Ecological hiking trail Benissa - The paseo ecológico is a hiking trail that runs along the coastline of Benissa towards Calpe. It is a beautifully landscaped path, which is accessible all year round.
Benissa's coastline has numerous coves and steep cliffs of great beauty and ecological value. For this reason, Benissa has invested in the creation of coastal ecological routes to project and preserve its cliffs.
There are 3 environmental routes on the coast of Benissa. Those routes have been designed to enjoy nature with respect, at the same time protected communities and endemic plants.
Click here for a detailed pdf of the routes
The Paseo Ecologico routes of low difficulty, are equipped with easy access to stairs. The walk takes about an hour and a half each, as along the route some informative signs help us read the coastline landscape, however, often you also have to return to the starting point because that is where the car is, for example. The route includes several beaches with beach bars and along a small marina where there are also catering facilities. Good shoes are recommended. The trail is fully landscaped, but not equally flat everywhere. Therefore, flip-flops, for instance, are not recommended.
Benissa's cliff as an ecosystem
The plants encountered along the route are adapted to the Mediterranean climate. They have ribbon-shaped and small leaves that are hard or covered with filaments to lose as little water as possible through transpiration.
We can observe this phenomenon in the Albaida and marine Bufalaga. Some plants, like the Mediterranean saltbus, "sweat" small salt crystals through their leaves. In such communities we find important plants, some of them protected, such as Mediterranean thyme and the Cat's Head sunflower, endemic of the western Mediterranean. It is an endangered species worldwide and is protected by the Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE). In Benissa we find these plants in two micro-reserves (Cala Basetes and Cala Fustera), guaranteed their protection and monitoring.
The Passeig Ecológic de Benissa is one of the 4 Blue Paths awarded in 2022 in the province of Alicante by the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education(ADEAC).
Small terrestrial birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, etc., seek protection and food in the vegetation. Many birds make their nests in the steep rock faces, and others flock to the rocks at the base to feed on small invertebrates. Gulls are the most common birds in the steep rocky coastal faces.
The wind and swell action
Benissa's coastline is formed by high, stony and abrupt coasts (steep cliffs) between small beaches. The continuous impact of the waves digs the base of the steep cliffs and fragments of the top become unstable and fall, accumulating bases.
The sand of the beach comes from the deposits poured out by rivers and canyons, and by the sediments carried away by the water current or swell. We can observe the action of the wind as it hits the rocks, producing holes and shaping the landscape.
The rocks gathered in the base of the steep rock faces are capable of protecting numerous species, which are able to survive the constant swell, splashing and desiccation. This is why we find sharp, pointed, hollow and jelly forms and animals such as limpets, sea snails and algae.
On the soft substrates, we may encounter species flat or worm-like forms (soles), which burrow themselves to avoid drying out (cockles) or go unnoticed. Others have filtering tufts (anemonae) or arms to move (octopuses).
Posidonia oceanica
The dark spots that can do so in the sea are observed the prairies of Posidonia oceanica, that is, a genus of marine plants exclusive to the Mediterranean.
The prairies provide an ideal refuge where numerous species reproduce, feed and find protection and are protected by the Directive on the conservation of natural habitats (92/43/EEC). Remains of P. oceanica in the coast indicates the good quality of the water near the coast
Green spaces Paseo Ecologico
Moreover, you will do so in Benissa do find numerous "green" areas, on the coast and in the countryside, where you can enjoy the landscape and nature also as observation points, picnic and rest areas, bio - healthy parks, games, etc.
Among these sites are San Jaume, Fanadix, Calcides, Altamira, Magraner and Racó de Galleno.
Information signs Paseo Ecologico
There are several information boards along the route. These signs show what can be seen in terms of flora and fauna. Because it is a micro nature reserve, unique botanical species such as coarse thyme grow there. These unique (wild) plants are explained on these boards. Various birds, starfish and other marine animals have marked this as their habitat and are therefore depicted and explained.
Signs Paseo Ecologico route Sea Workshop - Cala Bassetes
Information board 1. THE KING OF OUR COASTLINE
The sun rose on the cat's head is covered with white hair, which helps holds moisture and reflects sunlight, looks like the head of a cat, hence its scientific name, Heliantemum caput-felis.
Information board 2. BENISSA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
Between Cala Fustera and Cala Bassetes we find the remains of an old quarry of eolinite, cemented sand or pedra tosca. Buildings were constructed with the rocks extracted from the coastal quarry of Benissa in the 16th century.
Information board 3. COASTAL MEASUREMENT AND FORMATION
Even though the coastal rocks appear deserted at first glance, there are many organisms use the moisture in the cracks to survive.
Information board 4. ADAPTATIONS FOR SURVIVAL
Pine has small flowers without petals and not particularly attractive, as pollination is carried out by the wind, while thyme presents colourful flowers with petals, to attract pollinating insects.
Information board 5. PROTECTED AREAS NEAR BENISSA
Sierra de Bernia is protected as a Special Protection Area and Site of Community Importance since 2001, for hosting various birds of prey such as peregrine falcons or golden eagles.
Information board 6. THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
The Noble pen shell is the largest bivalve mollusc from the Mediterranean and it is also one of the most endangered species in our sea protected by the Habitats Directive.
Information board 7. LES BASSETES ENVIRONMENTAL ROUTE
At the time the route was designed, some parts of the old route disappeared have been preserved, with specimens of Cat's Head sunflower relocated and Thyme and some along the path kept to co-protect them cork oaks so that visitors can participate in its preservation
Signs Paseo Ecologico Route Sea Workshop - Cala Pinets
Information board 1. DISCOVER YOUR SURROUNDINGS
The Sea Workshop is a tourist office, museum and environmental education centre. It is the starting point of coastline routes.
Information board 2. THE COASTLINE OF BENISSA
Some birds migrate en masse to the base of the steep cliffs to feed on small bird invertebrates, such as the whimbrel.
Information board 3. ETHNOLOGY
All members of the families go "jump in the water" to Benissa coves and beaches in the early days of August, during the Marà.
Information board 4. THE QUEEN OF OUR SEABED
Posidonia oceanica is not an alga, but a marine plant flowers, fruits, leaves, seeds, rhizomes and stems. The prairies of P. oceanica from Benissa are in good conditions, and therefore we do need to protect them.
Information board 5. COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY
In Cala Fustera, the layers are curved, creating a zigzag drawing a snake. It is a succession of concave and convex folds produced millions of years ago.
Information board 6. THE CLIFF AS AN ECOSYSTEM
From here we can watch them fly over the sea in search of fish to feed on or at the foot of the steep cliffs live 3 species of gulls, the Yellow-legged Gull, the Audouins Gull and the Black-headed Gull.
Information board 7. STONY SEA BEDS
If you look closely, you might find crabs, sea snails, starfish and the sea hedgehogs, fish, etc., in the ever-submerged area.
Information board 8. KUSTDYNAMICS
In Cala Pinets, the waves and currents deposit remnants of algae, shells and P. oceanica. They protect the beach from erosion by the swell.
Signs Paseo Ecologico Route Cala LLobella - Advocat
Information board 1. CALA LLOBELLA
This is Benissa's lesser-known and most natural bay. Its crystal clear waters are an indicator of the quality of the environment and the area is visited by people who love spaces that have not yet been there transformed by human activity.
Information board 2. KUSTPINESBOS
The pine forests on the coast of Benissa, adapted to live in low humidity high solar radiation conditions allow the existence of several possible species of animals as shelter for biodiversity.
Information board 3. UNDERWATER ROUTES
Benissa's coastline has six underwater routes. There are 30-minute routes with a maximum average depth of 5.5 metres. Look at the rocky and sandy bottoms and Posidonia oceanica prairies and enjoy the marine biodiversity they harbour.
Information board 4. PASEO ECOLÓGICO ADVOCAT
Via observation points and a signposted path, this route makes this possible enjoy, risk-free, beautiful cliffs and awe-inspiring transparent rock seabeds. At the very end of the path you will find a rest area with fitness equipment, call bio-healthy park.
Information board 5. THE CLIP
Typical protected species from the western Mediterranean can be found growing on the cliffs of Benissa, for example Cat's Head Rockrose and Mediterranean thyme. There are 2 flora microreserves in Benissa, which guarantee the protection and monitoring of these species.
Information board 6. BIO-INDICADORES
Some species are used as environmental health indicators ecosystems. These are very sensitive to changes in ecosystem conditions. Some examples are corals, Posidonia oceanica, lichens, bees, ants, dragonflies, frogs, etc.
