The incredible Costa Blanca

 

Along the Costa Blance in Spain, is an area jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea known as the Marina Alta. This cape is stunningly beautiful with many dramatic views, fresh breezes along the cliffs; and is known as the warmest and driest place on the European continent. The towns around this point of land are Javea in the north, Teulada-Benitachell, Moraira, and in the south, Calpe. The villages along the coast feature heavily developed tourist facilities, smaller towns inland, and many vast areas of villas coating the surrounding hillsides. Here and there you can find evidence of the ancient areas of grapes and olives that once covered the hillside terraces. The mountains in the area offer hiking and horseback trails, and the beaches have plenty of water sports to choose from. Yachtsmen will find many large marinas along this coast, with berths for visiting vessels, and some have haul out facilities for repairs.

Many beaches along this coast are ‘European Union Blue-Flagged’ for quality, an honor indeed, and testimony to the cleanliness of the area. None of them are very large, except at Calpe in the south, and Denia in the north; but most are visually dramatic, with steep hillside surroundings topped by beautiful villas.

Don’t miss the coast drive between Calpe and Moraira. There are many hidden coves to explore along here.

There is a fine drive south along this coast from Moraira to Calpe, and takes about a half hour. Be patient, enjoy the view, and be careful as the road is narrow in many places. But be prepared to stop, especially for lunch or dinner, as there many restaurants, bars, pubs, shopping centers and estate agents along the roadside to visit.

North and west of Moraira is the huge ‘urbanization’ or development known as Cumbre del Sol. With villas spilling over the cliffs, a beautiful beach, hiking and horseback trails, shopping and other services, Cumbre del Sol certainly is huge, a city unto itself. While staying there for almost a month I did enjoy the newness of everything, and the great swimming pool we had in the sub-division called Pueblo de la Paz. Here all the streets are named after Nobel Peace Prize Winners, and we could get British newspapers fresh daily – like the Guardian.

The small town of Benitachell is the nearest to Cumbre del Sol, inland. Here is a large grocery, internet and video store, and the usual furniture outlets. In fact furniture stores seem to outnumber all other types of establishments in southern Spain. Except perhaps for estate agents.

But this is an excellent area to rent a villa, off-season especially. In winter you can stay for a month in a fabulous villa, for the price of one week in the summer. During the winter season it is still sunny and dry compared to the rest of Europe or North America, and the area is virtually empty as well.

The main transportation route through the area is the almost brand-new toll-road AP-7, which is very fast and well built. But paralleling this road is the older N-332, which offers much finer views along the coast, and access to services, than from the toll-road.

There is also a train for local commuting between Denia in the north to Alicante in the south. The cities of Alicante and Valencia offer international airports. Ferry service is available to other Mediterranean ports from the port of Denia.