Rock climbing in Costa Blanca, winter has the perfect climate. - Tue 09th November 2010
Although the Costa Blanca is best known as a “sun, sand and sangria” resort in the summer, the winter attracts the more energetic holidaymaker. The area has long been considered one of the best destinations anywhere in the world for winter rock climbing and nowadays it attracts visitors from all over the world. Forget the hot, sweaty, crowded, noisy, expensive summer and go for the cheap winter sun. The winter has the mild climate (still t-shirt and shorts weather) and you benefit from cheap flights (can be as little as £55 return from London airports), cheap accommodation (3 Bed villa with private pool from £170pw) and cheap car hire from £50pw.
A great winter sun holiday
More and more climbers leave the grey skies at home and head to Costa Blanca for a bit of winter sun and ideal climbing conditions. However it is not just the weather that draws them to the Costa Blanca. No other winter rock climbing destination in Europe offers the combination of reliable weather with the diversity of climbing on offer here. Ranging from low grade sport climbs, Via Ferattas and scrambling through to top grade sport climbs and long multi-pitch climbing routes both adjacent to the sea and high in the coastal mountain ranges.
From novice to hardened climber
The famous Penon de Ifach in Calpe and its classic routes have thrilled many from the novice to the hardened climber. The views are breathtaking even at the novice level, views that you will remember long after your holiday has finished. You can find more exciting climbs inland, the best being the Puig Campana that dominates and dwarfs the skyscrapers of Benidorm. The Puig is now fairly well known and well recognised by thousands of European rock climbers who have been coming here over the past decade for some autumn and spring rock climbing to chase away the winter blues.
Costa Blanca is great for walks too
The Costa Blanca also offers a series of great ridge walks which range from the famous Bernia Ridge to the dizzying knife-edge ridge of El Castellets. You will find the ridges of the Costa Blanca will provide you with some memorable days out, being both challenging and also taking in some incredibly beautiful scenery. However, these beautiful mountains are not just for mountaineers and climbers as several enjoyable walking routes are available via easy, if somewhat loose scree filled gullies. The Sierra Aitana, a range of mountains and isolated valleys near Benidorm in the Costa Blanca, is an ideal location for a superb trekking and walking holiday..
You can see and do a lot whether its in a weeks walking or just a few days, for example, visiting natural rock arches, teetered along narrow ridges, viewing prehistoric cave paintings, or even searching for the areas neveras, deep snow-pits which were once used to make ice from snow…the original fridges. Or just do as little as you want inbetween relaxing and taking in the winter sun, enjoy a couple of easy walks.
There are a couple of gear shops, one in Alicante and one in Calpe. A wealth of information and routes are easily found online. Go on, treat yourself to a memorable inexpensive winter sun holiday.
S.B
