The Costa Blanca or White Coast extends along the eastern coast of Spain (approximately in the middle) and covers the province of Alicante.
To the north of Denia is the Costa del Azahar and to the south of Torrevieja is the Costa Calida.
The Costa Blanca is not as cold or wet in the winter as the Costa Brava, north of Costa Blanca, nor is it as humid or hot in the summer as the Costa del Sol, in the south. The Costa Blanca has the best all year round temperatures. The climate is recognised as one of the best in the world by the World Health Organisation. Many people with arthritis come to the Costa Blanca and within days feel much better. In the winter months the Costa Blanca is lucky enough to have nearly as many sunny days as in the summertime.
The Costa Blanca is famous for its tourism. Once upon a time the places along the coast were mostly just tiny fishing villages. Then the fantastic climate and beaches attracted tourists and the area boomed. Some towns have restricted their development and retained their original charms while others have over-developed and lost what charm they originally had.
The Costa Blanca has over 100 kms of sandy beaches and rocky coves and many of the beaches have the coveted European Blue Flag signifying cleanliness and safe bathing.
Of course the charms of the area have meant that many foreigners now live here. There has been a property explosion with many people regarding the Costa Blanca as the California of Europe. Not just people retiring, nowadays many young families move to the Costa Blanca searching for a better lifestyle. Every nationality can be found here but especially English and Germans (oh and some Spanish too!).
The Costa Blanca is a beautiful region with mountains stretching along most of the coast. The A7 motorway (with some toll sections) stretches from north to south along the coast. The N-332 also runs parallel yet is free from charges although much slower as it passes through the middle of many towns.
City of Alicante in the North of the Region
There are huge amounts of flights into Alicante airport, especially from Northern Europe. Valencia airport to the north is also well serviced. Further to the south of the Costa Blanca is Murcia airport. With the advent of many low-cost airlines many people live in Spain and commute to work in England.
Flying time is only about 2 hours which often doesn’t get you far when driving on congested roads in England.
The northern Costa Blanca is typically mountainous with cliffs and coves, a mixture of pebble beaches and fine sandy beaches. North of Altea it is surprisingly very green and lush.
The southern Costa Blanca is mostly flat with fine sandy beaches, palm trees and salt lakes. The south is much drier and more typical of what a person who had never visited Spain would expect to see.
The Costa Blanca has something for everyone from tiny rural inland villages to cosmopolitan tourist resorts on the coast such as Benidorm.
The Costa Blanca isn’t necessarily a place one would go to see historical monuments (although there are many). It’s attractions lie in it’s beauty – the amazing vivid blue Mediterranean waters, the lovely sandy beaches, the old towns and villages with their old narrow streets, the restaurants and bars where one can sit and relax outside because of the wonderful all-year round climate. It’s simply a wonderful place in which to enjoy life (as we should do but often don’t) and feel rejuvenated and refreshed.
