2. Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada
serragelada@gva.es
Oficina Técnica
Paseo de la carretera, 34 (Antiguo Ayuntamiento)
03501 Benidorm (Alicante)
Tel. 966 80 75 35 - 966 80 78 79
Centro de Información
C/ Oscar Esplá, 1
03580 Albir - Alfàs del Pi (Alicante)
Assistance from: Tel. 96 686 71 85
http://parquesnaturales.gva.es
Layout: Benjamín Albiach Galán - Kun.Xusa Beltrán
Photography: José y Tomás Santamaría - Benjamín Albiach Galán
Equipo de Educación Ambiental del Parque - Joan Segovia
Map Design: Pau Pérez Puigcerver
Printing this material has been possible thanks to the Cooperation Agreement source: ICV (Cartographic Institute of Valencia)
signed on 21st April 2006 by the Caja de Ahorros y Pensiones de Barcelona, "la Caixa"
and the Generalitat Valenciana (Autonomous Community Authority) for Undertaking Texts: Environmental educacion team
the Integral Management Plan for Conservation of the Natural Systems of the Printed: Centro Especial de Empleo, IVADIS
Valencian Community’s Network of Nature Reserves. Legal Deposit:
3. Date of Nature Reserve declaration:
2005
Date of PORN approval:
(Plan for Administration of Natural Resources)
11th March 2005
Municipalities inside the Reserve:
Benidorm, l’Alfàs del Pi and Altea
The Serra Gelada and coastal environment
nature reserve is one of the most exceptional
reserves in the Valencian Community, through
being the first land-sea nature reserve in this
region. It has a total protected surface area of
5,564 ha. (4,920 ha. of this is in the marine
medium) and its waters contain some of the
most interesting and surprising underwater
areas in the whole Spanish Mediterranean, spe-
cial mention being deserved by the widespread
meadows of the protected sea phanerogam
known locally as Alguers (Posidonia oceanica)
and rocky seabeds such as those of La Llosa,
with particular biological diversity.
4. History
As is vouched for by the remains (hooks and
plumb lines) found in the Tossal de La Cala site in
Benidorm, the Iberian peoples who lived here
already had significant fishing activity in the waters
of the present nature reserve. This went on until
the present time, when different kinds of tackles
are used, mainly flue-type, going through ages
when almadraba Arab net systems were of great
importance for the coastal people, like those of La
Vila, Benidorm or Altea.
In the 17th century one can find the first written
references to the inhabitants of the zone, men-
tioned in a report sent by Vespasiano Gonzaga to
King Philip II, warning him that the Island of
Benidorm was the main refuge for corsairs in the
whole kingdom, and suggesting building a watch-
tower for this reason.
After the threat from pirates had gone, in 1834
the island acted as a haven for several families
from Benidorm and La Vila who took refuge here
from the epidemic of cholera morbus that was
ravaging the whole coast.
In the Serra Gelada mining activity, based on
extracting ochre, has been known of since the
times of the Phoenicians. This resource was
exploited until the mid-nineteenth century. The
outstanding view from these mountains also made
it an important vantage point for keeping lookout
for the presence of Berber pirates in the sea,
which is why the “Punta Bombarda” and
“l’Escaleta” watchtowers were built.
P N. de la Serra Gelada
Cave of Elephant
.
5. B. Albiach Galán
Geology and landscape
The land side is dominated by the spectacular which rise almost vertically from sea level, while
Serra Gelada mountain range, a small but rugged on the northeastern side it has much more gen-
range dividing the bays of Benidorm and Alfás- tle slopes.
Altea. As well as this land area of the park there
are several islands, two in the municipal area of Geomorphologically, the presence of a “hanging
Benidorm, l’Illa de Benidorm and l’Illa Mitjana, fossil dune” consisting of materials known as
while in the municipal area of Altea there is the eolianites is of special importance. This formation
island of l’Olla and La Galera islet. The elongated started to originate over one hundred thousand
shape of the nature reserve is due to the range years ago, when the sea level was lower than it is
facing northeast-southwest, with the Albir light- today. On the other hand, the limestone compo-
house in its centre and Benidorm island and sition of the range fostered the formation of dif-
Morro del Toix at each end of it. Its morphology ferent caves and cavities through the effect of
is very different depending on whether one is rainwater seeping through, some of these being
standing on the southeast slope, with huge cliffs the Cova de Far and the Boca la Balena.
topped by the Alt del Governador at 438 metres,
6. Vegetation and flora
The heterogeneity of the landscape has encour-
aged the formation of different plant communi-
ties, the most significant of these being the ones
found in the dune zone of Serra Gelada, through
containing endemic species such as the
“Palomilla” (Linaria arabiniana), the “Llunetes”
(Biscutella montana) or the Prickly Juniper
(Juniperus macrocarpa), or the Corema album, a
unique plant in the whole Mediterranean through
being a species with Atlantic distribution, which
probably reached this coast transported by birds.
The flora communities on the cliffs also include
some highly valuable plants, species which
B. Albiach Galán
J. Segovia
7. P N. de la Serra Gelada
P N. de la Serra Gelada
.
.
“Silene de Ifach” (Silene hifacensis) Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum)
botanists call “rupicola” or cave plants, one of amongst other species, by Kermes oaks (Quercus
these being the “Silene de Ifach” (Silene hifacen- coccifera), Lentisc (Pistacia lentiscus) and Blackthorn
sis), which is at present recovering in the reserve (Rhamnus lycioides).
area, the “Orelleta de Ratolí” (Sarcocapnos
saetabensis) or the “Canyeta d’or” (Asperula paui On the reserve’s islands there is a predominance
subp. dianensis). of Pauquy (Whithania frutescens), Shrubby seablite
(Suaeda vera) or the thorny shrub known as Lycium
In most parts of the Serra Gelada one can find intricatum. On the island of Benidorm, the prickly
thickets consisting mainly of Rosemary (Rosmarinus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), a species proceeding
officinalis), Many-flowered heather (Erica multiflo- from America introduced in the Mediterranean, is
ra), Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) and Esparto grass prevalent in certain zones.
(Stipa tenacissima) often accompanied by Aleppo
Pines (Pinus halepensis) and some specimens of One of the plants of greatest ecological value is the
Holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia), rather small in seagrass known as Posidonia oceanica, which forms
size. There are also remains of old crops, for large underwater meadows of vital importance for
example some scattered specimens of the Carob the breeding and growth of numerous marine fauna.
tree (Ceratonia siliqua) and Olive (Olea europaea).
These abandoned terraces have been colonised,
8. Fauna This nature area also covers one of the few popu-
lations of the bottlenose dolphin (Turciops trunca-
Through covering both a marine and a land medi- tus) in the Spanish peninsular waters. This is a fam-
um, the diversity of animals that can be seen in ily group that swims and feeds fairly often in the
the park is very great, covering all the major area, included in a larger area which probably cov-
groups of fauna, from small invertebrates, fish and ers the whole coastal strip of Alicante province.
large mammals. The plentiful variety of commer-
cial species in its waters has been well known As regards the land fauna, the group of sea birds
since times immemorial, which has made these is significant as they have major breeding zones on
highly appreciated fishing zones for the inhabi- the reserve. The Storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelag-
tants of coastal villages, especially the deeper icus melitensis), nesting on Mitjana and Benidorm
waters around the Island of Benidorm, where at islands, has one of the breeding colonies of great-
present the submerged promontory known as la est size in the western Mediterranean on the lat-
Llosa has great renown in the diving world. ter, with over 500 couples.
Fardatxo Storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis)
José y Tomás Santamaría
José y Tomás Santamaría
9. Forat de
lÀse
Rio d
e Gu
Polop adale
st Illot de la Galera
Rio
de
l’A Illot de la l’Olla
lga
La Nucia r
Altea
L’Alfàs del Pi
Platja del Racó
70
Minas de Ocre
CV-
Albir Lighthouse
-7
AP
Boca de la Balena
32
-3
Alt del
N
Governador
Benidorm
Illa Mitjana
La Cruz
Mediterranean Sea
Torre de la
Cala del Tí punta del Cavall
Ximo
Illa de Benidorm
E: 1/85.000
0 1.000 2.000 4.000 m
10. 1
Punta de
l’Esparralló
2
8
7
3 Barreta de
5
6
les Mines
4
12
11
9 10
. Route 1: The Albir lighthouse
Length: 5 km (there and back)
Duration: 1h 30 mm to 2 hours
Maximum ascent: 112 metres
Accessibility: Asphalted route. Hiking.
Bicycle tourism.
Wheelchairs.
Difficulty: Low
Starting from El Albir information point (Alfás del
Pi) (1), go up the street known as “Camí de la
Cantera”, which, as its name indicates, ends up in an
old quarry from which stone was dug; but do not go
as far as this and turn to the left down “Sirio” and
“Neptuno” streets, until you come to a car park
where one of the entrances to the Nature Reserve,
the Albir lighthouse path (2) is located. A few
metres further on there is a small picnic area (3).
P N. de la Serra Gelada
The Albir lighthouse
.
11. From this point the yellow route 2 leads off towards
the crest of the Serra Gelada (4).
“Caleta del Metge” and vantage point
Go along the asphalted track to a tunnel through
the mountains (7), but before you get there on
the right there is an earthen track (5) along which
you can go down to a small cove known as
“Caleta del Metge”, and a little after this there is a
circular vantage point which gives you a wonder-
ful view of the entire Altea bay, with the Penyal
d’Ifach (6) in the background, surrounded by the
spectacular mountains which envelop this corner
of the Marina Baixa
When you get to the mouth of the tunnel (7),
you will find another vantage point, smaller than
the previous one (8).
“La Mina” ochre mines and cove
Go on towards the lighthouse and after 300 metres
you will come to the path (9) which gently drops
towards the mines, originally Phoenician and later
exploited by the Romans, from which the ochre
used as a colorant was extracted until well into the
last century, when it fell into disuse through the
usage of new substances for this purpose.
The “Boca de la Balena”
At about 500 metres from the tunnel you will
reach a curve in the track (10). If you look up to
the right from here you will see a large natural
cavity known as “Boca de la Balena (The Whale’s
Mouth)” or “Cova de Bou” (Bull’s cave) in the
shady part of the mountain.
El Albir Lighthouse
At the end of the road you will come to El Albir
Lighthouse, (12) to which access is not allowed.
Just before you get there a small rise leads you
to the edge of the cliff, from which there is a
good view (11).
P N. de la Serra Gelada
The Serra Gelada, and the Illa Mitjana
.
12. L’Estufador
1
3
Punta de
la Pila
2
Morro de
San Jordi
Illot de la
Caleta
4
B. Albiach Galán
5
L’Illa Mitjana
illa Mitjana . Route 2: Crossing the Serra Gelada
6
7 Length: 8 km (only one way)
El Morret Negre
Duration: from 4h to 4h 30 min
8 Maximum ascent: 438 metres
Accessibility: Only suitable for hikers.
Difficulty: Moderate-high.
The lack of any freshwater springs on the way
means that plenty of water has to be taken with
you. The route covers steep upward and down-
9
ward slopes, which can be avoided by taking
Cantal Roig branches keeping more to the level.
11
The route starts from El Albir picnic area (1), on
10
route 1 (red), with a constant upward zigzag
which starts with stone stairs as far as the road for
access to the relay station and antennas (3),
Coves de Paltra going beside an old quarry (2).
N
13. 1
4
3
2
Cala Almadrava
Cala Ti Ximo
“Alt del Governador”
At the end of this track you will reach the highest
point on the Serra Gelada (438 m), where you
will find a telecommunications relay station. 5
Going on downwards along an asphalted track
you will link up with the path again (4). Almost at
the edge of the cliff you will find a geodesic ver-
tex (5), from which you can see the majesty of
these sheer precipices, seeing the yellow-legged
gulls wheeling hundreds of metres below your
feet, looking really tiny.
“L’Illa Mitjana”
The route across the range goes on with continu- . Route 3: “Punta del Cavall” or“Punta
ous ups and downs, going by the ruins of an old de la Escaleta “
coastal vigilance house (6) and a small cistern in
the river bed (7). Half way along you will find a Length: 5.2 km (there and back)
spot where there is a small pine spinney which is plus 700 m of the Cala del
a good place to take a short rest (8), while you Ti Ximo.
enjoy a beautiful view of “Illa Mitjana”. Duration: From 2h to 2h 30 min
Maximum ascent: 75 m
The cross Accessibility: Asphalted route. Hiking.
The last section of the mountain that the route Bicycle tourism.
covers goes over a last rise from which you can Wheelchairs.
again see the cliffs (9). From this point you must Difficulty: Low
pay attention so as not to miss the track that goes
between the low vegetation or bare rock. A few The route starts at the end of Levante beach (1), at
minutes later you come to a cross (10) located the slope which leads to hotel Benikaktus, in Alcalde
over the Raco de l’Oix, from which an asphalt- Manuel Catalán Chana street Along the asphalted road
ed path starts out (11) connecting up with itin- you should leave the crossroads that goes to the cross
erary 3 (blue). on the left (route 2, yellow) and go on as far as a turn-
14. ing (2) which drops to the Punta Llisera vantage can be visited. Fishing with rods and spending the
point and the Cala del Ti Ximo. night there are not allowed. Domestic animals
cannot be taken onto the islet.
“Cala del Tio Ximo” Illa Mitjana.
This is a peaceful Mediterranean cove, relatively Access is not allowed. Sailing around it must
separate from the busy beaches of the centre of always be at a speed of under 3 knots.
Benidorm. Beside the beach you can see the old
ochre mines (4), where, not so long ago, Ti Serra Gelada.
Ximo and his mules worked away. Hiking and bicycle-tourism is allowed along the
established itineraries.
Watchtower Illa de Benidorm.
Go back to the road and on the right-hand side Visits are allowed (though it is not allowed to take
you should take a road with restricted access to domestic animals on to the island) but fishing with
motor vehicles (3), from which you should head rods from the island and spending the night on it
towards the Punta del Cavall, where there is a are forbidden. Sailing around it must always be at
17th century watchtower (5). From this point a speed of under 3 knots.
you can see one of the best views of the cliffs of Marine area of Morro del Toix
Serra Gelada and very close to these Illa Mitjana. Sailing is allowed always at a speed under 3 knots.
Both this point and the Punta Bombarda, in El
Albir, are excellent viewpoints, which is why in
medieval times they built the watchtowers from Accesses
which the people could be warned of the pres-
ence of Berber pirates. Benidorm Information
Point and Benidorm Island
Public use
The best way to find this centre, located in the old
The reserve is governed by specific legislation town centre of Benidorm, very close to the port
(Planning System for the Natural Resources of the and nautical club, is to look for these. You can
Serra Gelada and its coastal environment -DOGV access the town centre from different roads whe-
16/03/2005) which includes the planning of the ther you come from the N-332 or from the AP-7
area covered by the park, distributed into zones motorway. The most convenient way is to come in
with different degrees of protection and their from the south along the Avenida de la Armada
uses and activities. The different zones can be Española by Poniente beach. Go right along this
seen on the enclosed map and some general and up Avenida Jaume I; when you come to the
norms are summed up below: first traffic light, turn right along Calle Marqués de
Comillas until you reach the Avenida de los Almen-
L’Olla and la Galera islets. dros, and there you are forced to turn right and go
Only a small part of the shoreline of Illot de l’ Olla down to the start of the Elche Park, where the
15. Avenida de la Carretera starts on the left-hand and
the reserve's information point is located.
On the way in to Elche Park, there is a small street
leading to the port and from there you can take
one of the passenger boats known as "golondrinas",
to get to the Illa de Benidorm.
El Albir Information
Point and El Albir Lighthouse
On the N-332 just by a well-known supermarket,
you should turn towards the sea at the traffic lights
where you will see a sign saying "Playa del Albir". Go
on along the Avenida del Albir as far as the informa-
tion point at the beginning of Calle Oscar Esplá
which you will see on the left in a house surrounded
by a garden and fence.
Access to the reserve from this centre is easy, by
taking the "Camí Vell del Far" which you have left on
the right when you went into the street with the
information centre.
Rules
Do not leave the marked Dogs must be on a
paths to take short cuts leash
No picking flowers and Do not bother or catch
plants any animals
Do not drop litter in the No camping in the
reserve. Use the litter bins nature reserve
No motor vehicles allowed It is strictly forbidden to
on the tracks light fires
Please do not make
noise
