Deep limestone gorges and arid canyon beds replace the open orange groves as the track heads north out of Santomera. The initial hours tackle rugged, sun-bleached badlands near Abanilla, where dry mud ravines and pale clay formations create a striking lunar landscape. Hard-packed dirt tracks wind through parched gullies before climbing steadily across the regional border into the Alicante province. Here, the desert environment transitions into the elevated plains of the Vinalopó valley. The trail rolls past expansive, stone-walled vineyards dedicated to Monastrell grapes, flanked by steep limestone ridges and prominent marble quarries. A final fast descent over crisp gravel leads directly into Monòver, a historic hillside town rooted in traditional winemaking.
