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Date Published: 10/02/2023

ARCHIVED - Breathtaking Bay of Altea trail joins prestigious network of Blue Paths in Spain

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The coastal path in the Marina Alta region of Alicante province is now one of a record number of Senderos Azules de España

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Breathtaking Bay of Altea trail joins prestigious network of Blue Paths in Spain

Alicante province is renowned for its spectacular coastline, boasting more than 70 Blue Flags - one of the world's most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.

It's also home to exclusive Blue Paths in Spain (Senderos Azules de España), coastal routes that are recognised by the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC) for their "great environmental value".

They are typically paths that have been "transformed into valuable resources for interpretation and environmental education".

This year, the number of Blue Paths awarded has increased by 22.3% compared to last year, reaching an impressive record number of 104 for 2023, covering an area of 600km distributed in 83 municipalities across 19 Spanish provinces.

And amongst the prestigious network's latest additions is La bahía de Altea (Bay of Altea), a charming trail offering breathtaking views that runs from the centre of Altea to Mascarat viewpoint - a coastal route of great natural, cultural and scenic interest.

As is usually the case, the route is close to Blue Flag beaches and the distinction sees Altea join 22 other municipalities in the Valencia Region with Blue Paths.

"This is an important recognition that only around 100 trails in Spain have, another example of the importance of valuing our trails and how taking care of them with the incorporation of signage and explanatory and interpretive panels make them an important educational resource and tourist attraction," said Altea's Counsillor Infrastructures, Diego Zaragozí.

La bahía de Altea allows walkers to visit various protected sites of cultural and ethnological interest, and passes through a catalogued wetland taking in the mouth of the river Algar, the natural monument of the volcanic outcrop of the Cala del Soio fossil beach and is close to the Serra Gelada Natural Park marine environment.

."The trail is very accessible, so it will give more visibility to the important natural areas through which it passes, one more action to promote our natural heritage," added Zaragozí.

The official award ceremony will be held in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, on February 24.

The newly recgonised trail is very close to another blue route; the path to Albir lighthouse, which has been part of this network since 2013. This spectacular 2.5km route runs through the Valencia Region's first maritime-terrestrial natural park.

The route is perfectly signposted and adapted, and ends at the lighthouse, the only one in the region that can be visited and has an interpretation centre. The building dates back to 1863, built on the ruins of a 16th-century watchtower.

Other Alicante province Blue Paths can be found in Alicante, Benissa, Calpe, Orihuela, and Alfaz del Pi.

Also of interest: Incredible must-see canyons on the Costa Blanca

Image 1: Ayuntamiento de Altea

Image 2: Provincia de Alicante

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