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Date of Nature Reserve declaration:2005Date 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 environmentnature reserve is one of the most exceptionalreserves in the Valencian Community, throughbeing the first land-sea nature reserve in thisregion. It has a total protected surface area of5,564 ha. (4,920 ha. of this is in the marinemedium) and its waters contain some of themost interesting and surprising underwaterareas in the whole Spanish Mediterranean, spe-cial mention being deserved by the widespreadmeadows of the protected sea phanerogamknown locally as Alguers (Posidonia oceanica)and rocky seabeds such as those of La Llosa,with particular biological diversity.

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Cave of Elephant

History

As is vouched for by the remains (hooks andplumb lines) found in the Tossal de La Cala site inBenidorm, the Iberian peoples who lived herealready had significant fishing activity in the watersof the present nature reserve. This went on untilthe present time, when different kinds of tacklesare used, mainly flue-type, going through ageswhen almadraba Arab net systems were of greatimportance for the coastal people, like those of LaVila, Benidorm or Altea.

In the 17th century one can find the first writtenreferences to the inhabitants of the zone, men-tioned in a report sent by Vespasiano Gonzaga toKing Philip II, warning him that the Island ofBenidorm was the main refuge for corsairs in thewhole kingdom, and suggesting building a watch-tower for this reason.

After the threat from pirates had gone, in 1834the island acted as a haven for several familiesfrom Benidorm and La Vila who took refuge herefrom the epidemic of cholera morbus that wasravaging the whole coast.

In the Serra Gelada mining activity, based onextracting ochre, has been known of since thetimes of the Phoenicians. This resource wasexploited until the mid-nineteenth century. Theoutstanding view from these mountains also madeit an important vantage point for keeping lookoutfor the presence of Berber pirates in the sea,which is why the “Punta Bombarda” and“l’Escaleta” watchtowers were built.

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which rise almost vertically from sea level, whileon the northeastern side it has much more gen-tle slopes.

Geomorphologically, the presence of a “hangingfossil dune” consisting of materials known aseolianites is of special importance. This formationstarted to originate over one hundred thousandyears ago, when the sea level was lower than it istoday. On the other hand, the limestone compo-sition of the range fostered the formation of dif-ferent caves and cavities through the effect ofrainwater seeping through, some of these beingthe Cova de Far and the Boca la Balena.

Geology and landscape

The land side is dominated by the spectacularSerra Gelada mountain range, a small but ruggedrange dividing the bays of Benidorm and Alfás-Altea. As well as this land area of the park thereare several islands, two in the municipal area ofBenidorm, l’Illa de Benidorm and l’Illa Mitjana,while in the municipal area of Altea there is theisland of l’Olla and La Galera islet. The elongatedshape of the nature reserve is due to the rangefacing northeast-southwest, with the Albir light-house in its centre and Benidorm island andMorro del Toix at each end of it. Its morphologyis very different depending on whether one isstanding on the southeast slope, with huge cliffstopped by the Alt del Governador at 438 metres,

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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 onesfound in the dune zone of Serra Gelada, throughcontaining endemic species such as the“Palomilla” (Linaria arabiniana), the “Llunetes”(Biscutella montana) or the Prickly Juniper(Juniperus macrocarpa), or the Corema album, aunique plant in the whole Mediterranean throughbeing a species with Atlantic distribution, whichprobably reached this coast transported by birds.

The flora communities on the cliffs also includesome highly valuable plants, species which

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amongst other species, by Kermes oaks (Quercuscoccifera), Lentisc (Pistacia lentiscus) and Blackthorn(Rhamnus lycioides).

On the reserve’s islands there is a predominanceof Pauquy (Whithania frutescens), Shrubby seablite(Suaeda vera) or the thorny shrub known as Lyciumintricatum. On the island of Benidorm, the pricklypear (Opuntia ficus-indica), a species proceedingfrom America introduced in the Mediterranean, isprevalent in certain zones.

One of the plants of greatest ecological value is theseagrass known as Posidonia oceanica, which formslarge underwater meadows of vital importance forthe breeding and growth of numerous marine fauna.

Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum)

botanists call “rupicola” or cave plants, one ofthese being the “Silene de Ifach” (Silene hifacen-sis), which is at present recovering in the reservearea, the “Orelleta de Ratolí” (Sarcocapnossaetabensis) or the “Canyeta d’or” (Asperula pauisubp. dianensis).

In most parts of the Serra Gelada one can findthickets consisting mainly of Rosemary (Rosmarinusofficinalis), Many-flowered heather (Erica multiflo-ra), Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) and Esparto grass(Stipa tenacissima) often accompanied by AleppoPines (Pinus halepensis) and some specimens ofHolm oak (Quercus rotundifolia), rather small insize. There are also remains of old crops, forexample some scattered specimens of the Carobtree (Ceratonia siliqua) and Olive (Olea europaea).These abandoned terraces have been colonised,

“Silene de Ifach” (Silene hifacensis)

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This nature area also covers one of the few popu-lations of the bottlenose dolphin (Turciops trunca-tus) in the Spanish peninsular waters. This is a fam-ily group that swims and feeds fairly often in thearea, included in a larger area which probably cov-ers the whole coastal strip of Alicante province.

As regards the land fauna, the group of sea birdsis significant as they have major breeding zones onthe reserve. The Storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelag-icus melitensis), nesting on Mitjana and Benidormislands, has one of the breeding colonies of great-est size in the western Mediterranean on the lat-ter, with over 500 couples.

Storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis)

Fauna

Through covering both a marine and a land medi-um, the diversity of animals that can be seen inthe park is very great, covering all the majorgroups of fauna, from small invertebrates, fish andlarge mammals. The plentiful variety of commer-cial species in its waters has been well knownsince times immemorial, which has made thesehighly appreciated fishing zones for the inhabi-tants of coastal villages, especially the deeperwaters around the Island of Benidorm, where atpresent the submerged promontory known as laLlosa has great renown in the diving world.

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Illa Mitjana

Illot de la l’Olla

Illot de la Galera

Altea

L’Alfàs del Pi

Benidorm

La Cruz

Torre de lapunta del CavallCala del Tí

Ximo

Alt delGovernador

Boca de la Balena

Minas de Ocre

Platja del Racó

Forat delÀse

La Nucia

Polop

Rio de l’Algar

Rio de Guadalest

Illa de Benidorm

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AP-

7 Albir Lighthouse

Mediterranean Sea

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Punta del’Esparralló

Barreta deles Mines

The Albir lighthouse

Route 1: The Albir lighthouse

Length: 5 km (there and back)Duration: 1h 30 mm to 2 hoursMaximum ascent: 112 metresAccessibility: Asphalted route. Hiking.

Bicycle tourism.Wheelchairs.

Difficulty: Low

Starting from El Albir information point (Alfás delPi) (1), go up the street known as “Camí de laCantera”, which, as its name indicates, ends up in anold quarry from which stone was dug; but do not goas far as this and turn to the left down “Sirio” and“Neptuno” streets, until you come to a car parkwhere one of the entrances to the Nature Reserve,the Albir lighthouse path (2) is located. A fewmetres further on there is a small picnic area (3).

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The Serra Gelada, and the Illa Mitjana

From this point the yellow route 2 leads off towardsthe crest of the Serra Gelada (4).

“Caleta del Metge” and vantage pointGo along the asphalted track to a tunnel throughthe mountains (7), but before you get there onthe right there is an earthen track (5) along whichyou can go down to a small cove known as“Caleta del Metge”, and a little after this there is acircular vantage point which gives you a wonder-ful view of the entire Altea bay, with the Penyald’Ifach (6) in the background, surrounded by thespectacular mountains which envelop this cornerof the Marina BaixaWhen you get to the mouth of the tunnel (7),you will find another vantage point, smaller thanthe previous one (8).

“La Mina” ochre mines and coveGo on towards the lighthouse and after 300 metresyou will come to the path (9) which gently dropstowards the mines, originally Phoenician and laterexploited by the Romans, from which the ochreused as a colorant was extracted until well into thelast century, when it fell into disuse through theusage of new substances for this purpose.

The “Boca de la Balena”At about 500 metres from the tunnel you willreach a curve in the track (10). If you look up tothe right from here you will see a large naturalcavity known as “Boca de la Balena (The Whale’sMouth)” or “Cova de Bou” (Bull’s cave) in theshady part of the mountain.

El Albir LighthouseAt the end of the road you will come to El AlbirLighthouse, (12) to which access is not allowed.Just before you get there a small rise leads youto the edge of the cliff, from which there is agood view (11).

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L’Estufador

Punta dela Pila

Morro deSan Jordi

Illot de laCaleta

El Morret Negre

illa Mitjana

Cantal Roig

Coves de Paltra

L’Illa Mitjana

Route 2: Crossing the Serra Gelada

Length: 8 km (only one way)Duration: from 4h to 4h 30 minMaximum ascent: 438 metresAccessibility: Only suitable for hikers.Difficulty: Moderate-high.The lack of any freshwater springs on the waymeans that plenty of water has to be taken withyou. The route covers steep upward and down-ward slopes, which can be avoided by takingbranches keeping more to the level.

The route starts from El Albir picnic area (1), onroute 1 (red), with a constant upward zigzagwhich starts with stone stairs as far as the road foraccess to the relay station and antennas (3),going beside an old quarry (2).

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Cala Almadrava

Cala Ti Ximo

Route 3: “Punta del Cavall” or“Puntade la Escaleta “

Length: 5.2 km (there and back)plus 700 m of the Cala delTi Ximo.

Duration: From 2h to 2h 30 minMaximum ascent: 75 mAccessibility: Asphalted route. Hiking.

Bicycle tourism.Wheelchairs.

Difficulty: Low

The route starts at the end of Levante beach (1), atthe slope which leads to hotel Benikaktus, in AlcaldeManuel Catalán Chana street Along the asphalted roadyou should leave the crossroads that goes to the crosson the left (route 2, yellow) and go on as far as a turn-

“Alt del Governador”At the end of this track you will reach the highestpoint on the Serra Gelada (438 m), where youwill find a telecommunications relay station.Going on downwards along an asphalted trackyou will link up with the path again (4). Almost atthe edge of the cliff you will find a geodesic ver-tex (5), from which you can see the majesty ofthese sheer precipices, seeing the yellow-leggedgulls wheeling hundreds of metres below yourfeet, looking really tiny.

“L’Illa Mitjana”The route across the range goes on with continu-ous ups and downs, going by the ruins of an oldcoastal vigilance house (6) and a small cistern inthe river bed (7). Half way along you will find aspot where there is a small pine spinney which isa good place to take a short rest (8), while youenjoy a beautiful view of “Illa Mitjana”.

The crossThe last section of the mountain that the routecovers goes over a last rise from which you canagain see the cliffs (9). From this point you mustpay attention so as not to miss the track that goesbetween the low vegetation or bare rock. A fewminutes later you come to a cross (10) locatedover the Raco de l’Oix, from which an asphalt-ed path starts out (11) connecting up with itin-erary 3 (blue).

can be visited. Fishing with rods and spending thenight there are not allowed. Domestic animalscannot be taken onto the islet.

Illa Mitjana.Access is not allowed. Sailing around it mustalways be at a speed of under 3 knots.

Serra Gelada.Hiking and bicycle-tourism is allowed along theestablished itineraries.

Illa de Benidorm.Visits are allowed (though it is not allowed to takedomestic animals on to the island) but fishing withrods from the island and spending the night on itare forbidden. Sailing around it must always be ata speed of under 3 knots.

Marine area of Morro del ToixSailing is allowed always at a speed under 3 knots.

Accesses

Benidorm InformationPoint and Benidorm Island

The best way to find this centre, located in the oldtown centre of Benidorm, very close to the portand nautical club, is to look for these. You canaccess the town centre from different roads whe-ther you come from the N-332 or from the AP-7motorway. The most convenient way is to come infrom the south along the Avenida de la ArmadaEspañola by Poniente beach. Go right along thisand up Avenida Jaume I; when you come to thefirst traffic light, turn right along Calle Marqués deComillas until you reach the Avenida de los Almen-dros, and there you are forced to turn right and godown to the start of the Elche Park, where the

ing (2) which drops to the Punta Llisera vantagepoint and the Cala del Ti Ximo.

“Cala del Tio Ximo”This is a peaceful Mediterranean cove, relativelyseparate from the busy beaches of the centre ofBenidorm. Beside the beach you can see the oldochre mines (4), where, not so long ago, TiXimo and his mules worked away.

WatchtowerGo back to the road and on the right-hand sideyou should take a road with restricted access tomotor vehicles (3), from which you should headtowards the Punta del Cavall, where there is a

17th century watchtower (5). From this pointyou can see one of the best views of the cliffs ofSerra Gelada and very close to these Illa Mitjana.Both this point and the Punta Bombarda, in ElAlbir, are excellent viewpoints, which is why inmedieval times they built the watchtowers fromwhich the people could be warned of the pres-ence of Berber pirates.

Public use

The reserve is governed by specific legislation(Planning System for the Natural Resources of theSerra Gelada and its coastal environment -DOGV16/03/2005) which includes the planning of thearea covered by the park, distributed into zoneswith different degrees of protection and theiruses and activities. The different zones can beseen on the enclosed map and some generalnorms are summed up below:

L’Olla and la Galera islets.Only a small part of the shoreline of Illot de l’ Olla

Avenida de la Carretera starts on the left-hand andthe reserve's information point is located.

On the way in to Elche Park, there is a small streetleading to the port and from there you can takeone of the passenger boats known as "golondrinas",to get to the Illa de Benidorm.

El Albir InformationPoint and El Albir Lighthouse

On the N-332 just by a well-known supermarket,you should turn towards the sea at the traffic lightswhere you will see a sign saying "Playa del Albir". Goon along the Avenida del Albir as far as the informa-tion point at the beginning of Calle Oscar Espláwhich you will see on the left in a house surroundedby a garden and fence.

Access to the reserve from this centre is easy, bytaking the "Camí Vell del Far" which you have left onthe right when you went into the street with theinformation centre.

Do not leave the markedpaths to take short cuts

Rules

No picking flowers andplants

Do not drop litter in thereserve. Use the litter bins

No motor vehicles allowedon the tracks

Please do not makenoise

Dogs must be on aleash

Do not bother or catchany animals

No camping in thenature reserve

It is strictly forbidden tolight fires