GANDIA NATURAL

— Frequently asked questions

FAQ

  • When is the best season for hiking in La Safor?

    From October to May. The climate is dry Mediterranean, with mild winters and plenty of sun. Summer is too hot for long routes; if you go out in July or August, do it at dawn or dusk and always check the forecast.

  • Do I need previous experience?

    Every route page shows its difficulty on the Wikiloc scale. Routes marked easy or family-friendly require no prior experience. For moderate or harder routes, you should have done a walk of similar length and elevation gain before.

  • What does the difficulty scale mean?

    We use the Wikiloc scale, which combines distance, elevation and terrain in a single rating: easy (under 7 km and 300 m of elevation gain), moderate (7–14 km and 300–700 m), hard (14–20 km and 700–1,200 m), very hard (over 20 km, over 1,200 m or exposed sections).

  • What is the minimum gear I need?

    Shoes with good grip, layered clothing, enough water for the whole route, a charged phone, a map or GPS with the GPX downloaded, and sun protection. In summer add a hat and extra water; in winter, a windproof layer. Urban routes are fine in comfortable trainers; mountain routes call for hiking boots or trail shoes.

  • Do I need a car to do the routes?

    Not for all of them. Three of the five routes start in central Gandia and can be done on foot. The Forat de l'Aire route in the Mondúver does need a car, since it starts at the Centre d'Interpretació Parpalló–Borrell car park.

  • How do I get to Gandia?

    By train: there is direct AVE Intercity service from Madrid, and the C-1 commuter line runs from Valencia roughly every 30 minutes, about one hour. By car: AP-7 motorway, exit 60. The closest airport is Valencia (Manises), some 80 km away by motorway.

  • Are the routes waymarked on the ground?

    Not uniformly. Some sections follow officially marked PR or GR trails; others have no marks or only old, faded ones. Always carry the GPX downloaded in a hiking app or on a GPS watch. Do not rely on painted marks alone.

  • How do I use the downloaded GPX file?

    Import it into a hiking app (Wikiloc, OsmAnd, Komoot, Gaia GPS, Strava) or load it onto a GPS watch. Do it at home before you leave, not once you are already in the sierra: coverage there is patchy.

  • Is there mobile coverage in the sierra?

    Partial. On the higher reaches of the Mondúver and in some ravines there is no signal. Carry the GPX offline, tell someone your route before setting off, and consider a GPS watch so your track does not depend on the phone.

  • Is there drinking water on the routes?

    No. Some routes pass springs or ullals, but we cannot guarantee their potability or flow. Set off with all the water you will need: at least one and a half litres for a morning, more in summer and on longer routes.

  • Can I do the routes with a dog or by bike?

    It depends on the route. Each page carries tags showing whether it allows dogs (always on a leash, picking up after them) or is cyclable. The Vía Verde del Serpis is fully bike-friendly; the mountain routes are not necessarily.

  • What should I do in an emergency?

    Call 112. Share your location: if you have a signal, open Wikiloc or Google Maps and send the coordinates. Spain's official My112 app transmits your position even on a weak signal. Always tell someone where you are going and when to expect you back.