Alcoleja: Hiking Trails, Historic Center and Festivals

Alcoleja lies northwest of the Sierra de Aitana at an altitude of 740 meters. When planning a stay, there are several options to focus on: a walk through the historic center, hikes along the routes mentioned here, or a visit during the town’s festival traditions. Beniafé, a small cluster of houses belonging to Alcoleja, is another point of interest. You can consider which places and themes best suit your travel plans before looking for a hotel in Alcoleja.

Historic Center and Beniafé

You can explore Alcoleja’s historic center on foot. Beniafé is about a 20-minute walk from the historic center; the approximate walking time can help you take both parts of the town into account when planning. The historic center has Muslim origins. Alcoleja is home to the parish church of San Vicente Ferrer, while Beniafé has the chapel of Verge dels Desamparats. Both are places of worship and offer different religious points of interest for a visit to the area. The combination of local history, the two settlements and their churches makes this part of your trip planning a different kind of focus for your stay than the longer hiking routes.

Hiking the PR-CV 21

The PR-CV 21 is a 15-kilometer linear hiking trail, and Alcoleja is its reference municipality. Its starting point is 250 meters from Puerto de Tudons in the direction of Alcoleja. Both the route type and its length are worth noting: this trail differs from Ruta 6: Ríos Amadorio, Sella y Penáguila, an approximately 60-kilometer water route that passes through Alcoleja, among other places. The PR-CV 21 is also associated with the Aitana, Serrella y Puig Campana Site of Community Importance (SCI) and the Penya de la Font Vella flora micro-reserve. Protected-area regulations and trail conditions may change.

Check access details and local conditions before setting out. No quality inspections have been carried out on the PR-CV 21 in recent years, so it is not certain that signage and maintenance are optimal. Trail specifications are also subject to local conditions. These notes are relevant to planning this particular trail, especially if you intend to follow its designated route.

Waterfalls and Springs

Toll de Cabrera is a pool fed by a waterfall on the Frainós River. Its water level varies seasonally. The E3 Alcoleja: Springs, Mills and Waterfalls excursion goes as far as Salt de Silvia and also includes Cascada del Rincón de los Enamorados and Manantial Ull de la Font spring. The water flow at Cascada del Rincón de los Enamorados also varies seasonally. If you’re planning your trip around these natural features, keep the different details in mind: the changing water level at Toll de Cabrera, the seasonal flow at the waterfall, and the destinations along the E3 excursion.

Festival Traditions in May and August

Alcoleja’s patron saint festivals take place in August in honor of Saint Vincent Ferrer and Our Lady of the Forsaken. Festival traditions include a large paella in the village square. On the second weekend in May, the Romería de la Virgen de los Desamparados pilgrimage goes to the chapel in Beniafé, with the Virgin carried by women from Alcoleja. The two dates offer different seasonal reasons to visit: the May pilgrimage centers on its destination in Beniafé, while the August visit centers on the patron saint festivals. The exact program may vary. If you want to plan your trip around one of the festivals, check the event dates before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Orihuela, Petrer, Orito, Xaló, Forna, Benferri, Biar, Senija.

For the main travel overview: Alicante.