| The sun-baked Costa Blanca is a 170 mile stretch | | | | newer Arinal beaches. The town spreads up the |
| of white sandy blue flagged beaches, bright blue | | | | slopes of Montgo, the mountain that dominates |
| skies, the sparkling Mediterranean on Spain's east | | | | the view inland. Javea is a very pleasant town |
| coast, centred on Alicante and running from Denia | | | | with nice beaches, good restaurants and an |
| in the north to Mazarrón in the south. It's | | | | historic old centre and port. |
| a wonderful place for a holiday. | | | | Moraira is smaller and doesn't have so much of an |
| There's plenty to do throughout the Costa Blanca | | | | old centre, having grown from a small fishing |
| If a fantastic Mediterranean environment was all | | | | village. The growth has been very well controlled, |
| the Costa Blanca had to offer, it would be enough | | | | with no high rise building. Moraira is very friendly |
| for most people. But in fact there's plenty more | | | | and stylish, with a feeling of exclusivity to it. The |
| to attract you. For a start, the high-rise town of | | | | small El Portet beach - perfect for young children |
| Benidorm has its own attractions if you are | | | | or watching the sun go down- is backed by a |
| seeking entertainment on a large scale, but it isn't | | | | small fringe of restaurants which are great for |
| typical of the Costa Blanca. | | | | lunch. Spectacular scenery abounds and a most |
| Up and down the coast there's a huge variety of | | | | wonderful meal can be had at the Belgian-owned |
| water sports on offer, from dinghy sailing to | | | | Dolphin Restaurant in the rocks. |
| kite-surfing. If that's not enough to keep the | | | | Denia is another town with a castle, great beach |
| family amused, there are plenty of other choices, | | | | and an attractive tree-lined centre. It has a large |
| from go-karting, quad bikes, golf, mountain | | | | marina, a port for embarking to some of the |
| climbing to the massive and thrilling Terra Mitica | | | | Balearic Islands and a super fish market on the |
| water theme park. | | | | front, where opposite there are very good quality |
| Fantastic walking - and fascinating villages to | | | | inexpensive family restaurants, including pizza and |
| explore by car | | | | pasta. Inland lie small towns like Orba and |
| If your tastes incline more towards the | | | | Pedreguer, as well as the Jalón Valley, |
| countryside, you will soon discover the other side | | | | where the almond blossom is quite stunning in |
| to the Costa Blanca. Those limestone hills and | | | | February and March. Restaurants with |
| cliffs pretty soon turn into mountains as you head | | | | inexpensive, yet good quality food abound in |
| inland. They provide fantastic walking country, | | | | these very peaceful inland areas, so it's well worth |
| with well-marked paths. One example is a circular | | | | a trip to explore. |
| route in and literally through the Siena de Bernia, | | | | Calpe is an interestingly different town. It has two |
| because part of the path is a narrow, low natural | | | | huge and several smaller beaches and long |
| tunnel pierced through the actual mountain ridge. | | | | traffic-free promenades that wind behind them. |
| Even if you don't want to go walking, it's well | | | | Walk far enough along the town beach |
| worthwhile exploring inland by car. Some of the | | | | promenade and you reach the thriving fishing |
| villages are well known -- the unique Guadalest | | | | harbour. The Peñon de Ifach (huge rock) is |
| with its cliff hanging buildings, as well as Castel de | | | | a bird sanctuary that soars 1,000 feet vertically |
| Casrels. On an inland drive, you're guaranteed | | | | from the sea is a must to walk around. Also |
| amazing views and beautiful countryside. And one | | | | towering over Calpe, but dwarfed by the |
| nice aspect of this part of Spain is that you're | | | | Peñon, are high-rise apartment blocks. |
| never far from a restaurant, often offering a | | | | They're not to everyone's taste, but many |
| memorable lunch on a shady terrace with stunning | | | | provide superb views and are closer to the sea |
| views. | | | | than any villa. Anyway, to compensate, there's a |
| Try the 'Lemon Train' | | | | painstakingly restored old town. |
| Not that you necessarily need a car to enjoy the | | | | Altea is a charming town with a particularly fine |
| Costa Blanca. There's a charming narrow gauge | | | | hilltop old centre with a large central blue tiled roof |
| Railway called the 'Lemon Train' that sways and | | | | church of some distinction and can be seen from |
| rattles all the way from Alicante to Denia, with | | | | a great distance. Small select good restaurants |
| stations at all the main towns, simply a must to | | | | run along the promenade and up into the old |
| experience. | | | | town. This town - like the others - has a weekly |
| It's worthwhile as an experience in itself because | | | | market, which is well frequented. |
| it gives a quite different view of the countryside, | | | | And, no matter which town you choose, they are |
| away from the main roads, and can be quite | | | | all easily reachable in a very short time. |
| exciting as it plunges through tunnels and over | | | | Try a villa holiday in the unspoilt Costa Blanca |
| bridges. But it's also worth taking the train into | | | | Despite the non-stop building of the last 30 years |
| Alicante for a city awayday -- it's an impressive, | | | | or so, the Costa Blanca doesn't, for the most |
| vibrant city with an attractive waterfront and | | | | part, feel over-developed or spoilt. Each of the |
| great shopping and restaurants. | | | | towns and country areas has its own character |
| Choose a charming town with its own character | | | | and its own fans. If you don't know the Costa |
| Which Costa Blanca town should you choose for | | | | Blanca, get out there now, hire a villa and car and |
| your holiday - Javea, Moraira, Denia, Calpe or | | | | prepare to explore and enjoy yourself. Sports, |
| Altea? They all have their individual charms. | | | | entertainment, heritage, food or just relaxation - |
| Javea is split between the old town and the | | | | it's all here on the Costa Blanca. |