Discover the Costa Blanca's striking mountain landscape through 60 handpicked outdoor adventures, from alpine ridge scrambles and via ferratas to deep canyon descents, sport and trad climbing, hiking, trail running, and road cycling. One of the few places in Europe where you can enjoy summer-standard outdoor pursuits in the middle of winter, Spain's Costa Blanca is an extraordinary adventure destination within easy reach of Alicante.

This comprehensive Cicerone guidebook by mountain guide and activity instructor Mark Eddy presents a broad spectrum of 60 graded routes and activities across the Costa Blanca, with a particular focus on climbers and experienced adventurers looking for a multi-activity holiday. All routes are clearly graded and include route descriptions, mapping, and, for climbing routes and via ferratas, photo topos illustrating the route line with mid-grade options throughout.

• Explore 60 graded adventures across the Costa Blanca, covering 13 ridge scrambles, 7 via ferratas, 8 canyon descents, 8 sport climbing crags, 7 trad climbing routes, 4 hikes, 9 trail runs, and 4 road cycling routes, with options ranging from easy walking to 500m trad climbs and technical canyon descents.
• Discover the highlights of the Costa Blanca, including the iconic Bernia Ridge, the alpine Castellets ridge, the dramatic Puig Campana, the near-subterranean adventure of the Barranco del Infierno, the via ferratas of El Cid and Ponoch, and the famous Col de Rates road cycling circuit.
• Select activities suited to your ability using clear grading and handy summary tables covering all 60 routes, making it easy to plan a programme of adventures matched to your skills, experience, and available time in the Costa Blanca.
• Navigate every route with confidence using route descriptions, sketch maps, and photo topos for climbing routes and via ferratas, with practical directions to help you locate the start point for every activity.
• Plan your Costa Blanca adventure with comprehensive practical information on getting there and around, accommodation in key bases including the Jalón/Xaló valley, Calpe, Altea, La Nucia, and Denia, food and drink, health and safety, and the skills and equipment required for each activity type.
• Make the most of the long Costa Blanca season, with the best time to visit between October and early May, making this one of Europe's premier winter-sun adventure destinations for climbers, scramblers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.

Take on the Costa Blanca's ridges, crags, canyons, and trails with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. From the iconic Bernia Ridge to the barrancos of the interior, this is the essential companion for multi-activity adventure in one of Europe's most exciting winter sun destinations.

Costa Blanca Mountain Adventures – Quick Facts

Location: Spain – Costa Blanca, Alicante and Valencia provinces
Routes covered: 60 graded routes and activities across 8 disciplines
Activities covered: Ridge scrambles (13), via ferratas (7), canyon descents (8), sport climbing (8), trad climbing (7), hiking (4), trail running (9), road cycling (4)
Difficulty: From easy walking and hiking to 500m trad climbing routes and technical canyon descents; all routes graded; plenty of mid-grade options; some activities require specific skills and equipment
Key centres: Jalón/Xaló valley (recommended base); Calpe and Altea area for coastal bases; also La Nucia, Denia, and Benidorm; easy access from Alicante airport
Highlights: Bernia Ridge, Castellets ridge, Puig Campana, Barranco del Infierno, via ferratas of El Cid and Ponoch, Cabezón de Oro, Col de Rates cycling circuit
Navigation/mapping: Route descriptions, sketch maps, and photo topos included for all climbing routes and via ferratas; activity summary table covering all 60 routes
Accommodation & logistics: Comprehensive practical information on accommodation, getting there and around, food and drink, health and safety, and skills and equipment required for each activity
Best time to go: October to early May; one of Europe's premier winter sun adventure destinations; the Gota Fría (unsettled autumn weather) can occasionally linger for a week or two

Author Highlight

“Try to think of places in Europe where the rock climbing, mountaineering, road biking, canyoning and trail running are all brilliant, and most enjoyable during the winter months. Thought of any yet? Well it’s all here in Costa Blanca. A day can be spent at an easyaccess, single-pitch crag; next day climb a 500m trad route; next day hit the super-smooth roads and clock up 100km on the bike; and the list just keeps on going. Packed into a relatively small space, this karst limestone landscape is a wonderful playground, brimming with colourful flora and diverse fauna. For mountain-based fun and adventure it really is difficult to find a better winter jaunt.”

- Mark Eddy, author of Costa Blanca Mountain Adventures

Regional overview map

Map key

Key to photo topos

Overview map 1: Ridges, via ferratas and canyons

Overview map 2: Sport and trad climbing

Overview map 3: Hiking, trail running and road cycling

Introduction

Landscape

Plants and wildlife

When to go

Getting there

Getting around

Accommodation

Food and drink

Language

Maps

Waymarking and access

Health and safety

Using this guide

Ridges

Route 1 Toix Ridge Integral (Este y Oeste)

Route 2 Bernia Ridge

Route 3 Sierra Ferrer Ridge

Route 4 Segaria Ridge

Route 5 Cresta del Migdia

Route 6 El Realet/Alt del Castellet

Route 7 Cresta del Canelobre, Cabezón de Oro

Route 8 Forada Ridge

Route 9 Benicadell Ridge

Route 10 Arista al Forat de la Forada

Route 11 Cresta dels Bardals, Serrella

Route 12 Cresta del Castellar

Route 13 Cresta del Maigmó

Via ferratas

Route 14 Penya del Figueret

Route 15 Ponoch (Ponoig)

Route 16 El Cid

Route 17 Redován

Route 18 Callosa de Segura

Route 19 Castillo Salvatierra

Route 20 Aventador

Canyons

Route 21 Barranco del Pas de Tancat

Route 22 Barranco del Infierno

Route 23 Barranco dels Llidoners and de Racons

Route 24 Barranco del Pas de Calvo

Route 25 Barranco del Parent

Route 26 Barranco de l’Estret de Cardos

Route 27 Barranco de Mascarat

Route 28 Barranco del Curt o Pas de Bandolers

Sport climbing

Route 29 Alcalalí

Route 30 Los Cerezos

Route 31 Sierra de Toix

Route 32 Candelabra del Sol

Route 33 Morro Falquí

Route 34 Ambolo

Route 35 L’Atzúbia (Adsubia)

Route 36 Sector Cuevas, Cabezón de Oro

Trad climbing

Route 37 Aristotles and Pepsi Crest, Puig Campana

Route 38 Espolón Central, Puig Campana

Route 39 The Edwards Finish, Puig Campana

Route 40 Via Gene, Cabezón de Oro

Route 41 Arista Agullo, Cabezón de Oro

Route 42 Via Esther and Scorpion, Vall de Gulabdar

Route 43 Via Pany, El Peñón de Ifach

Hiking

Route 44 Mallada del Llop and El Regall

Route 45 Cova del Dalt and Es Crestall

Route 46 Xanchet circuit

Route 47 Bernia circuit and fort

Trail running

Route 48 Castell d’Axia

Route 49 Aixorta and Les Arcs

Route 50 Corral de la Llacuna

Route 51 Les Arcs and Raco Roig

Route 52 Castell de Granadella

Route 53 Sierra de Olta

Route 54 Puig Campana

Route 55 Penya Gros and Forada

Route 56 Barranco del Infierno circuit

Road cycling

Route 57 Col de Rates, Tarbena and Castell de Castells

Route 58 Vall de Gallinera and Vall d’Ebo

Route 59 Bernia circuit

Route 60 Serrella and Aitana circuit

Appendix A Activity summary table

Appendix B Useful contacts

Appendix C Castilian – Valencian – English glossary

Appendix D Further reading

Appendix E Climbing grades comparison table

Seasons

The Costa Blanca season is long, with the optimum time for a visit being between October and early May. The Gota Fria (a cold, unsettled spell) sometimes visits during autumn and can linger for a week or two.

Centres

Easy access from Alicante. The Jalon/Xalo valley makes a great base. If you prefer to be on the coast, the Calpe/Altea area works well, though there are plenty of other options, including La Nucia, Denia and Benidorm.

Difficulty

From easy walking routes right through to 500m trad-climbing routes and technical canyon descents. All routes are graded, with plenty of mid-grade options. Your chosen activity may require particular skills and equipment, details of which are provided in the guide.

Must See

The alpinesque Castellets ridge and iconic Puig Campana - a mountaineer's delight; near-subterranean adventure in the Barranco del Infierno; cycling the famous Col de Rates

March 2024

Updates March 24

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