Located in south-western Europe, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea,
between Portugal and France Spain covers a total
area of 505,957 sq km and has 4,964 km of
coastline. Besides five other places of
sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco,
Spain consists of 17 administrative regions, 15
of which are on mainland Spain. Spain occupies
four-fifths of the Iberian peninsula and is a
land of immense geographical diversity. It
offers the tourist a great deal. Spain's
coastline has long since been a magnet for
visitors but in recent years more and more
people are spending holiday time, exploring
beautiful and cultural Spain, away from the sea
and sand. Spain has everything from lush, green
forests and mountain ranges, through to endless
arid plains and long, sandy beaches.
Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca, part of the 'Comunidad
Valenciana' is the coastline that stretches
170 miles along Spain's east coast centred on
Alicante and running from Valencia in the north
to La Manga in the south. It is famous for the
resort of Benidorm which has a reputation for
being a unique family resort. The countryside at
the north end of the Costa Blanca is
attractively mountainous and rocky. All the
resorts have plenty to offer for tourists and
have a wide selection of accommodation both near
the beach and rising up the hillside.
The area is well serviced by Alicante airport
(plus Valencia airport in the north and Murcia
airport in the south). Alicante is a holiday
resort in itself and offers a wonderful city
with great shopping. Just south of the airport
lies the resort of Torrevieja with its sandy
beach and lively market, several golf courses
and wonderful accommodation. Near Cartagena is
the well known sports and golf complex of La
Manga.
Inland from the beaches lies one of Spain's most
fertile areas, well known for the citrus trees
that supply fruit worldwide, almond trees that
blanket the ground with rich blossom and date
palms in massive forests.
The Costa Blanca is one of those resorts where
everyone can find their place in the sun, from
cosmopolitan towns where life goes on 24 hours a
day to sleepy little villages where the peace
and tranquillity is unique.
Fiestas
When it comes to fiestas and festivals, there
are so many on the Costa Blanca, you are bound
to see one wherever you are, whatever time of
year. As with the rest of Spain, one of the most
important events is the Semana Santa or Easter
Week.
Sports and recreation
Much of a holiday on the Costa Blanca will be
spent on one of the wonderful beaches and there
are hundreds of miles of them. Most of the major
resorts have facilities for water sports such as
skiing, boating, jet-skiing etc and several have
diving and snorkelling available. Scuba-diving
has taken off in a big way on the Costa Blanca.
Wind surfing is one of Spain's fastest growing
sports and on this coast it is popular.
One of the good things about coming on holiday
to the Costa Blanca is the different types of
places you can visit. There is great variety and
each place has something for everyone. For
example you can go inland and enjoy the unspoilt
'real' Spain or you can stay on the coast and
enjoy the hustle and bustle and nightlife of
Benidorm or alternatively within a short
distance you can stay on the coast in quaint,
quiet fishing villages - the choice is yours!
NORTHERN COSTA BLANCA
The Northern Costa Blanca coast starts around
Gandia and Oliva. This area is full of orange
groves and majestic mountains in the background.
The sandy beaches are excellent and uncrowded.
Inland is pretty with Jativa a beautiful town
with a superb castle.
Moving down the coast you come to Denia which
has a marina and port from which you can get a
ferry across to Ibiza and Majorca. Now the coast
changes from being flat to rugged with coves and
rocky beaches. To the south of Denia comes Javea
with its sandy beach followed by Moraira, a
smaller town also with a good sandy beach.
Inland is the Jalon Valley famous for its
vineyards and blossoms with the working town of
Pedreguer and Benitachell nearby.
Next down the coast comes the rolling hillsides
of Benissa with its rocky beaches and then Calpe,
one of the Costa Blanca's most famous tourist
destinations. Originally a small fishing village,
Calpe is now a busy town with high rise hotels
and apartments blocks dominating the skyline.
Calpe has the famous rock called the Penon de
Ifach which rises from the sea. On either side
are two fantastic wide sandy beaches.
Heading
south we come across swanky Altea with its hills
full of whitewashed houses, winding cobbled
streets and designer shops. Next is Alfaz del Pi
(also known as L'Alfas del Pi) and then Benidorm,
the biggest tourist resort on the Costa Blanca.
Benidorm is huge with masses of high rise
skyscrapers. The three beaches are excellent and
the nightlife is legendary. There are plenty of
hotels, cafes, entertainment, shopping and a
number of fine theme parks for the family. After
Benidorm the coast becomes flat with mile after
mile of sandy beaches. Also the mountains in the
background begin to fade further and further
away. To the south is the town of Villajoyosa.
If you go inland from here you will come to the
castle at Guadalest, a renowned tourist
attraction. Much further inland is the large
town of Alcoy, (also known as Alcoi) famous for
its many bridges.
SOUTHERN COSTA BLANCA
Once south of Villajoyosa there is a succession
of similar beach resorts with high rise
apartment blocks and hotels although nothing
like as big as Benidorm. First there is El
Campello, then San Juan and then we hit Alicante,
the gateway to the Costa Blanca. Alicante
airport is where most people arrive into the
Costa Blanca. Strangely because it is a lovely
city, has a great marina and beaches - most
people immediately exit the airport either south
towards Torrevieja or north towards Benidorm.
South of Alicante are a number of coastal beach
resorts. Firstly Santa Pola, La Marina,
Guardamar del Segura and then Torremlamata.
Inland towns of note are Elche (or Elx) famous
for its many palm trees, Orihuela, Ontinyent,
Crevillente and Ciudad Quesada.
Back to the coast and we arrive at Torrevieja
with its nice beaches. The amount of building in
this area has been immense with sprawling
developments everywhere. There are quite a
number of golf courses in this area with
Villamartin and Rojales both just off the coast
having three golf courses within easy reach.
South of Torrevieja are more beach resorts -
Residencia Los Altos, Punta Prima, Playa
Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Campoamor, Pilar
de la Horadada, San Pedro del Pinatar and
finally La Manga.
Will you be calling the
Spanish east coast your home soon?
Heading
south we come across swanky Altea with its hills
full of whitewashed houses, winding cobbled
streets and designer shops. Next is Alfaz del Pi
(also known as L'Alfas del Pi) and then Benidorm,
the biggest tourist resort on the Costa Blanca.
Benidorm is huge with masses of high rise
skyscrapers. The three beaches are excellent and
the nightlife is legendary. There are plenty of
hotels, cafes, entertainment, shopping and a
number of fine theme parks for the family. After
Benidorm the coast becomes flat with mile after
mile of sandy beaches. Also the mountains in the
background begin to fade further and further
away. To the south is the town of Villajoyosa.
If you go inland from here you will come to the
castle at Guadalest, a renowned tourist
attraction. Much further inland is the large
town of Alcoy, (also known as Alcoi) famous for
its many bridges.