Experiences

Play and enjoy sport on the Costa Blanca

While enjoying your free time on the Costa Blanca is an authentic and marvellous experience that anyone can afford, enjoying sport on the Costa Blanca, whether taking part or watching, is an additional pleasure if you are a fan of the sporting disciplines.

It is easy to say that sport and the Costa Blanca are close friends but it is equally uncomplicated to prove it given that a great many sporting events are held each year in this part of the country, attracting thousands of visitors who are fans of, among others, golf, water sports, cycling or football and this is because, to do and enjoy sport on the Costa Blanca, we have great facilities and an incredible infrastructure.

Although we shall be going into detail, some examples of these events are, among others, the Volvo Ocean Race or the Vuelta Ciclista a España, first-class sporting events that put the Costa Blanca firmly on the national and international sporting map.

If it is a place to play sport you are looking for, we have La Nucía, which has won management awards for the Camilo Cano Sports City, which boasts 150,000 square metres for everyone, including the elderly and disabled, to do sport.

Football enjoys a privileged status on the Costa Blanca, all over which you can find high-quality facilities, natural and artificial pitches subject to regulation so that all teams, regardless of age or level, can meet up. Equally, many professional tennis players choose to train here owing to the quality of the facilities.

Sporting activities in Denia

Denia is an incredible place to enjoy cycling. You can take your mountain bike and do a 78km route that starts and ends in Calpe, passing through Denia, Jávea, Moraira and Benissa. Simply, grab your rucksack and start pedalling in unbelievable surroundings.

Sporting activities in Calpe

Doing sport in Calpe is synonymous with bicycle and routes. Two routes start from this town, one of 78km and the other of 58km, and both will delight cycling fans.

If you are a fan of running, the Cursa Popular Calp- Sol y Mar, a very popular race locally, is held in Calpe during March.

Other activities on offer in Calpe are water sports such as windsurfing, scuba diving, kayaking, flyboarding etc.

Sporting activities in Jávea

The Costa Blanca is synonymous with sea and water sports and, in Jávea, you can enjoy the depths of the sea by diving or scuba diving. There are lots of options to do this sport.

You could also play golf if you prefer a sport a little more tranquil and a little less emotional, or you could play paintball with your friends to prove that you are the strongest.

Montgó natural park: if you like hiking, you are going to love Montgó natural park. This is a natural setting where you can do exercise while enjoying the incomparable surroundings. Moreover, and along the same lines, if you like risky sports, you could do guided mountain climbs.

Sporting activities in Moraira

As well as strolling along the beach, in Moraira you can also go diving or snorkelling, submerge yourself in the water and look at the incredible seabed. You can also get on your bike and do some unbelievable routes, either on your own or with a guide, as you prefer.

You can also play golf on any of the golf courses while enjoying a spot of fresh air, or go for a workout in the gyms, where there are professionals at your disposal to help you give your all.

Sporting activities in Benissa

Benissa Riding Club enables you to enjoy this marvellous sport with animals as noble as horses. Furthermore, diving and snorkelling are widely practised along the whole Costa Blanca, and, yes, you can also do this in Benissa, submerging yourself in its waters to observe the marine flora and fauna.

Tennis is also well entrenched on the Costa Blanca, both in terms of spectators and players, and, in Benissa, there are multiple facilities to play this sport.

Sportliche Aktivitäten in Altea

Altea bietet viele Möglichkeiten für Freizeit und Sport: Sie können in aller Ruhe durch seine Straßen schlendern und seine Sehenswürdigkeiten bewundern, wie die russisch-orthodoxe Kirche San Miguel Arcángel, oder Wassersport in seinem Yachthafen betreiben, wie Tauchen oder Schnorcheln, was zu den größten Sportattraktionen der Costa Blanca zählt.

Sie können auch andere Wassersportarten, wie das Surfen oder Kitesurfen betreiben oder sich beim Windsurfen auf Ihrem Board vom Wind treiben lassen. Aber Sie können auch immer einen schönen Spaziergang auf den Wanderwegen, die Altea bietet, unternehmen.

Sporting activities in Altea

Altea offers a great many leisure and sporting possibilities: you could stroll gently through its streets and see its monuments, such as the Archangel St. Michael Russian Orthodox Church; enjoy water sports in the sports marina or go diving or snorkelling, which is one of the Costa Blanca’s biggest sporting attractions.

You could also do other water sports such as surfing, kitesurfing, or grab a board and let the wind propel you by going windsurfing. However, you can always enjoy a good walk along any of the routes on offer in Altea.

Sporting activities in Benidorm

There are also two cycling routes that leave from Benidorm, which pass through towns such as Altea or Calpe, and include some steep climbs.

Athletics also has its place in Benidorm with the Cross Popular Festa del Calvari, which is held in March and attracts athletes from all over the country.

You can stroll through its streets and squares, which get very overcrowded in the summers, where you will discover nooks of real beauty and marvellous colours such as in the Plaza del Castell, or the churches of St. James and St. Anne.

Any of Benidorm’s hotels will be able to offer a variety of sporting activities either as a group or on your own, whether at their own facilities or elsewhere.

It is clear that doing sport on the Costa Blanca is much more than just doing sport. Surfing, windsurfing, tennis, basketball, football, diving and snorkelling, climbing, or just going out on a boat and enjoying the crystalline waters of the Costa Blanca, all become a different and unforgettable experience for anyone wanting to spend some time in the Valencian Community.

Is there any way you are going to miss the chance to experience the Costa Blanca?

Discover the best beaches and coves on the Costa Blanca

Relaxation. Mediterranean and Costa Blanca beaches. Alicante’s coves. Dreamlike summer. Rest. Beaches of warm, white sand.

What do these evocative words awaken in your mind? Do you know that you have all this in just one place?

The Costa Blanca is a paradise for rest and recreation and you do not have to leave Spain to enjoy a marvellous place that is special for its light, temperature and incredible beauty. Only on the Costa Blanca do 2,800 hours of sun await you each year.

Come and discover and explore 218 kilometres of coast and beaches with tranquil waters, mountains that caress the Mediterranean, orchards and lots of palm trees.

The quality of Costa Blanca’s beaches shines out with numerous coves and beaches achieving the Blue Flag quality distinction such as the coves and beaches of Denia, Altea and Jávea.

But you can enjoy more than just beaches if you decide to spend some time on the Costa Blanca as you have at your disposal great natural variety such as the dunes of Guardamar, the Rock of Ifach in Calpe; the Lagoons of Torrevieja–La Mata and Tabarca Island Natural Reserve, among many other natural attractions.

You can also enjoy sports marinas, or explore hiking trails, visit caves like the Cova del Rull in the Ebo Valley, go scuba diving or play golf.

If you are looking for interesting cultural options, the Costa Blanca offers you Roman archaeological remains, historic town centres, castles, marvellous churches that make you feel like time has stood still or modernist-style towns. A tunnel towards a dreamlike past.

But Costa Blanca’s beaches are its main asset. You cannot visit Altea cove and remain indifferent. You cannot resist the beauty of Moraig cove.

The beaches are vast and the waters not too deep so taking a dip is a real privilege.

Beaches in Calpe

Arenal-Bol beach has approximately 1km of totally transparent waters and fine sand that is a subtle golden colour. It has a lovely paved promenade that offers all kinds of services such as cafeterias, restaurants and ice-cream parlours. Without any doubt, one of Calpe’s best-known beaches, if not the best.

Levante or la Fossa beach is located on the other side of the Rock, and is quiet, urban and family-oriented. There, you will find all sorts of facilities to enjoy an unforgettable day on the beach. Moreover, just where the beach ends, you can visit the sports marina or go for a spectacular stroll along the well-kept promenade, which partially skirts the Rock of Ifach.

Beaches in Benissa

Fustera beach is of fine natural sand and surrounded by impressive meadows of Mediterranean flora. It has achieved various environmental awards such as the Blue Flag, the Ecoplayas prize and also employs an Integrated Management System according to ISO 9001 and 14001.

Nearby, we can find the “Cova de la Fustera", which is 10m high and where we can appreciate an incredible perspective of both Benissa’s coastline as well as the Rock of Ifach. This beach is a must-visit as it is one of the most spectacular in the whole area.

La Granadella Beach in Jávea

In the most southern area of Jávea (Xàbia) you can find La Cala de Granadella, a rustic cove of clear, crystalline water, where you can completely relax and it is perfect for swimming underwater to look at the seabed by going scuba diving.
The beach is easily accessible along the road of the same name, and from which you can get to the Mirador (vantage point) and the car park that is the start of the Grandella Castle route.
With 160 metres of beach, it does tend to get very crowded during peak season. It is one of the Blue Flag beaches so the quality is guaranteed.

To beat the heat, this cove has beach bars, a floating platform and walkways to enjoy the views, and, naturally, so you can relax in total tranquility, safety and security, there are also hammocks and sunshades for you to rent.

Cala Moraig (Benitatxell)

In a privileged setting, at the feet of the Puig Llorença massif, amidst cliffs and fault lines is Cala Moraig, a magnificent beach that is perfect for couples.

It is one of the best-known beaches on the Costa Blanca and is the climax of a route that starts at Puig Llorença. This is a marvellous beach with turquoise water where you can find mastic trees, carob trees, lavender and wild olive trees, while the seagulls will make your stay more entertaining.

This is a wild beach where, to go into the water, you will need the appropriate footwear as you will find stones along the way, but where you will enjoy some incredible caves. Although there are beach bars, you will need to bring a sunshade as this is a natural beach with no shade.

You cannot go to Cala Moraig without hearing the waves break against the shore.

Tabarca Beach, Alicante

Marine richness and diversity is one of the treasures of the beaches of Calpe, Alicante and other Costa Blanca towns, and one of the best examples of this is the beach located on Tabarca Island, which has a great biodiversity of flora and fauna. It can be reached by boat from the ports of Santa Pola, Guardamar, Torrevieja and Alicante.

200 metres long, this shingle and sand beach is perfect for spending a weekend, although you should bear in mind that occupancy levels are high during peak season.

Its waters are crystalline and the temperatures subtropical.

Cala Blanca, Jávea

In Jávea there is also a lovely, semi-urban beach with a magnificent promenade that is made up of two small coves joined by a stone seaboard.

Its name, Cala Blanca, is due to the white colour of the stones found on it.

From one of the coves you can get to the Mirador (vantage point) along a 100-metre long promenade and it is perfectly accessible by car. The second cove is a rustic one of shingle and rock whose most attractive feature is a boom of tuff stone out into the sea, bringing calm waters.

To get there, you need to enter from the aforementioned cove.

Levante Beach, Benidorm

Might there be someone who hears the words Levante and beach and does not immediately think of Benidorm? It is one of the most popular summer destinations for both Spaniards and foreigners alike.

This is a very animated and populated beach at any time and with stacks of nightlife and options for you to spend your leisure time. It is known as “sunrise beach”.

Levante Beach is more than two kilometres long with fine, golden sand and transparent, crystalline waters.

Without doubt, a very good option for spending those special and unforgettable moments with the family, and, if what you prefer is enjoying your leisure time with your friends, it is also perfect.

What is there to do on the Costa Blanca? Plans you cannot miss

To talk about the Costa Blanca is to talk about beaches, sun, entertainment, gastronomy and festivals. About unforgettable experiences and towns and villages that are full of charm.

The Costa Blanca has corners for you of unparallelled beauty, natural landscapes, paths for hiking, coves with warm sand and crystalline water… But it also offers a range of festivals and plans you cannot afford to miss.

When we think of festivals on the Costa Blanca, the first thing that comes to mind is the Moors and Christians festival, Holy Week or the Bonfires of St. John, festivities renowned throughout the world that have gained great cultural recognition and which have achieved for the Valencian Community the title of Festival of International Interest.

And so, if you are in Denia, Jávea, Benidorm, Altea, Benissa, Calpe or Moraira (or if you have thought about visiting one of these towns) we list below the festivals in each of these towns which are a must-see for anyone from outside the Valencian Community.

But, before getting down to business, we are going to talk about the quintessential Costa Blanca fiesta, the Moors and Christians, the best example of which are those celebrated in Alcoy. The fiesta is celebrated in honour of St. George, and lasts for three days, from the 21st to the 24th April.

The first day, the Day of the Entrances, commemorates in the morning the entrance into the city of the Christians, and, in the evening, that of the Moors, each side availing itself of 14 rows. The second day is St. George’s Day, embodied by a boy who presides over various processions, and, the third day is the Battle of the Arquebusiers, when the Moors and Christians fight to conquer the castle, recreating this battle in the centre of the town.

Another of the most important festivals is the Bonfires of St. John in Alicante, which worships fire between the 20th and 24th June, thus welcoming the arrival of summer. The festival features gigantic wood and cardboard figures that are burnt on the Night of St. John. The tradition dates from the last century, when residents would take out their old junk into the street to burn it and welcome in the summer.

Festivals and events in Denia

Festa Major - Bous a la mar: the main festival of Denia pays homage to the Most Holy Blood and is celebrated on the second Wednesday after the festival of St. Peter. At this festival there are concerts and musical events, sporting competitions, religious acts such as the sharing of the Blessed Bread, a procession of handcrafted floats….

As well as this, the “bous a la mar” consists of letting loose a herd of bulls until they get to the port, where the participants try and throw them into the sea. Once they fall in the water, a vessel with no motor tows them to land unharmed.

The climax of this festival is the construction of a castle of fireworks with rockets that are launched from the water.

Festivals and events in Altea

Castell de L`Olla: is celebrated on the closest Saturday to the festival of St. Lawrence in August, and is organised by the brotherhood of the same name. It is a spectacle of light, gunpowder and music, combining arts like dance and other performing arts.

This festival won the prize for Touristic Merit of the Provincial Tourism Patronage of the Costa Blanca in 1999 and is a Festival of Regional Touristic Interest.

Festivals and events in Jávea

Ajedrez Viviente de Xàbia-Jávea: has been organised since 1996 to coincide with the Festival in honour of the Virgin of Loreto. It has been a Festival of National Touristic Interest since 2002, and is celebrated at the end of July in Javea port.

In it, a chess match is dramatised with a different story each year. The matches are real and portray historic events, and count on the presence of one personality and two players.

Feste und Veranstaltungen in Benidorm

Fallas: possibly the festival par excellence in Valencia. For 5 days, firework displays, monuments and mascletás are the protagonists of the city, where smoke and the smell of flowers combine. The festival is celebrated to welcome in spring between the 15 th and 19 th March.

It consists of building ninots, gigantic figures that are burnt on the 19 th March during the cremá.

Festivals and events in Calpe

Moors and Christians: 20 th to 23 rd October 2017

Organised by the Moors and Christians association together with the invaluable collaboration of the festival committee, they give us the unique and incredible opportunity to see and enjoy both religious ceremonies and historical exploits. They will take us back to the emblematic history of Calpe, portraying certain events all dressed up in the clothing of that era.

Another of Calpe’s outstanding festivals is the Oktoberfest from the 26 th October to the 6 th November. Given Calpe’s huge German community, the aforementioned festival which revolves around beer, has been celebrated for a number of years. A number of different events are held such as: competitions, concerts, typical food all celebrated in a different, original and fun atmosphere.

Festivals and events in Benissa

Fira i Porrat de Sant Antoni: this festival is celebrated in Benissa during the second fortnight of January. Although not as relevant now, it was for many years the commercial centre of the local region. For two weeks, visitors can enjoy fairground attractions, livestock shows, a medieval market and many cultural and sporting activities.

Festivals and events in Moraira

Fiesta del Moscatell: this festival is held in Moraira during the month of August. This is a very special celebration for farmers as it is held once the moscatel grape harvest has been completed and once it is ready to be sent for sale to markets across the country. During this festival verbenas and tastings of various moscatel wines made with the harvested grapes are held and documentaries about the work in the wineries are shown.

You can, without doubt, do many things and enjoy many festivals on the Costa Blanca, but you will have to visit to find out for yourself.

Where to eat and drink on the Costa Blanca

We already know that the Costa Blanca is synonymous with beaches, coves, relaxation and fun for all the family, and, if you go with friends, it is also a prime location for taking life more easily, experiencing special and unforgettable moments and leaving to one side for a few days or weeks, day-to- day job-related stress.

But the Costa Blanca is not just magnificent beaches, sun and fun, there is also a special place for gastronomy and enotourism on the Costa Blanca, in the Valencian Community, where visitors can enjoy the great and varied offering available for lovers of gastronomy and good wine.

If you are thinking about undertaking a gastronomy and enotourism tour around the marvellous and incredible towns of Calpe, Benissa, Altea, Moraira, Benidorm, Jávea and/or Denia, do not skip this article where we review the best places to eat and drink in these towns.

Where to eat and drink in Alicante

If you are looking for places to eat and drink in the province of Alicante, you need to know about, try and savour a wide variety of traditional and innovative delicacies with regard to gastronomy and great-quality wines, all guaranteed by the denomination of origin that is not held by all the provinces in this country.

Although Alicante is known for its rice dishes, eating on the Costa Blanca is much more than this: it is Mediterranean, it is vegetables, it is fruit, it is haut-cuisine, tradition, innovation and much more.

Among the denomination of origin products, níspero from Callosa d´En Sarriá, or turrón from Jijona and Alicante, are worth highlighting as some examples of the quality of this land. From the magnificent wines from this land, special mention goes to Fondillón, a wine of exclusive origin.

Where to eat and drink in Calpe

Simply by strolling along Calpe promenade, on Fossa beach, just before the sports marina, you can find a multitude of beachside restaurants where you can taste and enjoy the local rice and seafood dishes.

If you are looking for something a bit cooler and more intimate, we recommend the Puerto Blanca restaurant, located next to Calpe sports marina. Its cuisine is based on originality, quality, presentation and the freshness of all its products.

Another very wise recommendation for a nice lunch out with the family is Oscar restaurant, that was founded in 1976 and has nearly 41 years’ experience and dedicated customer service. It has a swimming pool, well-kept terraces and typical local dishes.

A must-visit as the sun starts to go down is Cocos Beach. At this charming Pub, you can enjoy spectacular cocktails on impressive terraces and in an exclusive atmosphere, where music and sunsets take centre stage.

The Sietelunas restaurant is the place to go for creative and modern cuisine, where their speciality is ribs, all in a very welcoming atmosphere owing to the owners’ special attention to detail. Highly recommended.

Vinomaris: if you like good wine, and would also like to taste it in one of only three underwater wine cellars in the world, you must have a wine in Vinomaris. The wine is aged 25 metres below Calpe bay.

Moreover, they do wine tastings on board their own boats, where customers can watch on screens, in real time, as the divers descend to the seabed to collect the bottles, which then get sampled.

Where to eat and/or drink in Moraira

Ca La laia: this restaurant is located between the towns of Teulada and Moraira. This restaurant offers a fusion of traditional and creative cuisines. It is the perfect place to enjoy good meat, fish, and, of course, unbelievable rice dishes that are sure to impress.

Cava: at Cava you will find international cuisine with a great selection of varied tapas, meat, fish or vegetables, all made using seasonal products.

Where to eat and/or drink in Benissa

One of the most highly recommended choices for a quality lunch or a night-time drink, is the Mandala pub-restaurant in Fustera cove. It has a terrace and the food is presented exquisitely.

Another restaurant that should be visited in Casa Cantó, that was founded in 1979 and located just on the main road that passes through the town. There, you can enjoy their variety of rice dishes, their wine menu and local excursions.

The Rondo: offers traditional and creative international cuisine. At The Rondo, you will find innovative dishes with Mediterranean overtones alongside local delicacies. A further benefit is that they also have vegetarian dishes.

OWhere to eat and/or drink in Altea

EL Xef pirata is a quality restaurant, young and dynamic, where you can enjoy the most delicious hamburgers, a variety of tapas and a perfect blend in their cooking of traditional flavours seasoned with a modern touch and superb presentation.

At the Marina de Greenwich sports marina can be found the Bay Club, a restaurant with incredible sea views and excellent staff. Its kitchen offers a good selection of tapas, such as breaded prawns, as well as a varied lunch menu and prices that reflect the quality of their food.

Where to eat and/or drink in Benidorm

Benidorm is the quintessential holiday destination and so you can find loads of quality places to eat and drink.

In the Plaza de San Jaime you will find the Llum del Mar Mediterranean-cuisine restaurant, a bistro in the classic style with artistic touches and great luminosity thanks to its enormous windows. At Llum del Mar, they produce dishes made with Valencian Community denomination of origin products, paying special attention to meat and fish.

Drinking in Calpe, Benissa, Altea, Moraira, Benidorm, Jávea and/or Denia

If enotourism is your thing, Alicante offers you its Ruta del Vino, where you can find a great many bars, restaurants, shops and bodegas so that you can taste excellent wines that will further heighten your senses with their aroma and taste, that are characteristic of their Denomination of Origin.

And so, Alicante is a beautiful land of contrasts, tastes and smells that pervade its whole idiosyncratic style.

If you do not know this corner of Spain, you do not know what you are missing.