De Marnes
6 km and 350 m of ascent, roughly two hours there and back
Hiking
You can set off walking straight from Finca Llíber. It is easy to walk along the back roads to Llíber or Jalón, or along the coast. You can take the paths to Jalón, Senija or Parcent.
More experienced walkers may want to head into the mountains for a five-hour circuit and, with a bit of luck, spot the Barbary sheep or the griffon vultures.
You can sign up for the Hike week, a fully catered midweek stay with three hikes. You do not have to think about anything, just empty your head. And around the walks there is plenty of good food to enjoy.
Would you rather walk on your own? We will put a programme together for you and can guide you on various walks. Send us an email with your wishes.
From the finca
De Marnes and beyond
A favourite route is De Marnes: some 2.5 kilometres with about 200 metres of ascent, walkable in two hours. You follow a dry river bed uphill, past vineyards and almond trees, to an enclosed valley. If you want more, you can stretch the loop into a four-hour outing.
Closer by you walk along back roads to Llíber and Jalón for a coffee, or along waymarked paths to Senija and Parcent. The little paths are marked with stacked stones, blue dots and red paint.
Further afield lie classics such as the Sierra de Bernia and the Coll de Rates, half an hour's drive away. Sturdy walking shoes and water are never a luxury, at any time of year.
Through the hole or along the ridge of the Bérnia
This mountain range, which runs out into the Mediterranean and so separates Calpe from Altea, is a challenge for everyone. There are 'tourist' walks of 2 hours or 5 hours.
Crawl through a natural tunnel in the mountain. This tunnel links the Vall de Pop with the valley of Altea and Benidorm. The walk through the tunnel is in every tourist booklet, and with good reason. From 700 m up you walk, hike and climb to the entrance of the tunnel. Look back once more from here at the green valley where our finca lies. You will have to crouch or crawl through this 20-metre tunnel to be amazed by what waits on the other side.
Or conquer the peaks of the Bérnia (up to 1,100 metres), helped by chains and ropes hanging ready for those who want them.
Experience it for yourself.
On your return you can wind down at one of the restaurants with a beautiful view over the sea or of the mountain you have just climbed.
Sign up for the Hike week, or see what the water has to offer you
The Hike week has been a recurring success for many years now. But you can also combine your own walking holiday very well with water sports.
In brief
An hour to a day
Short strolls or demanding mountain routes, you choose
From the door
Several routes start at our house, no car needed
Through the valley
Vineyards, almond blossom and olive and citrus trees
Walk along the sea, across the beach or over the mountain
across the whole of spain
GR330
The GR330 is a waymarked long-distance route that leads through the mountains and villages around the valley. You walk it in stages, with our finca as your base.
A route in stages
GR routes (Gran Recorrido) are the long-distance paths of Spain, recognisable by their red and white markings. The GR330 winds through the Marina Alta and touches the valley where we live.
You cannot walk the whole route in one go. From the finca you pick up individual stages: a morning through the vineyards, a day in the mountains, or a section that links up with local paths such as De Marnes. And to continue, you will have to stay somewhere a little further along next time.
There is a good chance that walking in this valley will suit you so well that you leave the GR330 aside and carry on along the more than 2,000 km of other paths.
along the cliffs
From Alfàs to Benidorm
You leave your car in the park's car park. The walk demands energy right away, because you climb the mountain up to the height of the lighthouse. The hike is fairly well marked and runs along the ridges. A kind of seven-hills run, but with 6 peaks and as many valleys, 600 metres of elevation change. That makes this outing strenuous, while the 9 kilometres are less daunting than they sound.
Count on at least 4 hours of walking and an arrival in Benidorm. You could call that a party too, and the contrast is striking when you have just come out of the countryside. For the last few kilometres you can hear the music of the water park and now and then the siren of an ambulance or a police car.
Have a cool drink at one of the many bars and take the bus back to Alfàs del Pi.
See here the walk as I did it earlier on Outdooractive.com.
