XV Travesía Hogueras

Breathing rhythmically, you scan the horizon where the rugged slopes of the Sierra Grossa plunge directly into the Mediterranean. Beneath you, the water is remarkably still; this stability is so consistent that the nearby City Hall staircase serves as the national 'cota cero' for all Spanish elevation measurements. As you sight for the next buoy, your eyes catch the silhouettes of ancient stone watchtowers punctuating the coastline, reminders of an era when this bay required constant vigilance against Barbary pirates who once used the distant island of Tabarca as their primary operational base for Mediterranean raids. The XV Travesía Hogueras, held on June 27, 2026, guides you through these historic waters on a 1800-meter course starting at Av. Niza, 1.

Historical currents and the race

Swimming here means tracing the edge of a landscape shaped by centuries of conflict and trade. In the distance, you may spot the outline of the castle fortifications that were the site of the dramatic 1709 siege, a pivotal moment in the War of the Spanish Succession when an entire bastion was compromised by a massive mine. The race, organized by Asociación RC7 de Alicante, offers a direct entry into this maritime heritage for a 22 EUR registration fee. While you focus on your stroke, you are effectively crossing the same expanse that supported the ancient port of Lucentum, whose submerged ruins still sit silent near the Albufereta ravine. This event connects the modern competitive calendar to the deeper history of the Alicante coast, inviting participants to navigate waters that have witnessed everything from Roman trade to 20th-century evacuations. For those seeking additional challenges in the same coastal stretch, the local circuit includes the Travesía La Cantera, which precedes this event by weeks, or the Travesía Solidaria Santa Faz for a different pace.