Alcocebre-Peñíscola Route. It's 20 km between sea and mountain, with an elevation gain of barely 100 m, an ideal route to do by 4x4, mountain bike (MTB) or on foot.
View Route to Peñíscola through the Sierra de Irta on a larger map
Technical details
| Distance | 20 km |
| Elevation gain | barely 100 m |
| Route | Between sea and mountain |
| Modes of transport | 4x4, mountain bike or on foot |
It links the two best-known destinations in this part of the Costa del Azahar through the protected coastline, instead of along the road. It is 20 km with an elevation gain of barely 100 m, which makes it a manageable route despite the distance, and it can be done by 4x4, by mountain bike or on foot.
What you'll see
The route runs between sea and mountain through the surroundings of the Sierra de Irta Natural Park, and ends in Peñíscola, with its walled old town and the castle overlooking the sea. If you'd rather do Peñíscola as a half-day trip instead of as a route, it's in the day trips from Alcossebre guide, with the distances and how to get there.
How to get to the start and where to park
Alcossebre's blue zone (paid parking) only regulates streets in the town centre, and only during Easter week and from 15 June to 30 September, from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 22:00. Outside those streets and those dates, parking is free, so leaving the car near the start of the routes is usually not a problem. Details in the parking guide.
Since 2026 there is also a circular urban bus line connecting the town centre with the beaches and residential areas during the busiest periods; seasonal timetables at alcossebre.org and in the mobility guide.
When to do it
The best time to walk here is from October to May, and especially in autumn: in September you can still combine a swim with the trail, and from October onwards the heat stops being a factor. In July and August, if you do it, go early in the morning and never during the central hours of the day. Check the forecast beforehand on Weather in Alcossebre, which gathers AEMET data.
We go into more detail in the Alcossebre off-season guide, which explains why autumn is the best time of year for the sierra.
More routes and where to stay
All the routes in the municipality are on the routes and nature page, and the background on the natural park is in the nature guide. If you are looking for full-day plans, including trips to Peñíscola or Morella, check out day trips from Alcossebre.
To sleep close to the sierra, the Tres Playas area and the surroundings of the park are the quietest parts of the municipality and the ones that leave the trails within easy reach: comparison of apartments in the quiet areas and area guide with the real distances for each one.