The Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca South Region

  

 

 

 

 Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca is renowned for its turquoise waters, miles of white sandy beaches, fiery fiestas and sizzling nightlife. Visitors adore the ease of its home comforts and family-friendly amenities, while much more are seduced by unexplored valleys, pretty hilltop hamlets and unspoilt fishing villages. Year-round sunshine makes Costa Blanca an ideal choice for every type of villa holiday – whether you seek peace and relaxation, fun and recreation, or a perfect balance between the two.

The coast of Alicante, in the east of Spain, has more than 200 kilometers of impressive Mediterranean beaches. Known as the Costa Blanca.

It has Benidorm as its tourism ambassador, here extensive beaches of fine sand contrast with rocky coves and peaceful waters. It is a fascinating environment, with numerous natural treasures, ranging from remote caves to large palm groves. But the Costa Blanca is much more, as shown by its historic and cultural heritage and it’s delicious gastronomy.

The perfect micro-climate

They say that Alicante owes its fantastic micro-climate to the mountain range and hills that protect it in the north. Thanks to this, the province enjoys a sunny climate practically all year round, with rain on barely 20 days. It has over 2,800 hours of sun per year on average. The towns of the Costa Blanca therefore present an ideal climate for enjoying its beaches, sailing sports or all kinds of leisure activities in the open air. In this area, the average annual temperature is around 19.5º C. in winter; they do not usually fall below 16º C. That Mediterranean micro climate makes sense of the Costa Blanca as a perfect place to stay at any season of the year.

The importance of rice

As you would expect in Valencia, in Alicante rice is central to its gastronomy. Beyond the typical paella, the area offers a wide variety of popular recipes, like calderó (served after the fish with which it was cooked), olleta (combined with vegetables and sausages) and simple rice a banda style.

In the coastal towns, you will find many dishes sourced from the sea, made with fish and seafood. Inland delicious concoctions with meat locally cured sausages. Other typical dishes are the savoury cocas, a base of bread to which assorted ingredients are added. Particularly the coca made with tuna.

Among its desserts, the turrons and ices from Jijona, made by artisan methods in this town, are famous throughout the world. Other high points are the wines with the Alicante designation of origin, above all its sweeter wines.

Leisure for all

In the natural environment of the Costa Blanca you will be able to practise path walking, climbing, abseiling, canyoning etc. You can also tour its impressive caves, which conceal veritable underground treasures. For example, the Cova del Canelobre in Busot.

Of course, other sporting alternatives are offered by its beaches. In addition to water sports, in its waters crystalline, you will be able to practise scuba diving and fishing. Apart from this, the area has several golf courses.

The most important of the museums in Alicante is its Provincial Archaeological Museum. Guadalest has several curious collections on show, like its exhibitions of instruments of torture and micro-miniatures. And children will enjoy a visit to the Toy Museums of Denia and Ibi and any of the theme parks in the province, like Terra Mítica.  If you are looking for night-time leisure in the Costa Blanca, you will find what you want in many of its coastal towns.

Atmospheric evenings in Costa Blanca
In the Costa Blanca, nightlife can be as leisurely, low-key or lively as you wish. Recognised as one of the Mediterranean’s top nightspots, you’ll find hundreds of bars and cafes throughout the region. The discos and cabarets, clubs and pubs are all popular, while live music ranges from salsa and jazz to flamenco.

Away from the bustling resorts, a number of small, intimate village retreats offer traditional home-cooking and locally produced wine. Visit the region’s wealth of tapas bars for a true taste of Spanish flavours.

Retail therapy in Costa Blanca
From jewellery and perfume to leather and lace and an abundance of shoes – shopping on the Costa Blanca is a real treat. The shop-lined streets of coastal towns and popular factory outlets offer an excellent choice of goods. Prices also tend to compare favourably with the rest of Europe.

Local markets sell essentials, arts, crafts and fresh produce – in particular, colourful ceramics and edible souvenirs. Why not pick up your own paella pan and create a typical Spanish experience back at your villa.

On the beach in Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca’s main attraction is its stunning coastline, which is lined with Blue Flag beaches famed for cleanliness, pure waters and pristine white sands.

From well-known beaches to secluded coves and rocky bays, there’s a wealth of shoreline to choose from, some perfect for swimming and waterskiing, others for windsurfing, snorkelling and hiring pedalos. Numerous other beaches, mainly golden sand, can be found in the surrounding area. Local facilities cater superbly for every visitor, whether families or couples

Fun-packed days in Costa Blanca
Those looking for sightseeing, sporting or tourist activities in the Costa Blanca will be spoilt for choice. You can pick from theme parks and nature reserves, enchanting caves and waterfalls to explore during your holiday.

Golf courses and watersports fill the coastline, along with a wide range of excursions. Explore inland villages, vineyards and fragrant citrus groves, or visit the historical churches dotted throughout the region. Travelling between resorts and towns is easy. Good road networks make car journeys stress-free and buses are both frequent and inexpensive

Shared traditions

Several towns on the Costa Blanca share popular traditions. In March there are the Fallas, the emblematic festival of the Valencian Community: a fascinating spectacle in which figures created for the occasion are set on fire. Other events associated with fire are the Bonfires of Saint John, which light up the night of 23 June to welcome summer. Many coastal villages commemorate the Fiesta of the Our Lady of Carmen, on 16 July, with maritime processions.

Also popular is the Festival of Moors and Christians. at Alcoy, in April, with crowds in the streets and spectacular processions; the Bous a la Mar at Denia, in July, amateur bullfights in which the animals end up in water; the Living Chess in Jábea, also in July, in which children reproduce a famous game of chess; and the Mystery of Elche, in August, a famous and ancient religious performance of medieval origins.