Puig Campana, with an altitude of 1406 metres, is the second-highest peak in the province of Alicante. Mountain is located in the municipality of Finestrat, only about a 30-minute drive from Benidorm, a popular holiday destination. So, if you are in Benidorm or in the area you simply cannot miss this spectacular mountain, as itโs visible from many places. Puig Campana has quite a dramatic profile from the south and it may look like a really hard mountain to hike.
From the base of the mountain, it seems that there is only one peak, but in fact, there are two, the taller one is just not visible. The western of the two peaks has a well-visible gap, known as Roldanโs Notch – itโs a paradise for climbers.
In 2009 a large part of the vegetation on the northeastern side of the mountain was burnt by fire. The fire started on January 24th when a high voltage electricity pylon was blown over by a strong wind. About 1000 hectares were reduced to ashes and around 15 000 people were evacuated. Twelve years after the fire the area was reborn, although some signs of fire are still visible.
The legends of Puig Campana
A characteristic element of the mountain is a square cut on one of the peaks. How was it created? There are many legends about it.
Roldan legend
One of them says that the warrior Roldรกn (aka Roland) got into a fight with the Moorish chieftain at the summit. At one point he struck a strong blow with his sword, however, the chief managed to dodge, and the sword struck the rock with such force that it created the cut we can see today. A cut piece of rock rolled down from the mountain into the sea where it became known as Benidorm Island. The gap in the rock is still called el Tajo de Roldรกn (Roldรกn’s cut) or simply El Portell (the gate).
Romantic giant legend
The more romantic myth tells of a giant who fell in love with a woman from a nearby village. They married and lived together in a cabin on the Puig Campana. One day, the giant met a stranger out on the mountainside who told him his wife was seriously ill and would die at sunset that day, as the last rays of the sun would disappear behind the peak. The giant rushed back to the cabin to discover his wife was indeed dying. So the giant took his sword and cut the gap in the summit to delay the moment when the sun finally set, to give his love a few extra moments of life.
There are supposedly many more legends, but we liked these two the most. However, as science has proven, Puig Campana mountain rocks come from a different era than those from Benidorm Island, so unfortunately none of them can be true.
Ok, itโs time to get a little tired – letโs go! Puig Campana, the second-highest hiking route in the province of Alicante, is waiting. ๐
Puig Campana, the second-highest hiking route in the province of Alicante
There are three hiking routes available:
- Circular route
- Circular route + ascent
- Direct, called Vertical Kilometre
All routes start from the Font del Moli, where you can leave your car.
Puig Campana Circular Route
The Circular Route doesnโt reach the top of the mountain. As the name suggests, itโs a circular path that runs around Puig Campana and can be walked in both directions. Itโs 12km long and the altitude difference is around 600 metres. You can extend this route and reach the top of Puig Campana however this adds 4km more to the circular route and the altitude difference of 1100 metres. But it’s worth it as views from the top of Puig Campana are really impressive.
The path to the top begins near Coll de Pouet – a crossroads on the north face of Puig Campana. So if you want to reach the summit you need to abandon the circular route here and start going up on a steep, stone path. This route is definitely more challenging. After about an hour youโll reach Bancal del Moro, the pass that separates the two peaks of Puig Campana. From here, the road to the top is less steep but still rocky with very impressive views. From the top, you have no other choice than to go back the same way to Coll del Pouet if you want to continue the Circular Route. You can also choose another route down called Vertical Kilometre.
Puig Campana Vertical Kilometre
Vertical Kilometre is a 7km climb, with an altitude difference of 900 metres. We didn’t go this route, but Iโll write here what we read. As its name suggests the path is vertical, so you will probably get tired more than going up during a circular route. It may be quite a challenging walk. Also, the route is not as varied, there arenโt as many views. There are many steep slopes and the instability of the terrain so you need to be very careful. In some places, ropes can be found, which are very helpful.
More information
- Circular route has a low level of difficulty.
- Circular route + ascent has medium difficulty so itโs good to be in quite good physical condition.
- The duration of the routes varies between 6 to 8 hours depending on the route chosen.
- Wear the proper clothing and hiking shoes, not the usual sneakers.
- Take plenty of water and food with you.
If it becomes too difficult at some point, or the weather starts to change – turn back. In the mountains safety always comes first.
How to get to Puig Campana starting point?
Font del Moli is a 30-minute drive from Benidorm, or 45 minutes north from Alicante. There you will find a parking area and an information point.
We left the car in the parking lot close to Restaurante en Finestrat Font del Molรญ.
Where to eat near Puig Campana?
Right next to the starting point you can find only one restaurant:
- Restaurante en Finestrat Font del Molรญ (4.0 / 376 reviews)
Others are a little bit further, down in Finestrat. Here are some of them:
- Pizzorante MangiaRรจ (4.6 / 225 reviews)
- Bar El Cantonet (4.5 / 291 reviews)
- La Barra – Arroces, Tapas y Raciones (4.4 / 739 reviews)
- Molรญ II (4.4 / 219 reviews)
- Restaurante Bokado (4.3 / 265 reviews)
Where to sleep near Puig Campana?
Here are the closest places to the start of the mountain trails but a little further, you can find some more in Benidorm or Finestrat.
Hopefully, now you’re ready to visit Puig Campana, the second-highest hiking route in the province of Alicante. Remember to choose the route that is best for you and matches your physical abilities. Have a nice climb and stay safe! ๐
