Map of Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca, the coastline of the province of Alicante, enjoys a particularly hospitable microclimate (hospitable to tourists, at least) which means it is nearly as warm as Andalusia, even in spring and autumn. It is a popular destination for holidaymakers and one of the most many parts of Spain which have enjoyed a property boom in recent years, and foreign second and retirement homeowners, even out-and-out expats, are thick on the ground. Benidorm has almost as much claim to be the 'capital' of the Costa Brava as Alicante itself, and its other major resort is Torrevieja, but it has a number of smaller seaside towns and even villages, many of great charm. Its comarques, counties, are, from north to south, the Marina Alta, the Marina Baja or Baixa, L'Alacanti, the Bajo Vinalopó, and the Vega Baja del Segura or Baixa Segura. The north-west facing coast in the north of the province corresponds to the Marina Alta county, the rainiest on the Costa Blanca. Here, Dénia is a historic town with a great ruined fortress, and the port from which the Ferries to Ibiza run. Jávea or Xàbia is a fishing port turned popular resort. The county of Marina Baja or Baixa begins on the other side of the Cap de la Nao, and the coast from there on southwards faces south-east. The Marina Baja's beaches are some of the finest in Spain, and its coastal centres of population are popular resorts, from the enormous, high-rise affair that is Benidorm to the charming, historic village of Altea. Others are Calpe, Alfas del Pi and the county capital, Villajoyosa. L'Alacanti is the county of Alicante itself, beginning with the village of El Campello, a family resort, and San Juan de Alicante, famous for its Hogueras de San Juan, Bonfires of Saint John, the festival held on the eve of June 24th. On the other side of the city of Alicante, the main resort in the Bajo Vinalopó is Santa Pola, a likeable fishing town facing the island of Tabarca. The southern-most county on the Costa Blanca is the Vega Baja del Seguro, where Guardamar del Segura guards the mouth of the river of that name, not greatly changed in character by the advent of tourism, and even the enormous tourist development that is Torrevieja conserves some historic remains and an undeniable Mediterranean charm.