Planning a trip to Spain’s beautiful Costa Blanca? Then you won’t want to miss the Benissa Coastal Walk! This scenic trail between the popular towns of Moraira and Calpe makes for the perfect morning of beaches and sea views from Cala Fustera. Here’s everything you need to know about Paseo Ecologico Benissa, swimming at Playa de la Fustera, and all about our own experience.
Starting at Cala Fustera
Although there are several points to begin the Benissa Coastal Walk, our favorite place to start is at Cala Fustera. This beach is conveniently located 10 minutes from the best beaches in Calpe and not much further driving from Moraira.
It’s even an easy day trip from amazing coastal destinations such as Altea, Benidorm, Javea, and Denia. The only tricky part about Paseo Ecologico Benissa is the limited parking.
This is why we recommend going early in the morning and taking your time on the trail. If you’re heading here in the busy summer months, you’ll be quickly out of a luck arriving after 9am!
We parked in this large lot just a few minutes around the corner from Playa de la Fustera. This paved lot will give you more options if the spots near the actual beach are already taken. There’s also a nice cafe on the water at Cala Fustera if you plan on relaxing after the hike.
About Paseo Ecologico Benissa
We are going to break this down as simply as possible because honestly the length of the path was kind of confusing! The main part of Paseo Ecologico Benissa begins at Fustera Beach and ends at Les Bassetes.
It runs for around 4km along the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea, but you’ll want to leave plenty of time for photos and swim stops. There are a number of cut downs and stunning beaches on the route that truly blew our minds!
The “Benissa Coastal Walk” is a little misleading, as much of the trail is steps going up and down. We would say it’s more of an easy hike ourselves than a leisurely stroll.
It is possible to walk the entire distance from Moraira to Calpe, but much of the section between Moraira and start of Paseo Ecologico Benissa is through residential neighborhoods. Make sure to follow your map closely if you’d like to take the entire hike between these two towns. However, we felt the shorter trail we did was more ideal on the marked path.
Our Amazing Benissa Coastal Walk
We arrived bright and early on a perfect September morning around 8am. It had been a hot summer on the Costa Blanca, so we knew we wanted to start Paseo Ecologico Benissa before the sun got stronger.
After parking near Cala Pinets, we made our way over to Cala Fustera. As soon as we began hiking up the first set of stairs and looked back, we couldn’t believe how beautiful the beach was!
This was just a preview of what was to come. Along the route from Benissa to Calpe, we would see several unreal beaches and swimming spots. It was hard not to jump in the water at all of them, but we decided to save that for the swim back for refreshing dips.
While we consider ourselves avid hikers, we were definitely expecting more of an easy stroll! Be prepared for plenty of stairs (both up and down) as you explore the cliffs along the sea.
Something we loved about Paseo Ecologico Benissa is how detailed the environmental placards were. We enjoyed reading about the flora, nature, and history of the area on the signs as we went.
Continuing the Benissa Coastal Walk to Calpe
The official Paseo Ecologico Benissa trail from Cala Fustera ends at the beach of Les Bassetes. You’ll notice it immediately once you set eyes on Club Nautico and the small port with boats.
Even though this is where the Benissa Coastal Walk finishes, we highly recommend continuing on to Calpe! You can follow the trail or neighborhood streets until you arrive at the famous Playa de la Fossa.
Once you get a glimpse of the soft sand lying underneath the massive Peñón de Ifach rock, you will definitely want to relax and spend some time here! One of our favorite breakfast spots with a view is Cafeteria Valentinos.
We’ve actually spent a lot of time in Calpe over the last few years and love it! You may be too tired to head up into old town, but here are a few of our favorite things to do in Calpe after you’ve seen the beaches.
In total, the trail was around a comfortable 1 hour walk from the parking to where we had breakfast in Calpe. The way back took longer as we started cutting down to swim at all the small coves.
If you’re looking to hike, swim, and grab some breakfast, plan for around 3 to 4 hours on Paseo Ecologico de Benissa. You could even make an entire day out of it and set up at one of the beaches for the afternoon!
Have any questions on this article or want to share your own tips for hiking from Benissa to Calpe? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
