Our Areas
Including some of the most beautiful, unspoilt towns and villages, as well as some of the most idyllic sandy beaches and rugged coastlines of the entire Costa Blanca, La Marina Alta enjoys over 300 sun-filled days, with unforgettable views stretching across the Mediterranean Sea towards the Balearic Islands.
La Marina Alta embraces the inspiring towns and villages in which we live. Browse through the details below which will tell you more about the coastal areas of Moraira, Javea, the Benissa Costa and Calpe, as well as the traditional Spanish towns of Benissa and Benitachell.
Moraira
Moraira is an exceptional place to be, surrounded by lush green hillsides, dotted with luxury villas; a beautiful, unspoiled village, truly referred to as “Our Beloved Moraira”!
You will find no “high-rise” here, just a handful of small, elegant boutique hotels and stunning villas, all complemented by beautiful beaches with a backdrop of spectacular mountains and vineyards.
Two inspiring, white sandy beaches are just a few steps from the centre of town, perfect for bathing:
El Portet: You will want to relax for hours on this truly stunning, sheltered bay with white, gently sloping sands and crystal-clear waters, watching the waves and exclusive yachts anchor just off the shore. With a couple of small beach bars, an exclusive restaurant, and overlooked by luxurious villas cut into the hillside, this bay has to be seen to be believed!
Playa d’Ampolla: The main, ‘Blue Flag’ beach of Moraira. Centrally located and shelving gently into the Mediterranean Sea, this beach is ideal for families, with a children’s play area and an excellent beach bar.
Moraira also boasts several other rocky coves, ideal for snorkelling and diving including Platgetes, La Cala and Playa l’Andrago, all within a stone’s through of the town.
For market lovers, Moraira holds one of the biggest in the area every Friday in the large free car park, selling local goods, holiday souvenirs and the freshest fruit and vegetables. You can also enjoy the vibrant weekly fish market in Moraira’s exclusive marina; one of the most picturesque in the entire Costa Blanca!
We would love you to join us at our Fiestas here in Moraira and there are numerous throughout the year; for example, the festival of San Vicent Ferrer in April brings music, dancing and gastronomy celebrations, the traditional Moors & Christians in June is full of history, colour and parades, and the night of the Bonfires on the beaches, in honour of San Juan, is a welcome to summer that you will never forget!
With an abundance of cosmopolitan restaurants and bars, providing something to delight everyone’s taste buds, together with a fabulous selection of unique shops to browse in, Moraira truly is the Jewel in the Crown.
Altea
The picturesque town of Altea, nestling between the Mediterranean Sea and Sierra Bernia mountains, boasts more than 6km of coastline with wide pebble beaches and an abundance of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. Overlooking the coastline, the iconic Altea Old Town is a breathtaking find, with narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed townhouses ultimately leading to the infamous Nuestra Señora del Consuelo parish church, standing proud above all that Altea has to offer.
Altea is a real gem in the heart of the Costa Blanca North. There are many beaches and coves to discover along the coastline, some with impressive marinas surrounded by inviting restaurants, and others hidden between the rocks, awaiting your discovery. Diving and snorkelling are popular activities here, as the warm Mediterranean waters are crystal clear.
The newly refurbished promenade has to be found! The recent renovation is quite impressive, with wider pavements now completely pedestrianised, the additional of new safe play areas for children, and green areas with plenty of seating, all dotted with numerous trees and Mediterranean shrubs. At the end of the promenade is the Club Nautico, a large marina filled with yachts and charming fishing boats still continuing their regular trade. Of course, the entire promenade is filled with cosmopolitan restaurants celebrating the area’s cuisine, as well as cocktail bars and cafés, somewhere for every occasion.
Running alongside the town of Altea, are the Sierra Bernia mountains which help to protect the climate in this area. Here there are many hiking and cycling routes with Roman ruins and beautiful nature trails to discover, including the Natural Park of Sierra Helada. The surrounding hillsides are filled with luxurious homes, together with a hotel, garden centres and a 9-hole golf course.
Altea is a real delight, a traditional town filled with history, arts and crafts and charm, yet with a modern and vibrant promenade, enjoying an abundance of restaurants and beautiful unspoilt beaches.
Benissa Costa
The beautiful coastline that is the Benissa Costa links the towns of Moraira and Calpe and includes hidden coves, sandy beaches and small bays, including La Fustera, Els Pinets, La Llobella, l’Advocat and Baladrar. Throughout the summer months these bays set up delightful ‘beach cabanas’ where you can relax, whilst gazing at the Mediterranean Sea and enjoying a chilled glass of something nice.
The Club Nautico Marina at Les Basetes is popular year-round, with a typically Spanish tapas and fish restaurant serving its freshly caught produce overlooking crystal clear seas. Be sure to test your skills with their complete range of water-sports on offer, including diving, sailing, windsurfing and kayaking.
The Benissa Costa is fabulous for inspirational walks along impressive coastal paths or adventurous climbing in the surrounding hills and Sierra de Bernia Mountains.
The impressive Ifach Golf Club at San Jaime, is a 9-hole course surrounded by exclusive villas whilst relishing superb sea views; the ideal place for a relaxed game of golf, followed by a memorable evening meal.
All along this coastline, you will find whitewashed villas dotted into the hillsides, enjoying excellent views of the glorious Mediterranean Sea. A truly unforgettable holiday destination!
Benissa Town
The historic, medieval town of Benissa is one of the oldest towns on the Costa Blanca with many small, winding cobbled streets and its inspiring neo-gothic Purissima Xiqueta Parish Church. We find here the typical Spanish townhouses with their beautiful ornate tiled balconies with elaborate ironwork. The town is surrounded by a landscape filled with lush vineyards, citrus groves, palm trees, mountains and several charming country farmhouses (fincas).
Benissa holds several local fiestas throughout the year, including the Fira i Porrat de Sant Antoni throughout January, La Baixada de la Purissima in April, and the extravaganza of the Moors and Christians in June.
The town’s very popular market is held every Saturday morning through its narrow streets, and you must experience the fabulous Mediterranean cuisine, including fresh local produce unique to the Valencian region, its legendary Paella and local farmhouse sausage.
Benitachell
Benitachell is a small and traditional Spanish town, with narrow streets, colourful townhouses and a gentle pace of life.
Set between the towns of Javea and Moraira, Benitachell includes a unique development at its highest point, on Cumbre del Sol, where new, modern villas enjoy spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Here you will also find marvellous beaches and coves, including los Tiestos, el Llebeig and Cala El Moraig, ideal for swimming, snorkelling and diving with their amazing crystal clear blue waters.
Benitachell offers all the amenities, sport activities and culture you could desire, celebrating its rich traditions and many local fiestas.
Calpe
Almost 3000 years old, Calpe retains a sense of history and tradition. Best known for its emblematic Peñon de Ifach, a dominating granite rock towering over 330 metres, and its two fabulous, long white sandy ‘Blue Flag’ beaches, which are ideal for families.
The main Arenal beach sits beneath the silhouette of the Peñon and is a long, wide expanse of white sands with a promenade full of bars and excellent restaurants. Just a short walk brings you to a fascinating Roman Baths Site, los Baños de la Reina, revealing marine bathing sites created by our ancestors.
A real attraction for tourists, sitting just behind the beaches, are the Salinas de Saladar, formed millions of years ago, providing a rest and nesting haven for wildlife including pink flamingos & herons.
The renowned Calpe Marina serves one of the largest fishing ports in the area, with a fabulous fish market where you can watch the daily fish auctions and even make your own purchase! There is an array of seafood restaurants within walking distance of the port, where you can relax and enjoy the excellent locally caught produce.
Calpe has a bustling town centre, with a gently sloping main street offering superb shops, bars and restaurants to keep you refreshed along the way. At the top of the main street, you find Calpe’s vibrant and characterful Old Town, with numerous traditional tapas bars, its Spanish painted steps and an array of ancient architecture to appreciate.
Calpe enjoys several local fiestas every year, two of the most popular being its Moors and Christians Parade and Oktoberfest!
The local market, where you will find fresh fruits, vegetables and several traders selling excellent locally made goods, is held every Saturday morning and, as one of the largest in the region, is well worth finding time for a visit.
Denia
The popular traditionally Spanish town of Denia is very much a family resort, with a warm but comfortable climate year-round, boasting winter temperatures quoted as “spring-like” with more than 3000 hours of sunshine per year!
The incredible Denia coastline includes a vast expanse of white sandy beaches, ideal for bathing, as well as small rocky coves, just perfect for snorkelling and diving.
Denia is the home to an 11th century castle which stands proudly above the town, accessed via a maze of narrow streets, offering views of the sea and surrounding area. Rich in history and culture, many fiestas are celebrated, including the extraordinary “Bonfire Festival” in March when the streets are filled with passion, music and dance, and huge colourful papier maché figurines called ‘fallas’ are set ablaze.
The Championship Golf Course at the La Sella Resort is a 27-hole course designed by José María Olazábal. Here you can play golf throughout the year and there is an excellent Golf Academy, to help improve your game! A Pro-Shop, driving range, putting green, club house and restaurant and the luxury 5* Hotel add to the splendour of this fabulous golfer’s paradise!
The extensive and newly refurbished cosmopolitan marina of Denia is large enough to be the home of the daily ferry to the Balearic Islands, and provides a stunning location for leisurely walks and relaxing. There is an elegant Club Nautico where several impressive luxury superyachts moor throughout the summer, with typically Spanish bars and restaurants alongside, together with many enticing and fashionable late-night cocktail bars, just perfect for you to enjoy the Mediterranean summer nights.
Javea
Javea is a very popular resort of the region, split into three distinct areas:
The Old Town (El Pueblo): here you can wander through ancient narrow streets and visit the local market on a Thursday. The Gothic fortified church of San Bartolome dominates the town. Many traditional tapas bars fill the streets, enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
The Port: with many good shops, cosmopolitan bars, cafés and seafood restaurants, the port has an authentic Spanish feel, an area where locals live and work in harmony with its visiting holidaymakers. Whitewashed houses surround the bay and you can relax and watch local fishermen bring in their daily catch and watch the sunset on the horizon.
The Beach (El Arenal): an inspiring white, sandy ‘Blue Flag’ beach, flanked by shops, cocktail bars and superb restaurants; a good place to stroll along the promenade in the evening with many of the bars providing live music at night. The beach is long and wide with shallow, crystal blue waters, perfect for families.
In total, there is 25km of coastline including several sandy beaches and rocky coves at Granadella, Ambolo, Barraca, Sardinera, Cala Blanca, Portichol, El Arenal and La Grava.
Away from the beach, you have the renowned Club de Golf Javea, which boasts a lush 9-hole course and fabulous restaurant with an enticing menu for all to enjoy.
A real challenge would be climbing to the top of Javea’s Mount Montgó, set in a Natural Park. This imposing limestone massif rises up 753m from the plain between Denia and Javea. Affectionately known locally as ‘The Elephant Mountain’ as its profile from the south is quite distinctly that of the head of an elephant! Be sure to include a visit to Javea, you won’t be disappointed!
Teulada
Teulada is an historic Spanish town just a few kilometres inland from its neighbouring coastal twin, Moraira. Dominated by its church and fortress of Santa Caterina, a beautiful example of gothic architecture, Teulada is a maze of cobbled streets dotted with traditional colourful townhouses and the odd Spanish tapas bar!
The Old Town itself is filled with character and charm with a large central plaza where you can dine al-fresco in one of the many bars or restaurants and simply watch the world go by. The landscape surrounding the town includes vast mature orchards of almonds, vines and citrus trees and it is easy to see why Teulada is famous for the farming of the sweet Moscatel grape and raisin.
The centre of town is home to a very popular street market every Wednesday morning, and numerous fiestas are held during the year, including a spectacular medieval market in August occupying all the narrow streets of the Old Town.
You can also find modern architecture in Teulada, with the fantastic auditorium, which plays home to many excellent music concerts and operas.
At the edge of Teulada’s town centre is a station for the area’s train service, which operates up and down the Costa Blanca, with stops in local Benissa, Calpe and Benidorm, and stretching as far as Denia and Alicante. A perfect addition to this vibrant town and excellent for exploring the Costa Blanca North.