Alicante

A List of Spain’s Most Beautiful Beaches

April 21, 2016

Costa Brava. Taken by Andrea Ciambino via Flickr.

It’s no secret that Spain is one of my all-time favorite places on earth. A culmination of many factors have led to this love-affair with the home of Jamón, but one of the most significant reasons is the beaches!

Although bordered by France in the northeast and Portugal to the west, Spain is almost completely surrounded on three sides by water. Its unique location at the mouth of the Mediterranean creates such diversity within the nation’s beaches. I’ve been lucky enough to visit many of the coastal areas of Spain- from Barcelona to Valencia to Alicante to Málaga and Tarifa and if you’re thinking of heading to Spain this spring (yes, it can already be warm enough in Spring to go to the beach!) and summer check out my favorite places to get the ultimate playa experience.

1. Costa del Sol

is one of the most famous beach areas of Spain and was my first introduction to Spanish beaches back in 2008. This is located on the stretch east of Gibraltar and is the most southern coast of Spain and is known for extravagant beach parties, endless hours of sunshine and breathtaking beaches. The most famous resort areas include Marbella, Terremolines, Nerja and Málaga.

Costa del Sol. Taken by Kevin Poh via Flickr.

2. Costa Blanca

is the coast that begins at Valencia and runs south through Alicante and Benidorm. I spent a week in Alicante last summer and was so pleasantly surprised by how nice the city beach itself was, despite being a bit crowded. The water was crystal clear turquoise and so salty you could easily just float around catching gazes of the city built up into the mountainside.

3. The Balearic Islands

probably take the award for the most beautiful beaches that I’ve been to in Spain. These consist of the islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Though wildly different in terms of atmosphere (party hard in Ibiza and chill out in Menorca), the beaches are consistently stunning. It’s typically warmer on the island than in the mainland and you can easily take a tour of the island with car or motorbike in a few days. Make sure to check out the lesser-traveled beaches farther from the tourist areas, as these tend to be a bit nicer.

Cala in Ibiza. Taken by Philip Larson via Flickr.

4. Costa Brava

runs from Barcelona to the French border and is where I’ve spent the majority of my Spanish beach time, especially in the sleepy spa town of Caldetas, just an hour north of Barcelona. The beaches here are a bit rockier, but consist of long stretches you can walk for hours.

Costa Brava. Taken by Andrea Ciambino via Flickr. — Costa Brava. Taken by Andrea Ciambra via Flickr.

5. Costa Verde

is on my wish list. I’ve been there in the winter, but now must return when the sun is in full spirits. It’s known as being very different from the sundried beaches of Andalucía and more to resemble a sunny version of Ireland’s west shore. The area is also known for being the most green in Spain (hence the name translates to “green coast”), which could provide a bit of respite from the seemingly merciless sun!

Playa de Anguileiro near Asturias. Taken via Flickr.

[Frommers]

A short hike through Cabo de las Huertas

By Ronald Ackermann -

November 10, 2015

Cabo de las Huertas on the coast of Alicante is nothing short of the perfect mixture of tranquil natural beauty, pleasant private beaches and a great destination for practicing sports: such as windsurfing, surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling.

Located just south of the famous Playa de San Juan, the calas (coves) are relatively simple to get to. We rode the tram from Alicante city to the Tridente stop and then walked from there. It took about 15 minutes from the stop to reach the area, and we had to walk down a steep desert valley before reaching the first cala.

We walked the entire length of the horn along the water’s edge, which gave us the opportunity to appreciate the natural beauty of the rock formations, such as the various “overhangs” that were formed by the erosion of the rocks over time.

I noticed that most of the people also brought a softer mat, such as a yoga mat, to put under their beach towels because there is very little sand and the only other option is the lay on the hard (and hot) rock. When present, however, the sand was golden and soft, providing the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun. Plus, the water was super clean and clear.

What you will notice very quickly about a visit to the calas is that they are a popular destination for nude sunbathers, either by themselves, with a friend or partner and even in groups. This could be due to the privacy provided by the rock formations, or perhaps because the calas are not as simple to get to as the regular beach, so they were much less crowded.

Cala at Cabo de las Huertas, Alicante — Cala Cantalares, Alicante

Even though we were just walking through, I could get the sense of absolute natural serenity and relaxation that the calas provide for the sunbathers and I actually was a little jealous we weren’t joining! One older (and naked) gentleman even offered my brother a cold mojito as we passed through. In hindsight, I think we should have stayed; they looked like they were having a great time!

The three most well-known calas are La Cala de la Palmera, La Cala Cantalar and La Cala de los Judíos.

La Cala de la Palmera is located in the quiet residential zone. It is characterized by fine sand with a vibrant combination of rock types as well as clear waters that provide a great place to snorkel and see the various habitats.

La Cala Cantalar is located between the beaches and calas closest to Alicante. There are many trails and paths to go through this area, which even has a naturally protected section with native plants.

La Cala de los Judíos is a small bay located in a relaxed, residential zone, with fine small sand. It is one of the most popular sections because it is only accessible by walking or by mountain bike and therefore offers a private section.

Sources: Alicante City and Experience , Wikipedia , Cabo de las Huertas

My favorite small European cities (#5-1)

By Ronald Ackermann -

October 29, 2015

View of the harbor from ferry, Split, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

The list continues…

Hvar, Croatia

The island of Hvar is located off the coast of Dalmatia, Croatia in the Adriatic Sea. Due to this strategic location, it has long been an important area for sailors and traders, which has led to many groups of inhabitants throughout history, dating back to pre-historic times. Today, the city of Hvar is located on the western side of the island. It has a super beachy, relaxed feel and amazing views of the sea. What I especially loved was the architecture!

Hvar city square, Hvar, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

Hvar city harbor, Hvar, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

Split, Croatia

Though Split is the second largest city in Croatia, it still only has about 300,000 inhabitants, which qualifies it as a small city for this list, thank goodness! Split already is super cool because of its location on the Sea and you can absolutely feel the direct connection with the traditional foods and especially the harbor in the city center. What is so special about Split, however, is Diocletian’s Palace, an ancient palace build in the fourth century AD that remains in the center of the city. It is actually more of a fortress, however, as it isn’t covered, but rather protects the other buildings inside. When we were there, there was live music playing in one of the squares with many people dancing and singing along. Really cool!

Inside Diocletian's Palace, Split, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie. — Inside Diocletian’s Palace, Split, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

Tower in the peristyle, Split, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

Peristyle (central square inside the palace), Split, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

Harbor at sunset, Split, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

Walking along the harbor, Split, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

View of the harbor from ferry, Split, Croatia. Taken by Kirstie.

Kotor, Montenegro

With a very small population of less than 14,000 inhabitants, Kotor is quant, relaxing and unassuming. Located on the Gulf of Kotor, the city itself has become a popular destination in recent years for tourists by boat who are interested in seeing some of the beautiful scenery that it has to offer. Nestled in between the mountains and the sea, Kotor is a really cool small city to visit especially in the older sections, which date back to the Venetian period. We really enjoyed spending the day just walking around the city and seeing all the interesting old sites.

Harbor by night, Kotor, Montenegro. Taken by Kirstie.

Homes up the mountain, Kotor, Montenegro. Taken by Kirstie.

Clocktower, Kotor, Montenegro. Taken by Kirstie.

Church in the city center, Kotor, Montenegro. Taken by Kirstie.

City view, Kotor, Montenegro. Taken by Kirstie.

Alicante, Spain

It seems I’m obsessed with beach cities, and Alicante is no exception. Located just south of Valencia on the eastern Spanish coast, Alicante is one of my favorite places that I’ve visited. The old city center is just what you would expect from Spain- small, winding streets lined with cafes, restaurants and people playing music, sitting out with friends and simply enjoying life. The prices are low and the food is delicious. Add to it that the main city beach (just a 10 minute walk from the city center) is really beautiful (and clean!) and there’s no way Alicante doesn’t make this list.

Explanada de España, Alicante. Taken by Chilli Head via Flickr.

View of the city, Alicante. Taken by Bea y Fredi via Flickr.

Streets of Alicante. Taken by Les Haines via Flickr.

View from our terrace of the main cathedral, Alicante.

Granada, Spain

Hands down, no exception, Granada is my favorite small city in Europe. Scratch that, my favorite city period. There aren’t many places on earth you can see a Moorish palace and citadel, explore a historic Muslim quarter, visit the Sierra Nevada Mountains OR the Mediterranean Sea in about an hour by car AND eat delicious, inexpensive tapas. With such an eclectic background, Granada has developed with a mix of Spanish and Muslim influence, notable in the foods, fashions and layout of the city. It’s small enough to walk the center by foot and is full of intriguing nooks and crannies so there is always something new to be explored. Plus, the views are AMAZING!