Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca or White Coast extends along the eastern coast of Spain (approximately in the middle) and covers the province of Alicante. To the north of Denia is the Costa del Azahar and to the south of Torrevieja is the Costa Calida.

The Costa Blanca is not as cold or wet in the winter as the Costa Brava, north of Costa Blanca, nor is it as humid or hot in the summer as the Costa del Sol, in the south. The Costa Blanca has the best all year round temperatures. The climate is recognised as one of the best in the world by the World Health Organisation. Many people with arthritis come to the Costa Blanca and within days feel much better. In the winter months the Costa Blanca is lucky enough to have nearly as many sunny days as in the summertime.

The Costa Blanca is famous for its tourism. Once upon a time the places along the coast were mostly just tiny fishing villages. Then the fantastic climate and beaches attracted tourists and the area boomed. Some towns, mainly on the northern part of the Costa, have restricted their development and retained their original charms while others have over-developed and lost what charm they originally had.

The Costa Blanca has over 100 kms of sandy beaches and rocky coves and many of the beaches have the coveted European Blue Flag signifying cleanliness and safe bathing. The northern Costa Blanca is typically mountainous with cliffs and coves, a mixture of pebble beaches and fine sandy beaches. North of Altea it is surprisingly very green and lush. The southern Costa Blanca is mostly flat with fine sandy beaches, palm trees and salt lakes. The south is much drier and more typical of what a person who had never visited Spain would expect to see.
The Costa Blanca has something for everyone from tiny rural inland villages to cosmopolitan tourist resorts on the coast such as Benidorm.

Places of interest and things to do:

• The city of Alicante with its monuments, castle and museums.
• Guadelest, historic mountain village with lake.
• Castillo de Alfaz: dinner with Medieval knight games.
• Ferry to Ibiza, Mallorca, Formentera and the island of Tabarca.
• Bullfights in Benidorm.
• Benidorm Palace, theatre/dinner show.
• Terra Mítica, theme park near Benidorm.
• The cities of Valencia and Murcia
• Safari Park El Vergel near Denia and Rio Safari near Elche.
• The caves of Benidoleig, Canalobre and Las Calaveras.
• Jeep safari.
• Mundomar (Water World theme park) near Benidorm.
• Aqualandia Water Amusement Park near Benidorm.
• Huerto del Cura, botanic garden with many palm trees, Elche.