A short distance from the hustle and bustle of Benidorm and Alicante, lie the Sierra de la Serrella range of mountains. Unexplored, unspoilt and incredibly quiet, the hiking here is phenomenal. With limsestone ridges, towering gorges, traditional villages, authentic culture and bucket fulls of history, there is more than enough to see and do here. I’ve included information about a week long hiking holiday to the Costa Blanca mountains including how to get around and links to accommodation and hiking routes. With all the hiking routes, I have also included downloadable links so you can have the route on your phone.

Where are the Costa Blanca mountains?

On the eastern coast of Spain, not far from Alicante and Benidorm is where you’ll find this fantastic mountain range.

Hiking in the Costa Blanca mountains

The great thing about hiking here is that villages aren’t too far away from each other even though they are separated by mountains and valleys. You could easily complete the trek carrying all your gear from one place to the next, hire a car and do some of the hikes seperately or book a walking holiday like the one with Inntravel who make all the arrangements for you.

What to do in Tàrbena

A great place to start is Tàrbena, a small village that looks straight down to the coast which takes roughly an hour to get to by car. The roads are quiet with mainly cyclists using them as you get higher into the mountains.

E-bike tour in Tàrbena

To kick start your adventure in Tàrbena, head out on an e-bike tour with Tàrbena Bikes. This is run by Juan, a passionate local who also runs Hotel Tarbena He offers multiple e-bike tours around Tàrbena for all levels of ability as well as e-bike hire to do it yourself. I highly recommend one of his tours; it was one of the funnest activities I’ve done and have 0 mountain bike skills but still managed it all!

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Read more about an e-mountain bike tour here.

The ruins of Tarbena Castle

Although a small village, Tàrbena 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 Tàrbena.

Find out more about this walk and download the route here.

Hike to the north of Tàrbena

If you’ve explored Tàrbena and the castle ruins nearby, then you’ll already have a good feel for the traditional village. This 14.5km circular route will provide a lasting impression as you meander through varied mountain landscapes, across limestone ridges, fertile valleys, natural springs and to spectacular viewpoints.

Find out more about this walk and download the route here.

Linear route from Tàrbena to Castell de Castells

There are some excellent linear hikes in the Costa Blanca mountains and they link up villages that aren’t too far away by road. When you reach your end point, you can get a taxi back to the start or, if you’re looking for a bigger adventure, pack light and carry your rucksack with you to the next stop. This 20km linear route goes from Tàrbena to Castell de Castells and will take you through magnificent gorges, over open pasture land and alongside some fascinating natural features. It’s then worth spending a few days in this village to explore more of the nearby hikes.

Find out more about this walk and download the route here.

Els Arcs hike

The mountains of Costa Blanca are home to some incredible hikes and scenery but one of the best, in my opinion, is the hike to Els Arcs. The two imposing limestone arches will make you question whether you’re actually in Spain at all. The walk to Els Arcs is straightforward and there’s ample parking off the quiet roads. This is a popular walk so I recommend going for first light or at sunset to really enjoy the beauty and tranquility of this area. You can get here either on the linear route from Tarbena to Castell de Castells or as a separate hike starting from the roadside and walking to the arches.

Find out more about this walk and download the route here.

The Gorge of Bad Faith

The Barranco de Malafi, also known as the Gorge of Bad Faith, is a fascinating place full of history. This16km is a linear route winds through the dry gorge riverbed before visiting a site of caves and prehistoric cave paintings then heading through the hills back to Castell de Castells. 

The gorge was used in 1609 during the expulsions of the Moorish people. It was used as a holding pen before they were marched to the coastal port of Deinia for expulsion. The gorge is eerily quiet and overhead you’re likely to see eagels, making this a wonderfully peaceful walk.

Find out more about this walk and download the route here.

The watchtower of Castell de Castells

Castell de Castells is a muncipality of Spain, rich in Moorish history and perched high on the nearby hilltop, is a ruined Moorish watchtower with panoramic views of the surrounding area. This 12.7km route winds through the hills to reach the watchtower and continues along a stunning, panoramic ridge before returning to Castell de Castells.

Find out more about this walk and download the route here.

Linear hike from Castell de Castells to Benimaurell

This 16km linear route goes from Castell de Castells to Benimaurell. The route climbs steadily a couple of times around valley heads, past a dry mountain lake, through forestry and crosses the Peñón ridgeline before descending into Benimaurell.

Benimaurell is a small but beautiful village in the province of Alicante with a population of less than 300. Located in the Vall de Laguar, in the Marina Alta region, it sits beneath the Peñón ridgeline and looks straight down to the Mediterranean Sea. This village was the last stronghold of the Moors until thir expulsion and the town was repopulated in 1611 by people from Mallorca. Despite its small size, Benimaurell has a lot to offer visitors; excellent hiking, authentic food and historical landmarks. It’s worth spending a couple of days here to explore.

Find out more about this walk and download the route here.

Barranc de l’Infern

This 13km starting in Benimaurell, is an incredible hike known as the “Cathedral of Hiking”. This circular route explores the Barranc de l’Infern, also known as “Hell’s Ravine”, a stunning, deep gorge that has been sculpted over thousands of years. This route is more popular and therefore well signposted as the PR-CV 147 trail. With over 6000 stone steps to climb up, this hike isn’t fo the faint hearted. But if you do attempt it, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views, caves and incredible waterfalls after episodes of torrential rain.

Find out more about this walk and download the route here.

How to hike in the Costa Blanca mountains

This area of Spain is quite a vast area and I explored it on a walking holiday with Inntravel before heading back for a second time with my mum to explore the area a bit more.

If you don’t feel confident to book and arrange the trip and the hikes yourself, then I definitely recommend taking a look at the trip I did with Inntravel. They arrange all your transfers, accommodation and luggage transfers and provide detailed walking notes for each hike so you can’t go wrong.

If you feel more confident, then these hikes are easily accessed either by hiring a car, using local taxi transfers or doing it as a thru hike would be possible too. If you like the idea of doing a thru hike, I have put the route onto the Ordnance Survey app which you can download here.

Accommodation in the Costa Blanca mountains

Tàrbena

In Tàrbena, I recommend staying with Juan at Hotel Tàrbena. The hotel has comfortable rooms in a central location and the room on the top floor has a gorgeous balcony overlooking the church tower. Juan home cooks breakfast and dinner using many of the ingredients he grows in his own garden. If you stay here you can also book onto his e-bike tour.

Take a look at Hotel Tàrbena here.

Castell de Castells

In Castell de Castells, stay at Casa Pilar – a family run guesthouse in a central location. Meals are eaten in the converted stable and are cooked by the owner Pilar. One evening she cooked a fabulous 8 course tapas menu! The guesthouse is beautifully decorated, cosy, with wonderful shared areas and an excellent balcony area.

Check out Casa Pilar here.

Benimaurell

Hotel Alahuar in Benimaurell is an excellent hotel with views over the whole valley. With an outdoor swimming pool, excellent restuarant, a bar and easy access to local activities and hikes, this is a great place to spend a night or two at the end of your holiday.

Tips for hiking in the Costa Blanca mountains

*Water on these hikes is a rarity and natural springs often run dry and no facilities on many of the hikes. Be sure to take enough water with you each day

*Not all the hikes are signposted especially the linear hikes and the hikes around Tàrbena. Be sure to download the routes to your phone using the links above or buy a local map. The Costa Blanca Mountains 1:40,000 has the routes on but not in great detail so this is good for inital planning

*The best time of year to visit is September through to May and the summer sun during peak summer months can be extreme and difficult to hike in

*Taxis are available locally but will need to be booked in advance – ask at your hotel for assistance with this

If you have any questions, leave a comment and I’ll try my best to help but otherwise, have a fabulous time in the mountains of Costa Blanca!

This 13km starting in Benimaurell, is an incredible hike known as the “Cathedral of Hiking”. This circular route explores the Barranc de l’Infern, also known as “Hell’s Ravine”, a stunning, deep gorge that has been sculpted over thousands of years. This route is more popular and therefore well signposted as the PR-CV 147 trail. With over 6000 stone steps to climb up, this hike isn’t fo the faint hearted. But if you do attempt it, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views, caves and incredible waterfalls after episodes of torrential rain.

Download the route on OS Maps.

Download the route on Komoot.

Where is the Barranc de l’Infern?

The Barranc de l’Infern is in the picturesque Vall de Laguar of Marina within the province of Alicante. Located between the villages of Fleix and Benimaurell, this deep, narrow ravine was carved over millennia by the Girona River.

Hikers will descend to cross the dried Girona River bed twice via the dramatic Forat de la Juvea, a tunnel hewn into the rock, and tackle steep zigzagging climbs that rise 800 meters. Along the trail, you’ll pass ancient dry‑stone terraces and paths, now recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage . The jaw‑dropping scenery, high-altitude view, and thousands of steps make Barranc de l’Infern a hiking highlight.

Barranc de l’Infern hiking route from Benimaurell

The route starts by heading out of Benimaurell onto the PR-CV 147 waymarked hiking trail. Soon, you start heading downhill on an old stone path into the Barranc de l’Infern. These are ancient Moorish stone steps – some of the thousands you’ll be stepping foot on!

At the bottom of the gorge, you’ll cross the river bed. This is usually dry but after extended periods of torrential rain you might find that you actually have a river crossing to navigate! The path zig zags uphill along the side of the rocky gorge and through scrub bushes/vegetation.

A great place to stop for lunch is at Juvees d’Enmig, an abandoned Moorish settlement surrounded by farming landscapes marked with terraces. The trail continues to loop back down into the gorge once again before ascending steeply with fantastic panoramic views.

There is then one more rolling section to navigate before a gentle descent across the ridge, back towards Benimarurell.

Downloadable map route Barranc de l’Infern

This is a circular route through a deep gorge with rocky paths, stone steps and steep ascents and descents. The route is signposted the whole way but I recommend downloading the route onto your phone or buying a local map with the route marked on it too.

Please note that there are no facilities on this route including no natural water springs so take enough food and drink with you to last all day.

I’ve also uploaded the route onto both the Ordnance Survey App (which still tracks your GPS location on the map abroad) and Komoot so you can download the route to your phone.

Download the route from the OS App here and see the route on Komoot here. It will take around 6-7 hours to walk (not including rest stops) with around 950m of elevation.

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

This 16km linear route goes from Castell de Castells to Benimaurell. The route climbs steadily a couple of times around valley heads, past a dry mountain lake, through forestry and crosses the Peñón ridgeline before descending into Benimaurell.

Download the route on OS Maps.

Download the route on Komoot.

Where is Benimaurell?

Benimaurell is a small but beautiful village in the province of Alicante with a population of less than 300. Located in the Vall de Laguar, in the Marina Alta region, it sits beneath the Peñón ridgeline and looks straight down to the Mediterranean Sea. This village was the last stronghold of the Moors until thir expulsion and the town was repopulated in 1611 by people from Mallorca. Despite its small size, Benimaurell has a lot to offer visitors; excellent hiking, authentic food and historical landmarks. It’s worth spending a couple of days here to explore.

Castell de Castells to Benimaurell linear route

The route starts by heading out of Castell de Castells and climbs steadily for around 2km until you reach the now dry mountain lake of La Llacuna. Until the 1960s it ws filled with water but apparently it was drained to make way for farming. All that remains now is a bowl shaped depression in the ground, surrounded by the hills and overgrown with shrubbery.

The walk cotinues along good forestry tracks until the head of the valley is reached with sweeping views. When I hiked this route it was remarkably quiet, as is normal with the hiking here. It’s so undiscovered.

The path then descends into the valley which is a great place to stop before the final big climb. The terrain is rocky paths leading up to a beautiful vantage point to cross the Peñón Ridge.

From here there are superb views along the Vall de Laguar and beyond. With views of the sea and the village of Benimaurell below, the walk ends with a traverse of the hillside and a final descent into the village itself.

Downloadable map route Castell de Castells to Benimaurell

This is a linear route through varied terrain with steep ascents and descents. The route isn’t signposted the whole way so I recommend downloading the route onto your phone first or buying a local map with the route marked on it.

Please note that there are no facilities on this route including no natural water springs so take enough food and drink with you to last all day. There is also very little shade and you will be out in the open for the majority of the walk.

I’ve also uploaded the route onto both the Ordnance Survey App (which still tracks your GPS location on the map abroad) and Komoot so you can download the route to your phone.

Download the route from the OS App here and see the route on Komoot here. It will take around 6-7 hours to walk (not including rest stops) with around 950m of elevation.

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

There are some excellent linear hikes in the Costa Blanca mountains and they link up villages that aren’t too far away by road so when you reach your end point, you can get a taxi back to the start or, if you’re looking for a bigger adventure, pack light and carry your rucksack with you to the next stop. This 20km linear route goes from Tarbena to Castell de Castells and will take you through magnificent gorges, over open pasture land and alongside some fascinating natural features.

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.

Tarbena to Castell de Castells linear route

The route starts by heading north out of the village, before joining a well maintained track that quickly gains height. The route will swing left onto the Camino Rural routeand descends into the gorge below Tarbena.

This is a fabulous view point to see the Serra de Bernia, another popular hiking spot with a tunnel through the mountain to reach a fabulous view point.

Once out of the gorge, you rise out of the gorge through dramatic and changing landscapes to meet Els Arcs, the two natural limestone arches.

Finally, the route continues around the side of the valley and to Castell de Castells via a tracks before joining the main road in the town.

Downloadable map route Tarbena to Castell de Castells

This is a linear route through varied terrain. The route isn’t signposted so I recommend downloading the route onto your phone first or buying a local map with the route marked on it.

Please note that there are no facilities on this route including no natural water springs so take enough food and drink with you to last all day. There is also very little shade and you will be out in the open for the majority of the walk.

I’ve also uploaded the route onto Komoot so you can download the route map to your phone. See the route on Komoot here. It will take around 6-7 hours to walk (not including rest stops) with around 755m 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.

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

If you’ve explored Tarbena and the castle ruins nearby, then you’ll already have a good feel for the traditional village. This 14.5km circular route will provide a lasting impression as you meander through varied mountain landscapes, fertile valleys, natural springs and to spectacular viewpoints.

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.

Circular walking route north of Tarbena

The route starts by heading north out of the village, before joining a well maintained track that quickly gains height, with a beautiful gorge to the left.

There is a short detour, on an out and back path, you can take here to reach a viewpoint of the gorge. It’s well worth the extra time as the views are sensational as well as it being the site of a prehistoric settlement.

Once back on the main path, the route winds through a small forest section before reaching the main road. Across the road is a stunning view point looking back down towards Tarbena and the surrounding mountains.

After leaving the viewpoint, head up the winding path away from the road and enjoy the changing scenery from rugged mountain sides to lush green, fertile farming land. You’ll wind your way down into the valley below the north of Tarbena before one final climb back up to the village.

Hiking in the Costa Blanca mountains – downloadable map route for the north of Tarbena

This is a circular route through varied terrain. The route isn’t signposted so I recommend downloading the route onto your phone first or buying a local map with the route marked on it.

Please note that the only facilities on this route are a couple of freshwater springs to refill your bottle. There are no shops or cafes so take enough food to last you all day.

I’ve also uploaded the route onto Komoot so you can download the route map to your phone. See the route on Komoot here. It will take around 5 hours to walk (not including rest stops) with around 740m 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!

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!