Moraira
Casa Carmen is just a few minutes drive to Moraira along the beautifully scenic coast road. There are many lovely, small, rocky bays and there are a few small beach bars where you can have a drink and have a light snack.
Moraira is a small coastal fishing town situated in the beautiful mountainous area of the northern Costa Blanca. The surrounding area has a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, with beautiful and unspoilt scenery and many small villages to explore. It has an impressive marina, excellent variety of local shops, weekly open market on Fridays, harbour-side fish restaurants and bars still retaining their Spanish character. There are too many restaurants of interest and good quality to list here but we can mention that there are 8 Michelin recommended restaurants in the immediate area with three of them being star rated and not expensive either!
During the months of June and July Moraira is host to the most spectacular fiestas and firework displays. Usually the 2nd/3rd week of June receives the celebration of the Moors and Christians battles on the beaches with wonderful processions, costumes and re-enactments. About the same time in July Moraira hosts its fiesta with gastronomic delights, running of the bulls, live music festivals til dawn again spectacular firework displays.
Under the attentive gaze of the highest cliff on the Mediterranean, the Peñón de Ifach, Calpe has grown on both sides of the Great Rock, symbol and image of the Costa Blanca. It has been a tourist destination since the 1930s due especially to the quality of its beaches, their fine sand and the cleanliness of their waters. The municipality preserves vestiges of the past in its old town, and curiosities such as the ruins of the Baños de la Reina, and some abandoned salt mines. Its fishing port is full of vitality, where restaurants serve the local fish and seafood.
The area boasts ´the best all year round climate in Europe´ according to the World Health Organisation and has 320 days of sunshine per year.
Watersports
Being a major holiday destination, Costa Blanca watersports options seem endless. All towns and resorts provide everything you might need to enjoy, diving, snorkelling, sailing ,canoeing and fishing to name but a few. Pro Platinum in Calpe is a full service dive centre offering excursions for the novice and the seasoned diver alike.
Some of the best snorkelling can be found around the Illa de Tabarca and Las Rotas Beach south of Denia. For sailing rental or instruction, head to Alicante's or Denia's harbour for a day out on the open water. Most of the coastal towns were once small fishing villages making the area ideal for charter fishing.
Recreational Activities:-
Sea fishing, birdwatching, flora and fauna
Golf
La Sella Golf Club & Alicante Golf
La Sella Golf Course (+34 96 645 4252) in northern Costa Blanca borders Montgo Nature Park making for gorgeous scenery throughout. This 9-hole course in a valley is an pleasurable day out. Severiano Ballesteros designed the 18-hole, 72 par at Alicante Golf Club (tel +34 96 523 5004). It is a sweeping course near the city and the beach with a playground for the kids.
El Plantio Golf & Alenda Golf
El Plantio Golf Course (+34 96 518 9115), also near Alicante, has a well manicured 18-holes blended perfectly into the area's natural landscape. It also has a short 9-hole course. By Elx, is Alenda Golf Course (tel +34 96 562 0521) with rising greens that will challenge all players. Backed by mountains with sea views, this course also has a restaurant and cafe worthy of a post game visit.
Costa Blanca Information
This particular area of the Costa Blanca is very pretty and exclusive with a lovely historical feel and certainly up market from the southern area of Costa Blanca.
Costa Blanca Information
The Costa Blanca is unquestionably not only Spain's, but one of Europe's most sought after holiday destinations. Spanning over 200kms of desirable coastline, Costa Blanca remains true to its roots amidst a booming tourism trade offering its visitors modern luxuries with old world charm. Renowned for being a shopper´s paradise offering everything from fashionable stores, ealther goods, perfumes and wines as well as an abundance of fresh fruit, fish and vegetables.
Numerous restaurants, some with live entertainment, offer local, national and international cuisine. A trip through the valleys and up into the mountains among teh pine forests and teh almiond and citrus groves provides some spectacular scenery and there are always places to stop for refreshment and dining!
Costa Blanca Beaches
Costa Blanca beaches are fine examples of what has made the region so popular for many decades. Denia's Las Marinas Beach has Blue Flag status and is made for sunning and swimming. Calpe boasts two excellent beaches divided by the Penon de Ifach, one of Costa Blanca's favourite landmarks. Benidorm is Spain's leading tourist enclave. Set amongst an imposing skyline are two of the areas best beaches; Levante and Poniente.
Alicante City
Alicante is the capital of Costa Blanca and home to San Juan, Albufereta and Saladar beaches. All three offer fine sand, clear water and many sporting options.
Denia & Altea
Visit the large Arab fortress in Denia overlooking the bustling Seafront Esplanade and the hub of Denia town life, the Marques de Campo. Altea's quaint cobblestone streets are flanked by whitewashed buildings leading up to the Plaza de Nuestra Senora del Consuelo and its remarkable blue domed church.
Attractions
Terra Mitica, Terra Natura, Aqualandia and Aqua Natura (approx 25 mins away by car)
Terra Mitica is a park divided in to five themed areas; Iberia, Rome, Egypt, Greece and the Grecian Islands all with amazing attractions and rides.
Aqualandia, also in Benidorm, is a family favourite as a water fun park with water slides, pool etc.
Terra Natura and Aqua Natura are independent but also interlinked to offer wildlife park and water park entertainment in one.
Mundomar 30 mins by car. Seaworld and tropical paradise with the opportunity to meet and even swim with the dolphins (to be pre-booked).
El Vergel Safari Park. El Vergel 40 Mins by car. Delightful safari park for all ages inclduign swimming pool and refreshments.
Medieval Knights, Benidorm 30 mins by car. Enjoy a feast of a banquet with entertainment in the form of reenactments and duels from thw middle ages! Good all round fun for all the family!
Benidorm Palace. The best in cabaret entertainment for choice, variety and quality together with a 4 course meal plus wine and cava included followed by disco. A tremendous night out.
Guadalest and Fonts D´Algar 45 mins. Delightful inland mountain village and fonts steeped in history.
Villajoyosa
The costal town of Villajoyosa is noted for its chocolate, fresh fish and brightly coloured buildings.
Alicante & Elx (Elche)
In Alicante, stop at the Castilla de Santa Barbara for stunning views and see the Salon Azul at the town hall Inland is the castle at Guadalest, a must see and beyond that is Alcoy, famous for its bridges and its mock battles between the Moors and the Christians held in late April. Elx, or Elche, dubbed the Palm Tree Capital of the World, has a forest of over 300,000 massive trees.
Valencia 1 hour 30 mins by car. An historic city with a beautiful old town quarter. Hosting the futuristic Oceanographic and Hemispheric museums and dry river bed recreational areas offering mini golf, bars, restaurants, bike hire, mini train rides, tennis and cycle tracks, lakes and the most modern water features to be found.
