Costa Blanca - Towns

The Costa Blanca extends along the entire coastal area of the province of Alicante and is a great example of what is known as Mediterranean landscape.

From Denia to Pilar de la Horadada, passing through Javea, Calpe, Alicante, Orihuela, Santa Pola or Torrevieja, the Mediterranean meets a land full of light that has an exceptional climate. A complete tourist infrastructure, a spectacular landscape, a suggestive varied gastronomy, popular festivities, sports, culture and liveliness transform the Costa Blanca into one of the most cosmopolitan places of Europe. The traveller may opt for any of the corners of this coast, from the loudest and most cosmopolitan to those very close to the sea that maintain their rural ambience.

The Beaches along the Costa Blanca are divided in two sections. The first one, from the border with the province of Valencia to the city of Alicante and the second one from Alicante to the border of the Murcia province.

The first section is formed by 90 kilometres of seaboard. Here, the most important tourist enclave, Benidorm, is found with its Levante and Poniente beaches. Also, one can find municipalities like Denia (with a direct ferry connection to the Balearic Islands), as well as small fishing towns like Altea. Additionaly, there are municipalities in the process of expansion, such as Javea or Calpe, San Juan or El Campello:

• Benidorm. A unique geographical configuration of mountains (Sierrra Helada to the east, Aitana to the north and Tossal de la Cala to the west) protect it from the wind effects. Benidorm’s beaches have earned a great reputation and the continued success of this enclave is due to the fabulous golden beaches in the shape of a half-moon. They are among the best in Europe because of their length (6 km from Levante Beach to Poniente Beach), their blue flags for swimmers, life guards, large selection of water sports and for their cleanliness and hygienics.
• Denia. An important active port divides the Denia coast in two completely different sections, commonly known as Les Marines and Les Rotes. To the north, along more than 10 km of coast are located the most popular and crowded beaches: the Marinas beaches. They offer all types of services and a seasonal facility that offers windsurfing classes and board rentals. In its sporting harbours (Nautical Club and La Marina Port) and in other private centres one can find schools for other water sports: sailing, rowing, kayaking, and scuba-diving… To the south of the port, with the Montgo Nature Reserve as a backdrop, the coast becomes cliffy with rocky coves and transparent water, and extends to the Natural Marine Reserve of San Antonio Cape, a perfect location for scuba-diving enthusiasts. All beaches and coves in Denia are ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environment management) certified.
• Altea. Located in the Marina Baixa region, the city of Altea opens to the sea from one of the most beautiful bays in the Mediterranean. From atop a hill, protected from the cold winds by the interior mountains, the town offers all the charm of a Mediterranean fishing town.
• Javea. From San Antonio Cape to the Granadella Cove, Javea is a perfect example of the varied coastal areas that the Costa Blanca has to offer. In it, one can enjoy sailing, scuba-diving or simply swimming. Towards the north, the coast offers the possibility of discovering sea depths in the Marine Natural Reserve at the San Antonio Cape. In the harbour, one can hire a cruise, learn how to sail at one of their schools, or in the summer, take a ship that travels along the coast to Denia. On the southern part of the harbour, a rocky coastal area with crystal clear water invites one for a dip. Further south, a large beach of fine sand is ideal for sun bathing and there are seasonal rentals of windsurfing boards and paddle boats. The coast becomes even more beautiful and wilder between the capes of San Martin and La Nao and between the islands of Portichol and El Descubridor, and offers excellent depths for scuba-diving. Finally, the attractive Granadella Cove shows off its golden sand and clear water for the enjoyment of swimmers.
• Benitachell. A bold rough coast with cliffs that reach 100 metres above sea level in some points. This is the first image that one discovers when travelling to this section of the coast. It is a perfect place for scuba-diving enthusiasts where one can discover endless attractive interesting caves and spots. For those that prefer sun bathing, the cove best known as Del Moraig offers a clean pebble beach with transparent water.
• Moraira. Moraira’s Point, an imposing rock that points directly to the south, divides the coast in two. To the north, the Portet beach stands out as a beautiful cove with clear water for beginning windsurfers. To the south, another pretty sandy cove and an open, but crowded beach mark the beginning of the rocky coves that continue endlessly to Benissa.
• Calpe. From small rocky coves to large urban beaches of fine sand, Calpe possesses a diversified and attractive coast where clear water is the main feature. Among Calpe’s beautiful and tranquil coves Les Bassetes to the north is notable. It offers natural protection to learn sailing and has interesting sea bottoms with large Poseidonia prairies for scuba-diving. A sailing school and a scuba-diving club allow the practice of both activities. In contrast, the La Fossa and El Arenal beaches are crowded and noisy, with an entire range of services, a manicured promenade and seasonal facilities to rent windsurf boards, paddle boats and jet skis. The offer of available activities is complemented by the sailing school in the nautical club, a scuba-diving club in Puerto Blanco and a golf club. And after having tried all of that, there is a 332 m rock at the Penon de Ifach Nature Preserve, a perfect challenge for those that enjoy mountain climbing.
• San Juan. Just 10 Km from Alicante, on the north is Playa San Juan, a semi-urban tourist centre with fine golden sand, 2,900 m in length and 85 m wide. It is a windy beach with moderate surf, with a Blue Flag, an award obtained for its clean beaches and respect for the environment.
• El Campello. El Campello has 23 km of coast with all types of beaches, from Muchavista, very popular beach bordering San Juan, to the rocky coves of Llop Mari or Morro Blanc. Nudism can be practiced on the cove of flat rocks in Lloma de Reixes.
• Alicante. As expected from a city dedicated to the sea, a maritime façade (with its beaches, harbour and promenade) forms Alicante’s main identity. In its northern-most tip, the renown San Juan beach –with all types of services and seasonal facilities- extends its fine sand along 3 km to the Huertas Cape, that separates it from the popular Albufereta beach. In the city centre, next to the esplanade, is the Postiguet beach. The harbour is the most popular area for leisure and night life, besides its restaurants, pubs, and discotheques, it has a nautical club and a sporting marina that offer thousands of possibilities: light sailing, cruise rentals and scuba-diving centres. From the harbour one can take boats to the Tabarca Island Marine Reserve- a paradise for scuba enthusiasts because of its extraordinary sea bottoms with Poseidonia prairies- and has a small, but clean sandy beach. Finally, the Saladar beach, located to the south of the harbour has golden sand and a full range of services. The opportunity to practice sports is complete with three excellent golf courses, a tennis club, horseback riding and many other large sporting facilities.

In its second section, from Alicante to the Community of Murcia, there are 60 kilometres of coast with many tourist opportunities:

• Santa Pola is a very important tourist municipality. The Natural Reserve of Salinas (salt flats) has an interesting landscape, fauna and environment. There is boat service from Santa Pola to visit the Island of Tabarca and Santa Pola’s reef. The beaches to the west are ideal for children and seniors, those to the east are protected from the northern winds by the Santa Pola Cape and they have crystalline waters and fine sand. The beaches of “Varadero” and “Levante” are located between the Cape and the harbour.
• Elche. This is the palm tree capital par excellence. It has a coast approximately 9 kilometres long with golden sandy beaches and many services for swimmers. Around the beach area, the sand is white, the landscapes are very exotic and there are dunes.
• Santa Pola or Guardamar del Segura are two municipalities that contain true historical jewels. The Island of Tabarca, across from Santa Pola, measures two kilometres long and four hundred meters wide and has important areas for scuba-diving with natural hidden paradises. The Segura river’s estuary is a beautiful area surrounded by dunes and forests
• Torrevieja. It is situated on a flat land surrounded by lagoons. The region offers splendid beaches that develop its tourist capacity in combination with its fishing and salt mining tradition. From north to south, its coastal strip begins with the popular fine sandy beach of La Mata. El Mojon and Las Zorras stand among the series of small and rocky coves that extend between the Cervera Cape and Salaret’s Point. The most popular beaches are Los Locos and La del Cura, both of fine sand
• Orihuela. This town has 16 kilometers of coast that alternates between cliffs with transparent water and fine sandy beaches of renown prestige: Punta Prima, La Zenia, Cape Roig, Campoamor, Playa Flamenca and Mil Palmeras. Year after year, Orihuela’s beaches obtain a blue flag distinction in accordance to the environmental regulations of the European Community. In addition, with a climate that guarantees an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and more than 300 days of sunshine, nautical sports can be practiced all year long in its beaches, coves and marinas.