3 Days on the Costa Blanca

The other day, we spent a few days on the coast of Alicante, and needless to say, we loved it. We couldn’t believe how fortunate we are to live close to paradise such as this so, in this post, we want to tell you which places and activities on the Costa Blanca are our favourites.

Day 1 on the Costa Blanca – Dénia

In Dénia, you’ll find a little bit of everything, from exploring the city to relaxing on its beaches, so, whichever plan you choose, we’re sure it won’t disappoint!

Nature

If you feel like a bit of nature, between Jávea and Dénia, you’ll find the Montgó Natural Park, so, if you are looking to take a break from being on the beach, a great option will be to take one of the six hiking routes that are available on the Montgó. Check them out here.

Beach

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a bit of sun and spending some time on the beach, what we like the most is that you’ll find some stone beaches, so, if it gets a little windy, you won’t look like a breaded fish finger, and where you will be able to do a bit of snorkelling. In Dénia, some beaches are busier than others, and there are even dog-friendly beaches.
Due to the current health situation, this link will likely come in handy to keep you up to date before you visit its beaches.

These two are the most popular:

• North of the port, Les Marines is the largest and most popular beach

• Towards the south is the coast of Les Rotes, which features rocky coves ideal for snorkelling.

At Cabo Sant Antonio is the Cova Tallada, a cave from which stone was extracted and used for construction dating as far back as the 16th century and which you can reach by kayak or hiking. At this link, you can find more information about how to get there.

A walk around the marina is a must, where you’ll be able to enjoy an amazing view packed with yachts and a street full of colourful market stalls from where you can admire the incredible castle of Dénia.

City

If you go into the city, you can get lost strolling through the cobbled streets, walk through the tunnel which, in the past, had been used as a bomb shelter during the Civil War. If you follow the castle wall, visit Dénia Castle and the Archaeological Museum, coupled with panoramic views you cannot miss.

Dénia Castle Visiting Hours (Entrance from Calle San Francisco): every day from 10:00-00:30

Archeological Museum Visiting Hours: every day from 10:30-22:00 until the 15th of September, except for Sundays, where it will be closed from 13:30 to 15:00.

Where to eat?

For food, these are our favourite spots:

• El Baret de Miquel: A restaurant that rejected a Michelin star and offers incredible food at reasonable prices. Of course, you will have to book months in advance to secure a table.
• Els Magazinos: located in the city centre you will find the largest choice of food and drink in all of Dénia. A fully pedestrian promenade where dozens of small merchants offer their specialities from around the world.
• Campos street is a pedestrian street packed with restaurants with terraces and other shops. We usually have breakfast in Condado Denia, an old theatre where the breakfasts are delicious and with tasty vegan options.
• El Raset: in front of the port you will find a lovely walkway where you will be able to enjoy a great variety of food and drink options. We often go to Ticino, part of El Raset group and where there are more vegetarian options than in the rest of the restaurants in that area. This place has a covered terrace, so it is an ideal place to go with your furry friends.
• If you have deeper pockets :), we strongly recommend that you don’t miss the possibility of dining at Quique Dacosta, which has been awarded with 3 Michelin stars.

At night our options are clear, Zensa Marina and/or the Zensa Lounge, both with amazing views of the port and marina, where you will enjoy some delicious cocktails.

Day 2 on the Costa Blanca – Jávea/Xàbia

La Vall d’Alcalà, the village in which we live, is a little over an hour away from Javea/Xàbia which is our favourite destination and the place of our dreams.

City

This town is not massive, although it has everything:

• On the one hand, the Arenal, about 10 minutes by car or bike from the city-centre, is the main coastal and tourist area. In this neighbourhood, you will find more bars, restaurants, night clubs and cocktail bars than you can imagine. When you arrive, there is so much on offer that you don’t know where to go. As this consistently happens to us, we have gotten into a routine and always make a stop at Chabada, where we enjoy a cocktail overlooking the sea and think about where we want to go.

• On the other hand, you have the old town, with its narrow streets and churches full of history, quaint bars and traditional shops. We recommend that you take a walk through its streets and have a tapas in one of the little bars that you will find on either side of the street, and without a doubt, visit San Bartolomé church.

Nature

If you feel like a bit of nature, a very beautiful place to visit is the Lighthouse, from where the views of the coast are unbeatable or go to the Montgó Natural Park. You can make the most of it and enjoy a nice cycling route, we rent our bicycles from Xabia’s Bike.

In High Sea

This time, we were a group of 8 friends, so we decided to rent a yacht to spend the day out on the Mediterranean Sea.

The company we used was Área Náutica Jávea and both the company and the captain, Martín, made of this day an unforgettable experience.
They offered us the best options at a reasonable price, which included everything we needed for the day.
We rented the Trawler for 8 hours with a captain, and all of the boats include snorkelling gear. Still, they also give you several options to choose from such as, half or full-day rental, with or without a captain, you can rent a paddle surfboard, reserve a paella that they will deliver to you at lunchtime on a boat… they literally offer you everything you need for your day to be perfect, and so it was.

We started at the Club Náutico de Jávea, although you can also embark from the Club Náutico de Dénia. There, the captain was waiting for us at reception, and we recommend you arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time to leave on time. Once aboard, we set off, and we navigated along the coast of Jávea, we dropped anchor in the best coves, including Portixol, La Sardinera, Cap Negre and La Granadella, considered one of the best and most beautiful coves. We paddle surfed and Snorkelled around marine caves, sailed to Cap de la Nao, and even spotted a pod of dolphins which swam playfully by our side. This really was the best experience!

The views and coves that you will see from the yacht will make you fall in love, so save at least one day of your holiday to visit them all.

Where to eat?

When it comes to food, we are lovers of Indian food, and here, we’re spoilt for choice. Normally, we go to the Rani Palace as the food is delicious and they also let us bring our dogs Mojito and Teabag.
If we go with a larger group, depending on what we fancy, we opt for:

• Cala Clemence, in Cala del Portixol, away from the hustle and bustle, in a tiny cove and a very picturesque location. Right next to the restaurant, just before the beach, you will find the famous blue door that is popular amongst influencers.
• Cala Bandida, here you don’t need to book, not even for a tasty paella. Their kitchen is open for most of the day, and the quality and variety of dishes is incredible, so it is always a good option when you’re with a larger group. The restaurant is in Jávea port and with some amazing sea views.
• La Siesta: always ideal for cocktails or dining overlooking the Mediterranean sea. They have a wide variety of dishes so it will surely please everyone. This place is a nest of influencers as the location, and the views are magical. Ready, steady … pose!
• If none of the above convinces you, you can always take a pleasant walk along the Arenal and decide the option that most appeals to you at that moment.

At night, don’t miss Achill. This has always been our favourite place to spend the night partying. It’s a nightclub with good music, a terrace and an excellent atmosphere in the Arenal.

Day 3 on the Costa Blanca – from Javea to Altea

For your third day, we recommend you take a short road-trip and drive through various picturesque coastal towns.
Even though you could spend days and days enjoying the area’s magnificent beaches, hiking trails or visiting the famous Riuraus, which is a traditional building of the Marina Alta, and getting lost in all the streets of these magnificent cities and towns, for us, the following places are the best that the area has to offer.

If we have spent the night in Jávea, we will start our tour in Benitatxell and we will finish in Altea.

Benitatxell

As we start our route, we arrive at Benitatxell, and our favourite place is the Cova dels Arcs, in Cumbre del Sol, a cave with natural arches that looks like something out of a fairy tale. Find out more here.

If you fancy spending some time on the beach, the most famous is Moraig beach, which is ideal to visit, if you go during low season, and which is a perfect time to take it all in.

Moraira

In Moraira, what we like the most is the castle on the seashore, a fortress that defended this city from pirates. We are sure that the views of the port, the breeze and the bright colours will make you fall in love with Moraira.

If you want to stay a little longer, we recommend taking a short hiking route to Torre Vigia Cap d’Or, from where the views are spectacular. You can check out the route here.

Benissa

From Benissa, a town that is close to Moraira, we would recommend that you don’t miss the Sierra de Bernia, with a natural tunnel that crosses through the mountain and takes you to incomparable views. Find the route here.

Additionally, this town has several coves and beaches to visit where you can spend days enjoying them all:

• Cala Baladrar: surrounded by pine trees and gravel
• Cala La Llobella: ideal for snorkelling and diving
• Playa Les Bassetes: from where you can also access the Ecological route.
• Playa La Fustera: where you can visit the Cova de la Fustera
• Cala Pinets: with a natural pool for children
• Platgeta de l’Advocat: With space for children and ideal for snorkelling

Calpe

If you like hiking, we recommend you climb the Peñón de Ifach, from which the views are amazing. Find out how to get there here.

On the other hand, if you decide to take a walk around, what better way than to start with a Roman site known for Los Baños de la Reina and the Roman Baths, almost at the foot of the Peñón de Ifach.

If we walk for about 30 minutes, we will arrive at the Old Town where you will find:

• El Forat de la Mar: A breach that occurred in the city walls during an attack by the French.
• Wall and Tower of la Pieza: from the 15th century.

And as an interesting extra, if you visit Calpe from Monday to Friday, at 5:00 p.m. the fish auction begins in the Port’s fish market, an absolute experience to see in this fishing town.

Altea

By the time you get to Altea, you will think that nothing can surprise you anymore, but this town will leave you with you gobsmacked.

Without a doubt, wandering around the town is a must in Altea, visit the old town to coat yourself with its essence.

Stroll its cobbled streets with white façades and admire the Mediterranean dome of the Church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo.

The most beautiful streets: Calle Santa Bárbara with views of the Mediterranean Sea and Casa Cervantes, Calle Mayor, Calle Cura Llinares and Calle San Miguel

While wandering around, you will find a viewpoint at the square where you can see the bay, the Peñón de Ifach and the skyscrapers of Benidorm.

Tips

• If you are going to visit this beautiful coast, it makes sense that you’ll also want to enjoy it with your pet, so here is an updated list of beaches for dogs. Enjoy them!
• This is a tourist map of the Marina Alta area with thousands of things to do, both sun and beach and up in the scenic mountains.

Useful Information – Javea