The Alcossebre lighthouse (or Irta lighthouse, Far d'Irta) is where the town ends and the hills begin. It stands right above Cala Mundina, with Cala Blanca a few hundred metres to the west, and from here the Ribamar track sets off: the dirt track that runs along the 12 km of unspoilt coast in the Serra d'Irta Natural Park all the way to Peñíscola.
How to get to the Alcossebre lighthouse
- By car: drive north through Alcossebre, following signs for the lighthouse (faro). It's the end of the built-up area and the start of the coastal track.
- On foot or by bike: from the north of town, such as the Marcolina estate, you can get there without the car.
- In summer: the lighthouse and Cala Blanca are outside the section of track with regulated access, but to carry on by car along the park's coast you need a booked space. We explain it in access, booking and parking.
Cala Blanca
Cala Blanca is a small cove of fine sand and pebbles, about 30 by 10 metres, a few hundred metres west of the lighthouse. Alcossebre's official tourism office rates its access as difficult. Right below the lighthouse is Cala Mundina, the most popular cove in the hills, and very close by, Cala Ribamar.
The routes that start at the lighthouse
| Route | Type | Distance | Difficulty | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route 2, Faro d'Irta - Cala Cubanita - Font de la Parra | On foot | 12.8 km | Low | Font de la Parra, on the Peñíscola boundary |
| Red route, "A landscape of contrasts" | On foot, circular | 8.5 km | Low | Cala Cubanita |
| Ruta del Cranc | Mountain bike | 13.2 km | Low | Cala del Volante and Cala de l'Arjub (Peñíscola) |
| Ruta del Fardatxo | Mountain bike | 16.2 km | High | Cala Argilaga, Pou del Moro and Mas del Senyor |
Data from the park's official route sheets (Generalitat Valenciana). All the routes, including those inland, are in Serra d'Irta walking and mountain bike routes.
Sunrise and night skies at the lighthouse
The Alcossebre coast faces east, so from the lighthouse and Cala Blanca the sun rises over the sea. It's one of the best things to do as a couple: arrive while it's still dark, watch the sky lighten over the Mediterranean and start your walk at first light, before the heat.
North of the lighthouse the park's undeveloped coast begins, and away from the lights of the promenade the sky gets dark enough to see stars on clear nights; the photo on this page, with the Milky Way over the lighthouse, was taken here. Remember that inside the park, parking at night and staying overnight on the track are banned: if you want to see the stars, walk from town.
What to take
- A torch or head torch if you're going for the sunrise or the stars.
- Water and a cap: there's hardly any shade on the coastal routes.
- Shoes for rock if you're going down to Cala Blanca or Cala Mundina.
- No fires: lighting fires is banned throughout the park.
Stay a step from the lighthouse
The Marcomar apartments, on the Marcolina estate, are about 400 m as the crow flies from Cala Blanca and less than 1 km from the lighthouse, at the foot of the hills. They're a handy base for heading to the lighthouse at sunrise and getting back to the pool after your walk.
Find the lighthouse and everything around it on the Serra d'Irta map.