On one side is the Mediterranean Sea and its meadows of Posidonia, while on the other you can admire the pines and carob trees that grow clinging to the mountain. The winding path that reaches the L’Albir lighthouse is located in the heart of the Serra Gelada Natural Park (Alicante), between Benidorm, Altea and L’Alfàs del Pi.
The route, which is 2.5 km one way (5 km in total), is ideal for introducing the little ones to hiking. It starts in a car park next to an information kiosk. The good condition of the asphalt and the accessibility of the route also allow wheelchairs to move around without problems. At one point, the trail climbs gently through the foothills of the Serra Gelada.
Right at the beginning of the tour, there is a recreational area with a picnic area, where you can have a snack. It is advisable to bring water for this route since there are only fountains in this rest area. In addition, throughout the route, there are numerous information panels, with details about each of the places crossed and that deserve attention.
During these 5 km you can enjoy the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, see the entire coastline of L’Albir – the most populated small town in L’Alfàs del Pi -, observe the Peñón de Ifach in Calpe in the distance, visit various coves such as the cove of Metge, admire the viewpoints offered by several viewpoints and visit an old ochre mine.
On the way to the lighthouse we find groves of mastic trees and other Mediterranean shrubs, including spartals, thymes or lavenders and species typical of the province of Alicante, such as the Rabo de Gato or the Silene de Ifach, which are in danger of extinction. . Also aromatic plants, kermes oaks or various rhamnus.
Barbary Pirates and Lantern for Sailors
The route takes us to the end of Punta Bombarda, site of an ancient watchtower built in the 16th century as part of the defensive system designed by Philip II to protect the coast from Berber pirates. Next to its ruins, the lighthouse was built in 1863, becoming a lantern for sailors in this part of the Mediterranean.
At that time, the lighthouse was powered by oil transported by donkey over steep roads. The lighthouse keeper lived in the lighthouse itself and when he entered the pine forests, he would light up with an oil lantern. Decades later, tourism would arrive and the L’Albir lighthouse would become more accessible thanks to the asphalt road built in 1963.
Currently, it is the only lighthouse that can be visited in the Valencian Community and it houses an interpretation centre, powered by solar energy, which houses a museum with photographs and old recovered instruments that tell stories of fishermen, lighthouse keepers, farmers and soldiers.
A spectacular balcony extends around it, which, during the summer months, sometimes becomes the stage for classical music concerts. If we are lucky, from there we will be able to see a family of bottlenose dolphins that are usually found in the bay as they often approach the fish farm to feed on fish and molluscs. It is one of the few populations of bottlenose dolphins on the Iberian Peninsula.
The most magical time to walk the route, when you can take the best photos of what is known as the “blue hour”, is sunset, with a softer light and greater silence.
Route 181
The L’Albir lighthouse is one of the 181 that are part of the so-called 181 route that connects the Higuer and Punta S’arnella lighthouses and crosses the Pyrenees passing through several countries: Spain, Portugal, Andorra, France and also Gibraltar.
This is a large circular route that covers 5,700 km of coastline. Route 181 crosses six biosphere reserves and a large number of protected natural parks. This route seeks to take advantage of the lighthouses as references for a great journey through the Iberian Peninsula that will allow you to get to know them, their surroundings and their history.
Serra Gelada
The Serra Gelada Natural Park and its coastal environment is the first maritime-terrestrial park in the Valencian Community. Its protected area covers 5,564 hectares, 88% of which correspond to the marine environment. In its waters is found one of the most important species in the Mediterranean and vital for marine fauna: the oceanic posidonia, visible from the path.
Although the route can be done with any type of footwear, it is recommended to wear sneakers, and even ankle boots, to be able to walk the dirt roads to the three coves that appear in this coastal part of the Serra Gelada: the Amerador cove, whose name is due to the fact that it was the place where freshly cut esparto grass was soaked to later create baskets or nacelles; Metge cove, so called because it is close to the house of the metge (doctor); and Mina Cove, where the remains of an old red ochre mine are still preserved.
The Virgen del Carmen Mine is a bastion of ochre mining that was active until the beginning of the 20th century. An alternative route in which you can discover the old house of the foreman and the rails of the wagons that transported the minerals to the shores of the Mediterranean to be loaded onto ships. You can also see the Boca de la Ballena cave, whose name corresponds to the shape of the chasm that recalls the mouth of this mammal.
Another interesting route of the Serra Gelada is the one that ends in Punta del Cavall and begins in the Levante area of Benidorm. Behind is the horizon from the city to the skyscrapers and the road leads to the Tio Ximo cove and the Punta del Cavall watchtower, built in the 17th century.
