Sport and active holidays in Alcossebre

Every summer the town council runs a timetable of free open-air classes on the Cargador, Romana and Las Fuentes beaches. It is the simplest plan going: turn up in comfortable clothes with a towel. The usual pattern:

• Yoga — Monday to Friday, 9:00–10:00, on Las Fuentes beach. Posture and breathing with the sea in front of you.
• Pilates — Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 19:30–20:30, at Las Fuentes. Deep-muscle conditioning late in the day, once the sun eases off.
• Tai chi — at 8:00: Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Cargador beach; Tuesday and Thursday on Playa Romana. Ages 16 and up.
• Fitness (mantenimiento) — 9:00–10:00, same split: Cargador on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Romana on Tuesday and Thursday. Aerobic work for adults.
• GAP (glutes, abs and legs) — 10:00–11:00, Cargador Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Romana Tuesday and Thursday. Ages 16 and up.
• Children’s activities — Monday to Friday, 11:30–13:00, on Cargador beach, ages 6 to 12. Games on the sand, 15 places only and sign-up at the Tourist Info beforehand. Usually early July to late August.

Days and times repeat season after season, but the exact calendar is published each year: check it at the Alcossebre Tourist Info (Plaza Vistalegre, 964 41 22 05) when you arrive.

The Sierra de Irta Natural Park protects one of the last stretches of undeveloped coast in the western Mediterranean, and its paths end at coves you can only reach on foot. The four benchmark routes: to the lighthouse (easy, 4 km, 1 h 30, from the marina past the Badum tower), Santa Lucía halt – pine wood – Las Fuentes (moderate, 8 km, 3 h), the Santa Lucía hermitage (moderate, 6 km, 2 h 30, with Peñíscola and the Columbretes in view) and the full sierra traverse (hard, 18 km, 6 h, out to Ribamar and La Argilaga).

Each one, with its description, climb and starting point, is in the Serra d’Irta trails guide. Best seasons: spring and autumn; in summer, dawn or late afternoon.

Lower coastal loop (easy, 12 km, 1 h 30): compacted dirt track between the marina and the lighthouse area, the sea in sight throughout and coves along the way. Fine at any level.

Full Sierra de Irta (moderate, 25 km, 3 h, +650 m): the local benchmark, along the ridge, with technical descents and viewpoints. Needs stamina and some skill.

The warning: there are no springs inside the park —carry two litres—, there are stretches with no phone signal (download the track first) and the rock-and-gravel surface rewards tyres of 2.1" or wider. In summer, not at midday.

Barracuda Dive Centre works out of unit 5 in the Las Fuentes marina. It runs try-dives and the full course ladder —open water, advanced, rescue, divemaster and instructor—, local dives, snorkelling and, the ones people ask for, trips to the Columbretes Islands and a boat tour of the Irta marine reserve. Equipment hire and sales too. Members of Club Deportivo Las Fuentes get 10 % off its rates. Phones 964 41 26 23 and 669 87 61 97; barracudabuceo.com.

The most visited seabeds are those along the Irta coast, the old Alcossebre fish farm —gone now, but the concrete blocks that anchored it are still down there and thick with life— and, further south, a wreck off Torre la Sal.

Everything gets fished here: surfcasting from the sand, rock fishing, spinning, float, trolling, jigging, bottom fishing, from a boat and from a kayak. The long-standing spots are El Serradal, Playa Romana, El Cargador, Roquer Martí, the lighthouse and the Sierra de Irta coves —Mundina, Blanca—.

Seabed marks, in decimal, as this site’s old page published them:

• Old Alcossebre fish farm — 40.2318, 0.2995
• Mouth of the San Miguel river — 40.2112, 0.2657
• Off the Jaime I camp — 40.2237, 0.2742
• Rocks off the old tunnel — 40.2055, 0.2606
• Torrenostra seabed — 40.1775, 0.2042
• Torre la Sal wreck — 40.128, 0.1744

There are closed areas —reserves and protected waters— and they change: check with the regional authority or the fishermen’s guild before heading out. Local club: Club de Pesca Deportiva La Dorada, Camí de l’Atall 3, ground floor (Edificio Marina) — 964 41 47 20.

Anything that floats leaves from the Las Fuentes marina: four chandlers and operators with boat hire, a sailing school, kayaks and trips. Berths, services, contact and how to get there are in the marina guide.

Club Deportivo Las Fuentes: Calle Jai Alai 15, 150 metres from Las Fuentes beach and the marina. Running since the 1970s, with padel and tennis courts, a jai alai wall, gym, pool with garden and pilates, yoga and zumba classes. General line 614 98 65 70; for membership, ask for Roberto on 636 99 34 86. Also clubdeportivolasfuentes@gmail.com and clubdeportivolasfuentes.es. Members get the courts and the gym included, plus 6,000 m² of garden with a barbecue, terrace and café. It hosts the Alcossebre Tennis Tournament – C. D. Las Fuentes Trophy. The club restaurant is Club 21 (964 41 48 78), which has its own page here.

There are more courts at the Club Deportivo San Francisco and in developments such as Fuente Sol, for owners and their guests.

TriAlcossebre, the local triathlon: 750 m swim off Las Fuentes beach, about 25 km on the bike along Avenida Manila and the Las Fuentes road, and 7 km on foot along the promenade and the Paseo del Faro. Finish and transition on the Plaza del Paseo.

Alcossebre – Alcalà de Xivert MTB ride: a roughly 30 km cyclotourist ride between the two centres, in spring, alongside the April festivities. Open to all.

Pujà a Santa Llúcia: a 17 km hill race run by els Amics de les Curses Populars, through the pine wood and L’Estopet and up to the hermitage —400 m up, with the Columbretes in view on a clear day—.

Dates change every year: they are published in the Alcossebre events diary and the festivities guide.