Travesía Navidad - Playa del Postiguet

Swimming in the Mediterranean in late December requires a specific mindset, as the waters of Playa del Postiguet hover in a range that tests thermal endurance without the aid of neoprene. The Travesía Navidad Playa del Postiguet, organized by the Concejalía de Deportes and Club Natación Aquatic Alicante, invites swimmers to face these winter conditions head-on, with a mandatory no-wetsuit policy that reinforces the event's raw, sporting character. As you push off from the Cocó area, the water behaves with the seasonal stability of the Alicante bay, though the absence of thermal gear makes the swim a true exercise in focus and steady pacing.

A landscape of ancient navigation

Navigating these waters, you are effectively retracing the maritime history of the city. The looming presence of Mount Benacantil, which rises 169 meters above the sea and is crowned by the Santa Barbara Castle, has served as a primary visual landmark for navigators since antiquity. The name of the city itself originates from the Greek 'Akra Leuké', or 'White Promontory', a direct reference to the limestone mass of this mountain that guided ancient mariners toward the coast. It is believed that the Carthaginian leader Hamilcar Barca established a strategic base here in the 3rd century BC, utilizing the height of the mount to watch over the very bay you are traversing.

Further along the coast, the submerged history of the region becomes part of your sensory experience. The Roman city of Lucentum, situated at the Tossal de Manises, once relied on a maritime-fluvial port at the mouth of the Albufereta ravine. By the 3rd century AD, sediment accumulation from the ravine rendered this port unusable, a geological shift that forced the local population to relocate toward the slopes of the Benacantil. While you swim, you are effectively moving through a zone of transition that has defined the human geography of this shore for two millennia. The area also hosts the unique Tabarca marine reserve, where the seabed is carved by the abrasion platform of the island, characterized by distinct biological structures built by vermetid mollusks that form small atolls and cushions along the shoreline.

Race day and community

The event offers distances of 800m, 1500m, and 3000m, making it a versatile challenge for those who handle cold water well. The entry fee of 20 EUR supports the necessary maritime logistics, including safety boat coverage and traffic management within the active harbor area. This race marks the first point-scoring event of the local league, and it carries a different atmosphere compared to the summer circuits, such as the annual harbor crossing or the commemorative port anniversary swim. Registration closes on December 17, 2025, ensuring that the final list of swimmers is ready for the mid-winter start in the clear, low-pollution waters of the Alicante coast.