Serra Gelada Natural Park

Serra Gelada Natural Park protects the last mountain ridge on this stretch of coast that drops straight into the sea, with cliffs over 300 metres high. In total it covers close to 5,650 hectares, most of it —around 4,900 hectares— marine; the rest is split between the municipalities of Benidorm, l'Alfàs del Pi and Altea, whose bay lies within the park's marine reserve.

A ridge between two bays

The name Serra Gelada («frozen ridge») refers both to the mountain's orientation, which creates a cooler microclimate than the coast below, and to an optical effect in the limestone, which takes on a distinctive glow on moonlit nights. The main route, known as the Travesía, follows the ridge crest for about 8.5 kilometres between the l'Albir information point and the Creu de Benidorm, with considerable accumulated elevation gain and no water sources along the way, so it calls for a reasonable level of fitness and plenty of water. The path passes fossil dunes that rank among the highest in Europe.

At the park's northern tip stands the Far de l'Albir, a lighthouse opened in 1863 next to the ruins of a 16th-century watchtower, now converted into a visitor centre. It's reached by a paved, accessible path of about 2.5 kilometres, far easier than the full ridge crossing and suitable for the whole family, with open views over the bays of Altea and Benidorm.

On the Altea side, the park connects to coves such as Mascarat and to Playa La Roda, while inland it links up with mountain routes such as the Forat de Bernia. The village of Altea is one of the usual starting points for exploring the protected area.