sea caves that only those willing to explore will ever find. Another intestesting area is the Sierra Helada. It is a protected natural park in the Community of Valencia and borders Benidorm. Although it is so close, many people don't venture onto it's hiking trails or along it's sea coast or the amazing rock walls. Many more beautiful sea coast areas await those willing to explore. Put on your sunscreen and get ready to be dazzled!
Alicante is definitely an amazing place for mountain sports, outdoor adventures, and active vacations. To fully enjoy this magical place come along with Bigtime Aventura. We will safely guide you around the major areas and also introduce you to the hidden gems away from the tourist traps. The places that you simply won't find on your own will blow your mind. Let us do the planning for your active holiday and make your next vacation a memorable one! To get started, contact us today!