The impressive Puig Campana, known as “The Magic Mountain of Finestrat” (the first is Aitana Mountain Range), is the second highest peak in the province of Alicante. A mass of limestone rock that rises to 1,408 meters high, located a few kilometers from the Mediterranean.
This mountain is a benchmark of Alicante geography, for many reasons: its imposing presence, its perfect conical shape, its challenging slope, the legend of its characteristic “Tajo de Roldán” (geometric cut with the shape of a window).
Without a doubt, Puig Campana is THE MOUNTAIN of Costa Blanca, with capital letters.
Do you dare with this challenge? Let’s discover how to ascend to its summit, keep reading!
Natural reserve "Puig Campana & Ponoig"
It is important to note that we are in an area of great landscape and environmental value, within the so-called “Protected Landscape of Puig Campana and Ponotx”. An area that has a figure of protection similar to that of a Natural Park, declared as such in 2006 by the government of the region (Generalitat Valenciana). In the area we find several flora micro-reserves, with species protected by legislation.
Due to the large influx of visitors, it is an area subject to a lot of environmental stress, so it is advisable to take maximum care of the environment. Thank you!
Summary of the Route
Route up to the Puig Campana summit from the “Font del Molí de Finestrat”, following the short-distance marked trail PR-CV 289, with the usual white and yellow markings, walking counter-clockwise.
The route takes us through the “Font de la Solsida” (fountain) to the “Coll del Pouet“, a strategic crossroads on the north face of the mountain. From there we made the climb to the summit (up and down the same path), passing by the “Bancal del Moro” (saddle that separates the two main peaks of Puig Campana), and from there to the top, an excellent viewpoint towards the coast and inland.
Back at “Coll del Pouet“, we took up the circular route along PR-CV 289. Shortly after starting to go down, we passed the “Refugio José Manuel Vera” (somewhat abandoned). The descent is prolonged continuously, with a fairly good firm, until finally reaching “Font del Molí“, ending this challenging route.
We prefer to do the circular route anti-clockwise, since the path that goes up to the “Font de la Solsida” has more irregular terrain, and we prefer to do it uphill.
Hike Data Sheet
- High difficulty. High physical effort.
- Loop trail & summit trail.
- Distance with summit: 15 km
- Distance w/o summit: 12 km
- Positive Slope: +1,100 meters (with summit)
- Approximate time: 6-7 hours
- Marked trails: PR-CV 289
Puig Campana Guided Hike
If you want to do this hiking route in complete safety, I recommend the possibility of booking a guided hike with a professional mountain guide to take the Puig Campana route.
From € 30 / person, including liability insurance and accident insurance, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
GPS Track
Next, I leave you the GPS track of the circular route and the top of Puig Campana, in the popular wikiloc application.
Finestrat, charming town
Located on the southern slopes of the Puig Campana, Finestrat is one of the most charming towns on the Costa Blanca. The route begins on the outskirts of the town, at the fountain known as the “Font del Molí”, an important spring that has supplied the town with drinking water for decades. Take a look at the video to discover some of Finestrat’s points of interest.
Recommended Accommodation
Puig Campana Nature Suites & MTB
This sustainable and bike friendly accommodation is located very close to the starting point of the route up to Puig Campana.
Hike Description
We leave the car in the Font del Molí car park. From there, the appearance of the mountain is impressive. We are undoubtedly before one of the most challenging dates for lovers of hiking in Alicante.
From the beginning, Puig Campana begins to make us feel those special vibrations that it transmits and we are invaded by a mixture of emotions, from respect to admiration, passing through the inevitable doubt “will I be able to reach the top?”
From the Font del Molí, we ascend the asphalt slope, which we leave at the first bend to continue straight. After crossing a small bridge over a ditch, we turn right, following the signs for PR-CV 289. We have to pass between some country houses, before taking the ascending path that leads to Foia del Cap.
La Foia del Cac is a small plain located about 500 meters high. From here, the path becomes quite steep, and zigzags up to the height of approximately 800 meters, before smoothing its slope when we approach the Font de la Solsida.
We walked along the east face of the mountain, which was devastated by a terrible fire (about a thousand hectares) in January 2009, along with the south face of the Ponoig. Fortunately, to this day, she is already quite recovered, although it will still take years to return to what she was.
From the Font de la Solsida, a small ascent and subsequent descent leads us to Coll del Pouet, an important crossroads on the north face of Puig Campana, and a place where we abandon the circular route to begin the attack on the summit.
We are 883 meters high, and we will ascend another 400 meters to Bancal del Moro, the pass that separates the two peaks of Puig Campana: Pic Prim and Tajo de Roldán to the west, and the main summit to the east.
This part of the climb is also quite steep, and unfortunately it is quite eroded due to the variations that have been forming on the trail. There is a lot of loose stone, so it is advisable to exercise extreme caution: so as not to slip, or not to throw stones at other people who may be underneath.
Drone video from the summit
The North Face of the Puig Campana is a show when it comes to botany. Its particular conditions of altitude and orientation allow the presence of deciduous trees, such as ash and maples, as well as holm oaks and, of course, pines. It also highlights the presence of vegetation adapted to rocky areas and canchales. A very fragile ecosystem, so it is vitally important not to go off the beaten track and avoid “shortcuts”.
Shortly before reaching the pass, the slope softens, and the path becomes more comfortable to walk, less stony. Finally, we reach Bancal del Moro, located at a little less than 1,300 meters high. If we get to this point, we can almost say that the summit is ours, since from here, the views over the Mediterranean take us in flight to the geodesic vertex, without hardly realizing it.
In this last section, however, it is worth paying attention, as there are several unofficial trails that could mislead us. After a slight climb, we flatten and overcome a final slope to the top. We did it!!!
At the top, clouds fly over our heads, and mist covers the shoreline. Still, the panoramic view from the top of Puig Campana is impressive, undoubtedly one of the best in the entire province. The list of mountains that can be seen is endless, passing from the nearby Ponoig and Cabal, Aitana, the Serra de Bèrnia, Serra Gelada, Peñón de Ifach, La Serrella, the Cabeçó d’Or… One ends up saying what it is which is NOT seen from up here. Amazing!!
The first time at Puig Campana is special, one of those things that are not forgotten. But in each ascent you discover new details, and as soon as you descend, it seems that you already feel the worm of being up there, among the clouds …
After regaining strength and enjoying the views, it is time to return. But before we leave our message in the logbook at the top, protected in a metal mailbox. A pity that it is in a somewhat precarious state of conservation, as also happens with the geodesic vertex.
From the top, we have to undo the path to Coll del Pouet, paying close attention to the loose stones during the descent. We take the opportunity to visit the old snow pit, taking a small detour from the main path. As in other mountains, snow pits are an important heritage heritage, witnesses to the fruitful snow trade in our province, between the 17th and 19th centuries.
From Coll del Pouet, a wide path leads us in a jiffy to the José Manuel Vera Refuge, owned by the Alicante Hiking Center. From here, a continuously descending path will take us back to Font del Molí, ending one of the most demanding and at the same time most complete and rewarding excursions in the province of Alicante.
The vertical kilometer, route not recommended
There are several reasons to discourage the climb by the “vertical km”:
❌ As its name suggests, the path is very vertical, so you will get tired more than going up the north face. The route is not as varied, and you lose the “surprise” factor that you do have when you go up the north face.
❌ The area is heavily eroded, with a multitude of stone and loose soil. The continuous passage of hikers prevents the growth of the vegetation in this area, with which the effect multiplies, and the rains drag everything in its path.
Instead of going up (or going down) the “vertical km”, I recommend you follow the route described in this article: the circular and top from Coll del Pouet, on the north face of the mountain.
NOTE: this article is an adaptation for English language made by Fernando Prieto, author of the original content published in LinkAlicante.
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