The Costa Blanca, Spain

Stretching from Denia in the north, to Torrevieja in the south, the Costa Blanca is a region of contrasts. The Northern Costa Blanca is mountainous and green, with a mixture of pebble and white sand beaches. In the North you find beautiful orchards of cherry and almond trees, citrus and olive groves, vineyards and fertile countryside. In the South it’s flatter and more arid – with endless expanses of white sandy beaches, the famous salt flats around Torrevieja and huge forests of palm trees.

Visitors flock to the Costa Blanca for the golf, for horse-riding, water-sports, walking and hiking. There are twenty national parks in the region. There’s something for everyone - beach lovers and sun worshippers, party people and those with young families, retired couples, foodies and culture buffs. Some come to the Costa Blanca wanting loud, lively resorts and others seek the peace and quiet of pretty coastal or mountain villages.

Only two hours flying time from the UK, the Costa Blanca is served by Alicante’s El Altet airport – or for the southern end of the Costa Blanca, Murcia’s San Javier might be more convenient. For the northern end it may be easier to fly to Valencia airport. Road links are excellent – the A7 motorway runs along the coast from north to south and is probably the fastest way to travel, though it does have some toll sections. Running parallel to the A7 is the N-332 which is slightly slower – but free!

Large resorts like Torrevieja have significant expat populations and the facilities that those residents demand: schools, supermarkets, hospitals, retail outlets, leisure complexes and cinemas, but there are still plenty of smaller, more peaceful places to discover, places where you will need at least a few words of Spanish.

The food is just superb – tapas, paella, freshly caught seafood, chorizo and Serrano ham, Manchego cheese. Local markets are packed with stalls selling produce from all over Alicante – fresh fruit and vegetables, locally baked bread... or if you don’t fancy cooking, there are myriad places to eat out, catering for all tastes and all budgets. Stop at a bodega by the side of the road and pick up a bottle or two of the local wine – you’ll be spoiled for choice.