A Guide to Spain Costa Blanca South

Santa Pola

The lovely coastal fishing town of Santa Pola is a popular resort with Spanish people and its fishing harbour is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. Surrounded by large natural salt lagoons and parks, the area attracts many species of exotic birds including flamingos who over winter in the dry climate.

In the town centre, Santa Pola has a sizeable 16th Century fortress castle built in 1557 to defend the town from pirate attacks. Today the castle houses an impressive museum as well as a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Loreto.

City life focuses on the harbour and seafront promenade where the majority of bars and restaurants can be found serving traditional Spanish food such as tapas and shellfish dishes.

There are several beaches, all with fine golden sand and crystal clear shallow waters.

Guardamar

Once a small fishing village, the town of Guardamar at the mouth of the River Segura is a typical Spanish town and an area of natural beauty.
The award winning beaches of Guardamar are some of the finest in the region and are surrounded by eucalyptus trees, pine forest and sand dunes. The Dunas de Guardamar, or sand dunes, continue down to the beautiful crystal clear waters and cover an area of over 800 hectares running parallel to the coast.
The Reina Sophia Park with its lakes, waterfalls and hiking trails is popular with locals and visitors and the Castle of Guardamar is an interesting monument. The local market day is on Wednesday Morning and there are a wide variety of stalls offering, local handicrafts, leather goods and fresh produce.
The town has a marina and yacht club ad is famous for its seafood and fresh local produce grown in the fertile river valley.

Torrevieja

The cosmopolitan town of Torrevieja ( old tower ) is a lively, bustling town Known as the salt capital of Europe the area is famous for its salt production from the huge salt lakes ( Las Salinas ) which produce half a million tons each year and is distributed to all parts of the world.

The salt flats draw moisture from the air, creating a unique microclimate and together with the year round average temperature of 20 degrees Centigrade, this area has been recognized as one of the most healthy regions to live.
Torrevieja has a long seafaring tradition and its harbour is home to 300 fishing boats and over 900 private sailing vessels. The beautiful palm-lined seafront promenade, dotted with fountains and statues, is alive most days and nights with tourists and the local traders plying their wares.
There is an abundance of shops, bars and restaurants in the town centre and the church of The Immaculate Conception is well worth a visit to appreciate its beautiful architecture. Like most large Spanish towns there are many fiestas held throughout the year and a large weekly market is held in the town every Friday. Families will enjoy visiting Aquapolis, the town’s water park open from June to September.

Golf enthusiasts are well catered for in the area with golf courses, Villa Martin, Las Ramblas and Campoamor all nearby.
 
Orihuela Costa

The beautiful 15th century town of Orihuela is the inland capital of the region known as the Orihuela Costa. This ancient town is reached by driving through El Palmeral, the second largest palm forest in Spain and has the highest concentration of churches in the world. The town is divided in half by the River Segura with two bridges connecting the old city and the newer commercial centre. Along the riverbanks of the River Segura, citrus fruits, vegetables and cotton are grown intensively.

The Orihuela Costa is a 16 kilometre stretch of coastline with Blue Flag sandy beaches, cliffs and clear blue waters intermingled with coves and marinas and is made up of the resorts of Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Campoamor and Mil Palmeras.

Punta Prima is a popular costal resort which has seen much development over the last few years. With several beautiful, Blue Flag beaches within easy reach, not least of which is Playa de Punta Prima, renowned for its fine, white sand, the area is being further improved by the creation of a new marina and 5 star hotel.

Playa Flamenca is a relatively new coastal development on the Costa Blanca. With superb beaches, shops, bars and restaurants, Playa Flamenca is fast becoming a popular holiday destination and a place where many people have chosen to buy a second home. Golfers will find it an excellent location, as Playa Flamenca is centrally situated for the wonderful golf courses at Campoamor, Villamartin and Las Ramblas. A large open street market is held every Saturday throughout the year.
Together with the magnificent beach and golf facilities, La Zenia has much to offer the visitor. Visitors will enjoy exploring the seaside walk, a well designed path skirting the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea and passing sandy beaches, natural coves, harbours and caves set into the hillside.

Cabo Roig is a stunning coastal town characterised by its broad palm-lined avenues and landscaped gardens. The two sandy white beaches of La Caleta and Cala Capitan have both been awarded Blue Flags and the newly refurbished marina hosts the Cabo Roig regatta every August. Cabo Roig is surrounded by olive, orange, lemon and almond groves and the many vineyards in this area provide inexpensive local wines.

Walkers will also enjoy the Maritime Walk, which follows the peninsular coastline taking in some beautiful views. All sorts of water sports can be experienced here including sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, water skiing and windsurfing.

Pilar de Horadada marks the southern limit of the Costa Blanca South. A 16th century watchtower sits on a hill overlooking the 4 kilometer stretch of beach and clear waters which because of the climate can be enjoyed all year round. The Torre de la Horadada sports marina has over 500 moorings for recreational craft and has become a major tourist attraction and is a good place to stop to sample the local tapas.
Its market gardens produce superb fruit and vegetables for export to numerous countries around Europe.