Costa Blanca travel information and video

Holiday information, facts, photos and video about Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca, or White Coast, is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations. The region extends 200 kilometres along the Mediterranean coast through the province of Alicante, stretching from Gandia to Torrevieja.

Visitors to the Costa Blanca are spoilt for choice, for the destinations are varied and diverse. The Costa Blanca has a resort to suit every taste. From the most bustling and cosmopolitan resorts such as Alicante itself, or Benidorm, to those which still maintain their rural air beside the sea, such as Moraira.


History
The Costa Blanca has a celebrated and rich history, and there are many interesting sites throughout the region, which have brought
evidence to light that date back the region to the Neolithic Era.

The region was also a strategically important for many settlers, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Carthaginians and Moors. With each civilization living a mark of its identity on the land. Probably the most evident is the influence of the Roman and Moorish occupations, which are present even today in the villages, monuments and cultural attractions of the Costa Blanca.


Natural surroundings
To the North, a curtain of mountains runs parallel to the sea, descending at times to form cliffs; to the South, a vast plain of sand patches, palm trees
and salt deposits make up the backdrop for the beaches.

From the valleys, which are covered with stepped orchards and keep alive its Moorish past, to the palm trees of unmistakable African origin, the
horizons of the Costa Blanca offer the most varied attractions.

The fields of almond trees, the vineyards, the fruit
orchards and the magnificent palm trees, which form vegetation emphasizing theoriental nature of the landscape.

Natural caves exist within the cliffs, which can be
visited by using precarious ladders; the caves are known, because of their dangerous conditions, as pesqueras de la muerte (fishing grounds of death).

Heading inland in this region, the traveller will find, among the vineyards and fields, some fine examples of riu-rau, a popular type of dwelling preceded by an arcaded front which has inspired many of the villas that have been constructed more recently.


Towns & Villages of the Costa Blanca
Denia is a delightful cosmopolitan town located along the Mediterranean coastline, where the sun
shines almost all year. Its climate of mild temperatures and its 20 kms of sandy beaches and rocky coves makes Denia an ideal place to holidaying in.


Benisa is located towards the northern end of the Costa Blanca, just off the A-7 Motorway; the
trip to and from Alicante airport takes just over one hour. The stretch of coastline between Calpe and Maraira is home to a number of quiet relaxing bays. The scenery is magnificent; spectacular rocks contrasting with the high mountain backdrop.

Javea is a small, historic town, free of high rise buildings offering a relaxing holiday atmosphere. The local people are friendly and affable. The clean, warm, blue Mediterranean Sea laps the beautiful beaches and coves that Javea has to offer.

Moraira is small coastal town situated in the beautiful mountainous north-eastern tip of the
Costa Blanca. The resort is conveniently placed between the airports of Alicante and Valencia (about 90km from each). The surrounding region has a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, with beautiful and unspoilt scenery and many small villages to explore. 



At the heart of the Costa Blanca, within the region
of Valencia lies the ancient fishing village of Calpe. Now transformed into a tourist magnet, the town sits in an ideal location, easily accessed by the A7 motorway and the N332 that runs from Valencia to Alicante; its approximately one hour
drive from the airport at Alicante.

In the centre of the La Marina Baixa region, is the popular Spanish resort of Benidorm, one of the
main tourist destinations along the Costa Blanca. Its excellent beaches, wide variety of accommodation, restaurants and many recreational activities means it’s a hit with tourists from all over Spain and Northern Europe.

Alicante is centrally located on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. The air of the city is pervaded with the scents of the sea; indeed the city has been an important seaport for many
centuries. There is nothing as pleasant as strolling along the quayside promenade lined by four rows of palms, tessellated with marble in Alicante red, cream and black in imitation of the waves of the Mediterranean.

Torrevieja is situated on the Costa Blanca, approximately 40 minutes south of Alicante
airport. It isn’t a resort in the package holiday sense, there are only a few hotels and the area is much loved by the Spanish who flock here during the summer months for their holidays. The town is surrounded by excellent urbanisations, all with
pools and beautiful gardens and the whole area enjoys fabulous beaches with fine sand and crystal clear waters.

Santa Pola is located on the Costa Blanca,
approximately 20 minutes drive south of Alicante airport. A small fishing port, Santa Pola is famous for its variety of landscapes, from the views of the
distant mountains to the wild sand dunes.

The town of Guardamar with a population of just over 11,000 has historically played the role of guardian of the river Segura. Guardamar’s strategic position on a hill over the Vega Baja made it an ideal settlement for the various cultures that have inhabited this part of Spain over the centuries.

Orihuela is the capital of the region of the same name; the administrative area stretches inland from the coast and covers a number of smaller towns and villages, as well as three golf courses, two marinas, the beaches at La Zenia and Dehesa de Campoamor and a considerable amount of farmland.

Cuisine
Try any of the delicious varieties of rice dishes, combined with shellfish, fish or meat that are renowned in the region of the Costa Blanca.

Climate
The climate offers variations, but the temperatures are usually mild, with the annual average a little higher than 17ºC.