The Costa Blanca has a coast of ca.160 kilometres long that begins at the city Denia. This city is situated at the base of the mountain "Montgó" that’s surrounded by a nature reserve. A characteristic feature of Denia is the castle on the top of a mountain in the middle of the centre, from where you have an unforgettable view over the city, the port and the sea. Beneath Denia, on the other side of the mountain "Montgo" and between the Cape of San Antonio and the Cape of de La Noa, Javea (Xàbia) is situated. Here you can find beautiful and conserved city houses in the old centre and along the coast you can find all kinds of beaches, from fine sandy beaches to rock beaches. The route along the coast leads us further to Benidorm, one of the biggest touristic sites of the Costa Blanca with attractive offer of sea- and beach tourism. In the historical centre with its narrow streets filled with shops and restaurants, you can find the famous Balcón del Mediteráneo at the end, decorated with its blue ceramic. In the Southern situated Villajoyosa one can find a cosy historic centre. The houses are painted in different colours, so the sails men were able to see them from their ships. They give a colourful sight nowadays. Villajoyosa has a beach of 3,5 kilometres and a beautiful promenade where you can stroll along meanwhile enjoying the sea landscape.

Denia

Javea

Benidorm

Villajoyosa

The Capital Alicante has a beautiful sea promenade that’s the lively and cosy middle point by the present stands and street theatre. At the end of this promenade one can find the sea which’s sunny the whole year round and breathes a holiday atmosphere. The skyline of this bath- and hibernate place is dominated by the impressive church Santa Barbara on the top of the mountain in the middle of Alicante. The landscape of the Costa Blanca changes, when we go South of Alicante, in a plane landscape with hills and stretched out sand plains where you can find several Salt Lakes. This is also why the salt winning, next to tourism, forms the economical basis of this area. The first Salt Lake is situated by Santa Pola, in the nature reserve Parque Natural Salinas de Santa Pola. The life in Santa Pola mainly concentrates around the boulevard and the harbour, from where one can make a boat trip to the island Tabarca. This island is a sea reserve with a rich history. The biggest Salt Lake in the Costa Blanca is situated nearby Torrevieja and this city is mostly visited due to the fact that the salt lakes in the neighbourhood have a therapeutically effect. When you go to this area for the first time, one will notice that you can sleep fantastic and you feel very good. This is also why there all lot of facilities like health centres with international doctors and spa’s. But Torrevieja has also an enjoyable sea promenade with sea pools, restaurants and an outdoor theatre. The city Pilar de la Horadada is the last city in the Costa Blanca and has a 4 kilometres long beach and a characteristic watchtower at the coast. The cultivated vegetables and fruit in Pilar de la Horadada are being exported to numerous of European countries.

Alicante

Tabarca

Torrevieja

Pilar de la Horadada

SPORT

The mild climate and the numerous sport facilities make the Costa Blanca to a privileged holiday destination for the active tourist, especially for the lovers of the water sports. One can sport outdoor almost all year round in the Costa Blanca. Twelve golf courses make it possible to practise the golf sport and the lovers of hiking can find several routs in the mountains and valleys in a magnificent ecologic environment. And it’s a true paradise with beautiful coral around the island Tabarca for divers and snorkels.

FLORA AND FAUNA

In the Costa Blanca are 6 nature reserves; La Font Roja (Alcoy and Ibi), Peñon de Ifach (Calpe), Montgó (Denia and Javea), Salinas (Salt Lakes) de Santa Pola, Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja and El Hondo de Elche (palm tree park) and the Capes of La Nao and San Antonio. The lovers of mountain routs can make an excursion to the Sierra Helada, Bernia of Aitana.

PLACES TO GO OUT

The Capital Alicante, Elche, Benidorm and Torrevieja have crowded nightlife zones and bars with music, mostly situated in the hart of the historic centre. The sea promenades of these place to the coast are very enjoyable at night and there’s going a night train (Trensnochador) a along the coast that’s transporting the lovers of the nightlife and has 33 stops between Alicante and Altea. For the one who likes the gamble can go to the Casino Costa Blanca near to Villajoyosa.

FOLKLORE AND CELEBRATIONS

The fest of the Moors and Christians, of which the historic past revive over and over again, is the most important fest for the residents of the Costa Blanca. Thousands of people are involved, at different times of the year, in the places where this tradition is kept alive and participate, dressed in luxurious costumes, in parades, dances, staged fights etc. Each place will give their story to it. The biggest fest is being held in Elche in the form of a play of the drama of the Ascension Day of the Holy Virgin Maria (Mystery). This cultural relic is a true World inheritance.

GASTRONOMY

The gastronomy of the Costa Blanca is mostly based on rice, prepared various ways. The rice dishes at the coast are prepared with bouillon and fish, while the rice dishes in the mountains are prepared with pumpkin, beans and pork in a characteristic cooking bowl. One takes nougat, ice cream, almond pie or cake drenched in sugar syrup.

Diving

Night train

Moors/Christian fest

Nougat

	Terra Mitica: the biggest attraction park of Europe. The park is divided in different surroundings: Greece, Egypt, Rome, Iberia and The Islands.
	Aqualandia: Water Park with all kinds of water attractions, there are slides, pool with waves, caves with water falls and a water activity strip.
	Mundomar: a fantastic animal park with sea animals and exotic animals like: flamingos, seals, turtles, penguins and parrots. There’s also a park with dolphins and a playground for the kids.
	Safari Aitana: a safari park where you think you’re in Africa. Here you can meet giraffes, tigers, lama’s, elephants, panthers and much more.
	Nature reserve: the Costa Blanca knows 6 nature parks of which the palm tree park in Elche and the island Tabarca are World in heritance.
	Museum and architecture: you can enjoy perfect on the culturally way on several areas, there are festivals, you can follow courses at the University of Alicante, there are theatre performances, museum and you can admire numerous monuments and magnificent buildings in every city.
	Golf: there are twelve golf courses in the Costa Blanca with perfect facilities like Bonalba in Busot nearby Alicante.

	Temperature: annual average temperature of 17,6 °C ( max. 32,2 °C / min. 5,9 °C) and the annual average temperature of the seawater is 19°C (max. ca. 24,5 °C / min. 13,5 °C)
	By plane: airport Alicante/El Altet. Amsterdam – Alicante = ca. 2,5 hours, Brussels – Alicante = ca. 2 hours.
	By car: Utrecht – Alicante = ca. 2057,9 km in about 19 hours en 32 minutes.
	By train: Utrecht – Alicante = ca. 30 hours with 6 or 7x transfers.