Javea

Javea lies about 80 km north east of Alicante, in between Denia and Altea. The average Javea weather reaches temperatures of up to 40°C in summer. The World Health Organisation once named it as having one of the healthiest climates in the world, enjoying more recorded hours of sunshine per year than any other place in Spain. Javea is divided into three distinct sections, all quite different to one another. There's the old town - the original Javea - set slightly back from the coast and the place to visit if you're interested in Spanish history and culture. Here you'll find charming, narrow streets, shopkeepers speaking the local language "Valenciano" and a truly Spanish feel to the place. Then there's the port area - still a working fishing port and a delightful place to visit with its mixture of fishing vessels, luxury yachts and seafront bars and cafes, the third section is The Arenal Beach  - a beautiful crescent shaped sandy beach with a promenade lined with bars, cafes, restaurants, gift shops and ice-cream parlours.

Javea is spread out over a large area, there are small beaches in delightful coves to discover, cultural and historical sites and monuments, wonderful walks and two headland lighthouses with breath taking views. Javea's most distinctive feature is the mountain known locally as "the Montgo". This provides a dramatic backdrop for the resort and those who live in Javea swear blind it's an elephant, turned to stone, with its trunk dipping into the sea for a drink. It's a strange phenomenon but you can even see the elephant's eye close as the sun goes down.

Depending on what time of year you intend to visit, you may well get a chance to savour a real Spanish fiesta. One of the most spectacular fiestas in Javea is the "Fogueres de Sant Joan" in mid June. This goes on for several days culminating in the burning of a huge papier-mache effigy in the old town - a tableau, which takes months to create.  Visit in mid-July and you'll catch the elaborate Moors and Christians fiestas with colourful street parades in the port. In the first week of September there are yet more fiestas in the port in honour of the Virgen del Loreto. Once again the streets will be full of running bulls, firecrackers, bands, parades and fireworks.

Denia

Denia is located about 85 km north east of Alicante along the Costa Blanca. Denia in between Gandia and Javea, Denia lies directly on the outskirts of the mountain Montgo. The average Denia weather reaches temperatures of up to 40 °C in summer.

This is a delightful cosmopolitan town, rich in history and culture.

It posses one of the most important harbours of the area, with ferry connections to Ibiza, Mallorca and others. This and the huge fishing fleet have made Denia a very prosperous town over the past years.

One of the most visited tourist attractions of Denia is the castillo (castle). The castle built in the 11th and 12th century offers a wonderful view around the sea, the city and the back lands.

Denia is also a thriving commercial centre. It boasts modern supermarkets, an extraordinary number of banks, some top quality shops, tax consultants, lawyers, doctors, dentists, the area's biggest hospitals and the courts of justice.

Shopping in Denia is a sheer delight. Besides offering all the high street essentials, there are some top of the range clothes shops with designer wear for both men and women and beautiful gift shops specialising in the unusual and exquisite. A myriad of restaurants offers some of the best regional and international cuisine on the Costa Blanca. There are some great tapas bars, seafood restaurants with a mouth-watering selection of produce fresh from local waters, Indonesian, Mexican, Italian and Greek restaurants. As for the beaches, they stretch for 20 kilometres either side of Denia and consistently win the European Blue Flag for safety and cleanliness. All the main beaches have the full benefits of sunshades and beds to hire and a generous sprinkling of beach "chiringuitos" - beach bars selling alcoholic and soft drinks, ice creams and snacks. There are plenty of beach-based activities both on and off the water. There are climbing frames, volleyball nets and huge expanses of spare beach set well back from the sea - ideal for football and other team sports. You can hire sailboats, dinghies and pedaloes; Go fishing from the rocks at Les Rotes which also provide the perfect environment for snorkelling and scuba diving.

It's also a town big on fiestas, One of Denia's biggest "parties" takes place in March. This is the fiesta of the "Fallas" when huge papier-mache effigies are erected on street corners throughout the town - then burnt to the ground in a spectacular bonfire party. June sees the "Fogueres de San Juan" fiestas with yet more burning - this time it's giant bonfires on the beach echoing the pagan rituals celebrating midsummer night. The Spanish simply love fun, fire, fiestas and fireworks.

During its Christ of the Holy Blood fiesta in July Denia holds its famous "Bous al Mar" (literally "Bulls to the Sea"). It's listed as a fiesta of National Tourist, The Spanish go wild with excitement but be warned - it's enough to turn the stomach of many an animal loving Brit! In August there's the big Moors and Christians fiesta with spectacular street parades recalling the many hundreds of years of Moorish occupation of this part of Spain. There are many other smaller religious feasts throughout the year, which give Denia the chance to let its hair down.

Calpe

Calpe is found between Altea to the south and Javea to the north, Calpe with its about 13 000 habitants is known for its rock called the penon de lfach. The Peñón de Ifach is the symbol of Calpe. It is the highest rock in the entire Mediterranean and divides Calpe's shoreline in two. The limestone mass is 332 metres high and penetrates 1 kilometre into the sea, forming a first-rate geological feature. The Peñon is now a nature reserve and, despite its formidable appearance, a walk to the top is straightforward enough if you are averagely fit, taking an hour or a little more. A tunnel carved through one cliff face takes you to the gentler slopes on the other side, but you still need to scramble a bit in places - so be sure to have sensible footwear. The view from the top is stupendous.

At the foot of the Peñón are the 'Baños de la Reina' (literally, The Queen's Baths) that, in reality, was the site of a Roman 'factory' for the drying and salting of fish.

The Old Town is beginning to attract more and more visitors because it is becoming a very interesting part of the town.  There are Museums, picturesque little streets and squares and many bars and restaurants, most of them with a lively terrace, an ideal place to spend a pleasant summer evening. Calpe will surprise you with its daring contrasts, where modern buildings and wide avenues harmonize with an ancient fishing village, where locals are proud of their past, yet welcome tourists and visitors with warm hearted hospitality.

 

One of the attractions of the town itself is that it isn't just a holiday resort, dominated by bars, ice cream parlours and restaurants. It has a huge number of thriving businesses, ranging from department stores and furniture emporiums to the sort of hardware and ironmongery shops. It's a market town for the surrounding area (literally, as there is a huge Saturday market with superb fresh produce, as well as clothes, leather goods and bric-a-brac) and doesn't die in the winter, unlike so many seaside resorts. That makes it a particularly popular destination for long-stay winter visitors. Many visitors never move from its wonderful beaches, but those who do find there are plenty of walks and places of interest to keep them occupied.

There are 11 kilometres of sandy beaches and coves, where scuba diving and fishing are possible. Calpe's attractions have made the village a tourist destination of note for both national and international visitors.

Moraira

Moraira enjoys a typical subtropical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection by surrounding mountains against the cold North winds in winter. The area averages nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees. In 1986 the World Health Organisation recommended the climate of the area as one of the most equitable in the world - neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. On average it can boast 325 sunny days each year making it an ideal all year round destination. Moraira's perfect orientation provides the majority of its properties with a southerly downhill view towards the sea where there once was a sleepy fishing village, Moraira has grown to strict planning laws is still very pretty and not over-developed. It has an impressive marina, excellent variety of local shops, weekly open markets, harbour-side fish restaurants and bars still retaining their Spanish character. The main hub of life is beside the pretty yacht marina offering a good selection of restaurants and bars where you can sit outside and watch the world go by. A charming square still retains much of the original character and atmosphere and is home to the local church. There are restaurants, bars and several interesting shops lining the narrow cobbled streets.

This little town has it gently-shelving sandy beach with shallow waters and a smaller beach in the adjacent hamlet of El Portet. Both beaches were awarded the prestigious EEC Blue Flags for cleanliness and are safe for family bathing, both are also served by beach bars and restaurants, which serve drinks, snacks and main meals.

If you like open markets then, apart from the weekly Friday market held next to the beach, you could plan a visit to the various markets held at nearby resorts for each day of the week! Apart from the buzzing activity you would see cheap fresh fruit and vegetables, local specialities, herbs and spices, leather goods, clothes, rugs, fresh and silk flowers, souvenirs, pottery and a whole variety of other goods.

Local leisure facilities include tennis, football, squash, all water sports, boat hire and trips, horse-riding, go-kart racing tracks for both adults and children, a small fairground and three good night-clubs for all ages. There are too many restaurants of interest and good quality to list here.  As in all of Spain there are numerous Fiestas held in this region throughout the year with specific ones held in April, June, July and November in Moraira. The Spanish people of Moraira are extremely friendly and patient with foreign visitors to the area although they do not depend on tourism for their livelihood, as agriculture is the predominant feature. With a large European resident community existent, there is a pleasant international feel to the area. Most people are pleased to speak English with you and even more pleased if a small attempt to speak Spanish is made.

Altea and Altea Hills

One of the most desirable areas of the North Costa Blanca with exceptional views over the Mediterranean, the bay of Altea and the coastline, which is stunning when illuminated at night. ‘Altea Hills’ is set up into the mountains boasting its own community, amenities and luxury 5 star hotel.

Altea town has all the shops and amenities you would expect as well as a marina which is soon to be expanded to accommodate a further 200 berths.  Altea is located in the Spanish region of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. This is without doubt one of the most charming towns to be found on Spain's "White Coast". The town is just 11 kilometres north of Benidorm but these two resorts are worlds apart. Altea is a restful resort where there's plenty to see and do without being bothered by the mayhem which typifies some of the busier coastal towns. The magnificently jumbled and cluttered centre of the Old Town provides Altea with a special charm.  At the foot of the hill lies the wide sea promenade and the commercial street.  Down at the seafront you'll find a series of pebble and shingle beaches where the full range of water sports are available during the summer months. The seafront promenade is also the venue for the huge Tuesday market, one of the biggest of its kind on the Costa Blanca Altea's peacefulness and tranquillity have made it a paradise for artists and craftsmen and their shops and stalls are scattered throughout. The streets themselves are a delight with their whitewashed buildings adorned with jasmine and geraniums.

 Private homes, shops and restaurants sit comfortably side by side in a jumble of buildings. Enjoy the town's many wonderful restaurants during your stay - you'll find top quality local and international cuisine at very reasonable prices. And in the summer months, the cobbled streets of the old quarter with their street terraces are a perfect place to people watch while you eat.

Jalon Valley

Situated just a 25 minute drive inland from the coastal towns of Denia, Javea, Moraira and Calpe this is the ideal location to be just off the beaten track yet close enough to enjoy the coast. Jalon is the principal town in the Val de Pop, or Jalon Valley. The scenery is beyond compare and is a popular valley for walkers and sightseers. Over 50% of Jalon remains untouched, these areas are working vineyards, orange, lemon and almond groves, and greenbelt areas. The summer is not to be missed, with the grapes being harvested and ferried to the local bodegas where you are welcome to stroll round and try any of the local wines which Jalon is famous for. The village remains traditional with the townhouses dating back many centuries. In the spring the valley is a stunning carpet of pale pink almond blossom. Stunning mountain scenery surrounds the valley towns of Jalon, Alcalali and Parcent. The surrounding area has a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, with beautiful and unspoilt scenery and many small villages to explore. The town comes to life on Tuesdays for market day and Saturdays when people from all over the area come to its famous Rastro, The town also has an assortment of specialist food shops, restaurants and cafes.

 

Benidorm

The town of Benidorm is located in the Spanish region of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. Benidorm is bursting with life - for energetic types who can beach bash all day and party all night, there's no better place. Situated 60 kilometres north of Alicante's El Altet airport, Benidorm is easily accessible, particularly to the British market. Flying time from London is two hours and fifteen minutes. The distinctive skyscrapers are this town's trademarks and they dominate the skyline for miles around. Yet you can drive just 20 minutes inland and find yourself in some of the most beautiful mountainous countryside that Spain has to offer. But the vast majority of visitors never leave the resort - simply because it has so much to offer. It has thousands of bars, cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops…you name it!

There's a fantastic variety of entertainment, which comes in every form imaginable. Down at the beach there are water sports, glass bottomed boats, banana rides, activity rafts and ferry trips. And on the outskirts of the town there are some major attractions for good value family days out. There's Spain's biggest theme park, Terra Mitica, a huge water park and wildlife and seaworld centre, another huge water park is Aqualandia. Next door to Aqualandia you'll find Mundomar - a marine life and exotic animal park with its marvelous menagerie of colourful creatures including parrots, penguins, seals and dolphins.

Visitors flock to Benidorm all year round. The historical centre is located around the Canfali vantage point, which is the most emblematic image of Benidorm with a white stone balcony and a vantage point. The Levante beach can be reached from the Plaza del Castillo either by walking down through the narrow white streets, or through the town's commercial district. Benidorm's attraction lies in the variety of its leisure amenities. Between May and October the climate is sunny and warm for the vast majority of the time. The temperature can push 40C in August with the sea at a very comfortable 25C.

Take a boat ride from the port to Benidorm Island - a 30-minute trip which includes the chance to see the local sea-life through a glass-bottomed boat. There are also half-day excursions by boat to the Costa Blanca resort of Calpe to the north. For a day's excursion inland, try a visit to the extraordinary mountain fortress at Guadalest - now one of the top tourist attractions in the whole of Spain.

One of the top night-time attractions is the Benidorm Palace. Situated on the northern edge of the town, it offers a lavish international cabaret show with top variety acts from around the world. You'll also see some first class flamenco dancing here.

Benidorm's beaches and range of leisure amenities explain why has it has become Costa Blanca's main tourist area. Benidorm has some of the best beaches in the world. The fine sand, cleaned daily, the quality of the services and the transparency of the water are the main reasons given by Benidorm's many visitors. With consistently high quality Blue Flag bathing water, lifeguard patrols, a wealth of water sports and beachfront cafes, and the beaches of Benidorm can rival the best in the world

With more than three miles of wonderful sandy coastline to enjoy, you may never get round to exploring the myriad of delights away from the beach.

Pego.

Pego is the hidden gem of the northern Costa Blanca, sandwiched between orange groves, marshes and nine mountain ranges, is just twenty minutes from the hustle and bustle of Dénia and yet feels like another world.
Between Oliva’s coastline and Pego town lies the Marjal, a natural park which is home to numerous endangered species and is truly an ornithologist’s paradise with herons, linnet, kope and kingfishers, even ospreys and eagles can be seen circling the airspace above.  
From June to August you can take a boat trip across the Marjal, free of charge, or alternatively go on foot or by bicycle. You can enjoy an immense tranquillity and feel totally at one with nature whilst exploring the green valleys and mountains via the network of walkers’ routes to be found in the area. The town has traditionally been associated with growing rice, though its proximity to Valencia has encouraged the growing of citrus fruits to the detriment of rice. No visit to Pego is complete without seeing the Ambra castle, which allows a spectacular view of the town, the orange groves and the rice fields. Pego's most popular monument is the Church of the Assumption with its breathtaking architecture of the 17th century and a bell tower topped with small canons.

The main town of Pego with its attractive town houses offers everything you will need from traditional restaurants and bars to local shops and medical centres.

Pego’s most famous annual fiesta is the carnestoltes, which takes place on a Saturday the week before Lent and attract tourists from as far away as Valencia. The carnestoltes ends the following Saturday with the ‘Burying of the Sardine’, which begins with a slightly more sombre, black-clad parade, and ends with a huge firework display and the Correfocs (where the residents run through the streets carrying lighted torches).

Orba.

Orba is a village situated in the Orba valley and is the most inland area of the Marina Alta, a village proud of its Moorish past. It has approximately 1600 inhabitants. The valley is known for its luxuriant greenness and mountains, combining with the luminous blue of the sky.

Its history can be observed in the locality's name, Orba, which originates from the Arabic Ur-Obia meaning 'the place where water springs from the mountain'.  Orba provides an important transport hub for the Marina Alta as it links Pego with the Marina Baixa and the Retoría Valleys with the Vall de Laguart. Its economy is essentially agricultural with a trend toward the monoculture of citrus fruits, though almonds, carob and olives are also grown. Ceramics are produced and there is also a bag making industry. The town has lots of modern facilities, which include traditional restaurants, bars and local shops. The attraction today arises from its privileged situation, close to the coast and tourist areas, but still conserving characteristics and life style.