Mas de Tetuan from Font Roja near Alcoi

The starting point for this hike is in the car park of the Font Roja Sanctuary near Alcoi.
To get to this starting point by car, see the "practical information" section below.

The nature reserve is in an area with a high risk of fire, so smoking (including in your car) and lighting fires are prohibited.

(S/E) Return to the car park entrance and drive down the tarmac access road for a few metres. Immediately take the first path on the right and follow it. Pass a picnic area with tables and benches and look out for a cave on the left: the Cova Gelada.

(1) Arrive at Pla de la Mina and take a look at a reproduction of a lime kiln. There is also a staircase leading to a viewpoint.
Continue towards "Mas de Tetuan". The path climbs uphill. You will arrive at Pla des Galers.

(2) Continue straight ahead, following the signs for "Mas de Tetuan", which is 1.6 km away. As the name "Pla" suggests, the path is flat.

(3) Take a short detour to climb up to the viewpoint and admire the superb view of the valley. Continue on to Mas de Tetuan (1,225 m above sea level), a former large farm, now in ruins.

(4) Make a round trip to see the letterbox built by the local mountain club. Retrace your steps and now follow the signs for "Cim del Menajador". You will arrive at Cava Coloma.

(5) Go around it. These are the remains of an old snow well, evidence of an ancient activity where snow was piled up and turned into ice blocks, which were then taken down to the villages to be sold. This well was built in 1732 and is approximately 13 m in diameter and 17 m deep. Continue until you reach a pass at an altitude of 1,303 metres.

(6) Turn left towards "Font Roja". The building visible at the top is the fire watch centre.

(7) Leave the wide path and take the small path on the left towards "Font Roja". The descent is quite steep in places.

(8) Stop for a moment at the balcony to enjoy the view over the Pla de la Mina and the Font Roja Sanctuary. Continue downhill to the Pla de la Mina.

(1) Turn right, taking the same path you came on to return to the car park (S/E).

Please note: the mountain road leading to Font Roja may be closed (barriers down) due to weather conditions (e.g. snow), festivities or heavy traffic. It is therefore advisable to check with the park before leaving home.

How to get to the starting point by car.
From Alicante city, take the A31 motorway (from Calle Mexico) towards Madrid and quickly take exit 236A towards Benidorm and Valencia. Then quickly take exit 17 towards Alcoï (or Alcoy). Once you have passed the roundabout towards Alcoy, follow the A77 motorway, which becomes the A7.
After the tunnel, take exit 449 towards Alcoy and at the first roundabout at this exit, go under the motorway and take the^third exit towards the N340.
At the second roundabout (with the name Alcoy written in large letters), turn immediately right, staying on the N340.
Finally, at the^third roundabout in front of Mercadona, take the^fourth exit towards Ctra Font Roja CV797.
Pass the cemetery on your right and the sports centre on your left. At the small roundabout, turn right onto the road with barriers (raised!).
Then drive up a mountain road with some nice hairpin bends (speed limit 40 km/h) for 8 km until you reach the Font Roja sanctuary. Park immediately in the car park on the right.
For information, it is approximately 70 km by car from Alicante.