Let’s get to the point: Costa Blanca Spain has more to offer than just sunbathing and beach towels. Even the most jaded traveler can be surprised by this part of the Spanish coast. Bring your curiosity and maybe some tight jeans, because eating is a verb here.
There is a reason why Playa de Levante is the first beach in the morning. Get up early. The ocean looks like glass. People walk around with coffee in hand while their dogs try to make friends with other dogs. You don’t have to sign up for yoga classes or set up a sand sculpture contest. You may just walk, watch people, or take a nap under the Mediterranean sun. Less is sometimes more.
It seems like the tapas were made up here. And you’re right half the time. Hunger in the afternoon? Get into a back-alley pub in Altea, a beautiful whitewashed town on the sea. You’ll wonder where this snack magic has been all your life after just one bite of grilled octopus and crunchy patatas bravas. Give up control and let the waiter choose for you. Don’t get stuck ordering the same thing twice.
Time to show off your trivia skills, history nerds. Take a walk through Jávea’s historic town. Cobblestone paths make it hard to keep your footing. Gothic churches stand tall like austere grandpas, with statues looking down from above. Take the back road and look at normal life: laundry blowing in the wind, conversations echoing, and little teahouses hidden in the alleys. A crumbling stone here has more feeling than a history class.
Change to wheels if your feet hurt. Rent a bike and ride it up Serra Gelada Natural Park. It’s not easy to walk on the trail. It goes up, down, and around, and sometimes it tries to shatter your will. But the sights from the top hit you right in the heart: the coastline stretches out, the waves sparkle, and the air is so fresh that your lungs can take a break.
Treasure hunters should go for the communities in the middle of the country. Guadalest is a good example. It’s a small village atop a rock. A fortress from long ago looms over us. The blue water below appears like it was made up. Why not have a museum solely for salt and pepper shakers? It looks like people here ask the tough questions.
Every week, markets call. Get lost at the Friday market in Benidorm. Get a deal on ceramics, look at towers of cherries, and talk to cheese dealers. Someone will make you try turrón, a honeyed nougat that sticks to the roof of your mouth and says, “Come back soon.”
At night, go to the sunset procession along Calpe’s seafront. People who stay up late hang out by the water, and laughter bounces between bars that are exposed to the air. There are a lot of people talking, paella, and glasses clinking. You might even find yourself humming with people you don’t know, and the Mediterranean breeze will carry stories into the night.
Costa Blanca is more than just a place to go. It’s a fun trip full with tacky things, sun, and tapas. Come with questions, go with crumbs on your face and a smile.