Visiting the Serra d'Irta coves with kids is possible and very rewarding, as long as you treat it as an outing rather than a beach day. The Serra d'Irta Natural Park begins in the north of Alcossebre, by the lighthouse, and its coves are small, with pebbles and sand between rocks, no lifeguards, no showers and no shade. With that in mind, the hills become the best playground in the area.
Are there child-friendly coves in the Serra d'Irta?
No official source recommends specific coves for children, and we'd rather be honest: there isn't a single supervised cove in the whole park. What's more, the Alcossebre tourism website describes access to Cala Blanca, Cala Mundina and Cala Ribamar as difficult, with scrambles down over rock.
Our advice for families:
- For swimming: Alcossebre's town beaches with lifeguards, such as Les Fonts, the Carregador or the Romana. You'll find them in beaches and playgrounds for kids.
- For exploring: the coves, with water shoes, for watching fish from the shore, looking for crabs in the rocks or having a picnic.
- Always: plenty of water, sun hats, sun cream and an adult keeping an eye on things at all times.
Easy Serra d'Irta walks with kids
The Valencian regional government rates the red route and route 2, which start in Alcossebre, and the blue route by Torre Badum as low difficulty. The Alcossebre tourism website notes that there are routes "suitable for going with little ones". With children, the sensible thing is to do short stretches and turn back when they get tired.
| Walk | Total distance | Official difficulty | With kids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red route "A landscape of contrasts", from the Alcossebre lighthouse | 8.5 km circular | Low | As far as you get and back; the full loop for children who already walk well |
| Route 2, Faro d'Irta - Cala Cubanita, from Cala Blanca | 12.8 km | Low | Just the first stretch, along the coast from Cala Blanca |
| Route 5, Santa Llúcia i Sant Benet hermitage, from the Montemar estate | 1.3 km (about 45 min) | Medium | Short but uphill; views as the reward at the top |
| Blue route "Strolling along the coast", Torre Badum (Peñíscola) | 2.7 km circular | Low | Good for a morning, with the tower as the goal |
The official route sheets and the full list are in this table of Serra d'Irta walking and cycling routes.
The lighthouse and Cala Blanca: the easiest outing
The Alcossebre lighthouse marks the southern entrance to the park. Beside it is Cala Blanca, a small cove (about 30 by 10 metres) of fine sand and pebbles, and from there route 2, the red route and the cycling routes set off. It's the perfect place for a first taste: arrive, see the lighthouse, peek into the cove and carry on along the coast northwards for a while, towards Cala Mundina.
What children can discover in the hills
- A lighthouse and a pirate tower. Torre Badum, on the Peñíscola side, was built to keep watch for pirates. It's a story that gets them hooked.
- Europe's palm tree. The dwarf fan palm, Europe's only native palm, grows all over the hills. Look out for it along the way.
- Birds and squirrels. Audouin's gulls live along the coast and red squirrels in the pine woods.
- Fresh water in the sea. On some beaches in the park, such as El Russo, fresh water wells up by the shoreline, just like at Les Fonts beach in Alcossebre.
Practical tips for going with kids
- Go early. In summer it's already very hot by mid-morning on the unshaded paths.
- A baby carrier is better than a pushchair. Many stretches are dirt and stone.
- Driving in summer, with a booking. In high season you can only drive onto the park's coast with a space booked in the GVA Parcs Naturals app; dates change every year. On foot, from the northern part of Alcossebre, you don't need a booking.
- No fires anywhere in the park, and take your rubbish home.
- Respect the marine reserve: fishing and shellfish gathering are prohibited in the park's waters.
If any of you want to do longer walks or see the castles and towers, this guide to the natural park has all the information. And back at base, the children's pool at Marcomar is the perfect end to the outing.
