Today, we put on our backpack and, as it could not be otherwise, we will set our destination in the municipality of Elche, specifically between the suburbs of Gran Alacant, Balsares and Los Arenales del Sol. And it is that, within this marked triangle is where one of the most beautiful protected wetlands in the province of Alicante is located, Clot de Galvany. Its great environmental value and proximity to areas of interest such as Carabassí beach make this corner an enclave worth spending a day to visit and enjoy all of its main points of interest.
If you are passionate about nature and have not yet seen it, take note because we are about to go to a Municipal Natural Site where lagoons, dunes, mountains and salt flats form a perimeter considered as a “Zone of special protection for birds” and a point included in the known Natura 2000 Network.
El Clot de Galvany
This site has a massive natural pond, considered as the main attraction for adventurers. Despite being on the verge of disappearing in the 1970s due to urban expansion in the area, the Elche City Council acquired the land to protect the area and carry out measures to restore its natural state.
From the moment you take its different routes and recommended itineraries, which we will show you later, you will notice how the impressive diversity of fauna and flora is distributed throughout its almost 400 hectares.
Today, Clot de Galvany is considered the wetland with the highest biodiversity in the Valencian Community. We will come across all kinds of aquatic birds, such as the chestnut teal or the crab-eater heron, living closely with many other species, including amphibians and reptiles.
Clot de Galvany Routes
Having made the presentation it deserves, we will now show you the routes that the City Council itself proposes. Although you can access to download all this material from the Clot de Galvany website, here is a summary of both routes.
Translated to English: If we take a look at the different options we have on the ground, you will see that there are two routes that can perfectly complement each other, since route number 2 is an extension of the first, allowing you to take a journey of about 8 kilometers in total.
The choice depends on each person, but if you want to take advantage and enjoy the environment to the fullest, we recommend that you prepare the appropriate footwear and do both. However, here is a small sample of what you will find in both.
Route 1. The wetland
It is the shortest, the perfect itinerary to warm up and get motivated to complete the journey. On the wetland route, we will start the tour in the recreational area of Carabassí Beach, next to the Nature Classroom. Here you will find access to the route, as well as a map with the most relevant directions.
This route is practically circular, whether or not we complement it with the second route. If we opt to follow its course, you will have more than 3 kilometers of travel in which you can admire ancient cultivation areas, a bunker from the Civil War that you can visit, and a beautiful viewpoint where you can delight your eyes with a artificial pond. After passing the bunker, we will reach a main observation tower, where we will also have access to the main pond. And, although in this case we will not be able to enter it, we will see a second bunker. At this point, we will have to decide whether to turn back or continue with route 2.
Route 2. The Mountain and the Hill
If we opt to continue our journey, we will descend from the second bunker to the main pond and see that its itinerary will consist of going along it while we enjoy the different landscapes, viewpoints and points of interest.
After having skirted the giant pond, the road will begin to have a positive slope, which will lead us to a high area to reach a mountain. At this point you can enjoy a new landscape with a beautiful pine forest that will offer us different towers with viewpoints.
Its privileged position will allow you to enjoy beautiful panoramic views with the sea and the mountain as protagonists. A little further on, the road will take you to the next ponds and the salt marsh, an interesting point to enjoy the birds. Then, the itinerary will continue its circular form, showing you more observation points and some surprises that we will let you discover on your own.
As you can see, Clot de Galvany is a truly interesting corner for a solo, with friends or family route, being able to discover the richness and diversity of the ecosystems of the Alicante coast. Now you have all the necessary information to set a date and travel its itinerary.
