Via ferrata on the Costa Blanca: Callosa de Segura and Redován

Just 40 minutes by car from Torrevieja there are two interesting via ferratas. Both have two independent sections: an easier first part and a harder second part. Thanks to this, they can be great fun for families with children who have never tried such attractions before, while at the same time providing thrills for those who already have some experience.

For me and my friends, via ferratas were an interesting option for a rest day during a climbing trip. They didn’t cause us any problems, nor were they as impressive for me as, for example, the via ferrata on Dachstein in the Alps, but some sections — like the pendulum or long bridges, especially in strong wind — were quite exciting :)

Via Ferrata Callosa de Segura

The first section of this via ferrata is graded K3, the second K5. In the “Alpine” scale that would be C and E.

Below is the pin for the parking. When we were there it was closed — maybe because it was midweek and it had rained earlier that day — but normally it should be open.

Orange signs will lead you to the start of the via ferrata.

You will also see a map.

According to the description, the first section takes 1.5 hours, but they probably included the return to the parking if you don’t do the second part. For us the first part took 45 minutes and we weren’t rushing at all.

The first part consists mainly of bridges. Bridge after bridge — some with rungs, others just with metal cables. There were several of them (I don’t remember exactly how many), but all were low above the ground.

The second part of the via ferrata starts with a 100-metre climb on rungs.

Then come more hanging bridges. One short one on a single metal cable, and another standard but very loooong one.

Next you will find long traverses. They started to get a bit boring after a while, although in some places the exposure is really nice.

There are also more difficult sections in the form of descents on overhangs. The video below shows one of them — this one is quite short.

The most difficult part of the via ferrata is the very end — about 40 metres of overhanging descent. For a via ferrata, this is genuinely hard.

The entire trip, from parking to return, took us 4 hours.

Via Ferrata Redován

The via ferrata is located on the same mountain massif, on the other side. With some effort it is possible to do both in one day. Here the first part is graded K2 and the second K4, which corresponds to B and D.

The approach from the parking to the via ferrata takes just a few minutes and is marked with signs. Already from the parking you can see a long hanging bridge in the distance (in the K4 section), and if you look carefully you can also spot two wooden platforms on the vertical rock.

The first part of the via ferrata is, just like in Callosa, bridge after bridge. Several types of bridges, all low above the ground. Basically a rope park that we completed in half an hour.

At the end you will find a boulder with an arrow pointing right back to the parking and an arrow pointing left to the harder part of this via ferrata. It takes just a few minutes to reach it.

The K4 section starts with a long climb on rungs with two wooden platforms for resting. The most interesting part is the pendulum. There is a carabiner on the chain that you clip to your harness belay loop, while the lanyard goes to the loose metal cable. You let go and swing with about 150 metres of air under your feet :) If you don’t want to, you can just traverse normally on the rungs, but it would be a shame to miss such a feature ;)

A bit further there is another attraction – a long hanging bridge. I think the one on Callosa is longer, but this one was more exciting because there was very strong wind. During gusts I could feel the bridge rising up together with me. A really cool sensation, like floating in the air :)

Right after the bridge the via ferrata ends.

At the end you will see a sign pointing right to Redován. We, however, continued the trip. We went up to the summit of Pico del Águila and descended to Callosa de Segura.

The entire trip took us just under 4.5 hours.

Which via ferrata is better? Hard to say. The one in Redován has greater exposure, while the one in Callosa de Segura is more physical. Both are varied with lots of bridges, but only Redován has the pendulum. Both will be challenging for people with a fear of heights or no prior experience with via ferratas or climbing. For people who have been climbing for a longer time, neither will be comparable to real climbing, but they can be an interesting alternative for a rest day.

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