Looking for hikes in Alicante to spice up your vacation? There are some epic hiking routes in Alicante’s surroundings that you shouldn’t miss.
I’ve lived in the area for quite a while now, and unless you’re new to this blog, you know I’m obsessed with hiking, so of course, I’ve scouted for the best hikes in Alicante and tested them all out.
Read on to explore some of my absolute favorite hikes near Alicante.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
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Best hikes in Alicante
Pantano de Elche
HIKING SPECS:
Where: Elche
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Length: 9.7 km
Difficulty: Easy
Type of hike: Circular
Best time to hike: mid-September to mid-June
The circular route around Pantano de Elche is by far one of the hikes in Alicante that surprised me the most.
Usually, I’m not much of an “around the lake” kinda hiker, I prefer reaching a summit – both for the effort and the well-deserved views.
But this hike is full of incredible scenery and the vegetation changes from taking you through a palm grove, past mesmerizing waterfalls, up and down cliffs giving you views from different angles, mountain views, picturesque lake-side walkways, and several aqueducts coloring the raw nature with the reminder of human history.
While it’s an easy hike, there are some step ups and downs. However, they’re not very long. Most people choose to walk to the big waterfall at the water plant and turn around, but I highly recommend the entire hike as there’s so much beauty you’ll miss out on otherwise.
Pantano de Relleu & Pasarelas de Relleu
HIKING SPECS:
Where: Relleu
Hiking time: 2.5-3.5 hours
Length: 9.5 km
Difficulty: Moderate (not a good match with vertigo!)
Type of hike: Loop
Best time to hike: mid-September-mid-June
Entry fee: 3.50 Euros
Opening hours of the walkway: Monday to Sunday 10:00-17:30 (last entry 17:00)
Hiking the Pantano de Relleu and the Pasarelas de Relleu is not for the faint-hearted, but if you can handle the heights, it’s truly one for the bucket list!
It’s possible to just do the walkways, but if you have the time, I highly recommend doing the entire loop hike from the village of Relleu as the scenery is spectacular.
That said, the highlight is by far the wooden walkways. When we went, in November 2024, they were still building on it, so it was a there-and-back walk on the walkways through the gorge, but according to the staff, the plan is to make it circular back to the ticket booth.
You can pay in cash or by card at the ticket booth, but throughout the winter months, especially weekends and public holidays, you must book in advance.
Peñon de Ifach
HIKING SPECS:
Where: Calpe
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Length: 5 km
Difficulty: Moderate-Demanding (depending on your fitness level)
Alititude: 332 meters
Type of hike: Linear return
Best time to hike: mid-September to mid-June
Permit & Entry fee: Permit is needed – no cost
If you’re looking for the hike in Alicante with the most impressive views, this might just be the one. Hiking Peñon de Ifach in Calpe is not a walk in the park, but if you’re somewhat used to hiking, it’s a moderate hike.
Starting from the Peñon de Ifach Visitor Center, the trail is followed by beautiful coastal views until you reach a small tunnel taking you through the mountain.
After the tunnel is where the fun begins with more rocky terrain and chains to hold on to on the narrowest parts.
Closer to the top, there’s some light scrambling, but nothing difficult. If you suffer from severe vertigo, this might be a hard one for you. Then I suggest you turn around after the tunnel.
Once you reach the top, you’ll be met by unparalleled panoramic views of Calpe’s two coastal sides, the lake in the middle, and the majestic mountains flanking the town.
Make sure you read my hikin gguide and how to get a permit for this hike here.
Castellar Collorat
HIKING SPECS:
Where: Crevillente
Hiking time: 2.5-3 hours
Length: 10 km
Difficulty: Moderate to Easy
Type of hike: Circular
Best time to hike: mid-September to mid-June
Hiking Castellar Collorat in Crevillente is a wonderful blend of history and nature. I had no idea what to expect when I ventured out on this route the first time, and as an ancient history lover, I was positively surprised when I just a short walk into the hike came across the remains of a late Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement.
There are information boards in Spanish and in Valencian by the different remains and one of the houses has been rebuilt which is pretty cool.
Going forward from there, the landscape opens up to even more spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
I did have a bit of problems finding the peak of Castellar Collorat the first time I went because I followed a route on Wikiloc where the guy recording it obviously had gotten a bit lost in the bushes, but I figured out on the way down, it’s just to follow the trail straight up.
This is a lovely little hike near Alicante to take if you want to combine history and nature which I recommend warmly.
Reflections on hiking in Alicante
Summing up, hiking in Alicante is fantastic. Whether you’re looking for a thrilling experience, the highest peaks, or coastal views.
After spending a whole winter in Alicante, I’ve had the pleasure of spending plenty of time on the trails, and love the area! It’s so diverse and it’s great to see there’s so much more to the region than the coastal resort towns.
Happy hiking!