Although a small village, Tarbena has a rich history and this short, 6km walk leads you to a fabulous vantage point. With views from the castle ruins down to the village and the glistening sea beyond, this is a great walk to stretch your legs on arrival into Tarbena.

Download the route on OS Maps.

Download the route on Komoot.

Where is Tarbena?

Within the province of Alicante, and less than 1 hr from the coast, lies Tarbena. It’s a small town with a population of 700 but is a place with an authentic Spanish feel. Its winding streets, rich history and friendly locals make this a great place for a short stopver as you start your adventure in the mountains of Costa Blanca.

What is the history of the ruins of Tarbena Castle?

The castle is the remains of a Moorish castle dating back to the 11th century. Known locally as “Sa Caseta des Moros”, this is also the site of an old provincial border customs house for travellers between Alicante and Valencia. It’s a great short walk, with a bench to relax on overlooking the village and is also a fabulous place to watch the sun go down.

Walking route for the castle ruins of Tarbena.

This is a simple route to follow and starts in the village of Tarbena. Out the back of Restaurante Ca’s Pelut, is a small stony track you need to follow. There is only one track and it winds all the way up to the high point where the castle ruins are located.

As you gain height, the views of Tarbena get better and better and from the castle ruins, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree sweeping views of the sea and surrounding mountains.

Hiking in Costa Blanca – downloadable map route for the castle ruins of Tarbena

This is a linear route so you’ll walk the same path there and back. The walk is reasy, over some rough paths and you can see the ruins from the town itself with one path there and back.

However, if you’re unsure I’ve also uploaded the route onto Komoot so you can download the route map to your phone. See the route on Komoot here. This is a linear route, starting and finishing in Tarbena. It will take around 1 hour to walk each way with around 170m of elevation.

You can also view the route and download it on the OS Map App too and the GPS feature will allow you to track your progress and see where you are on the map. Download the OS route here.

Don’t forget to check out my other blog posts on all things adventure in the Costa Blanca mountains here!