The Costa Blanca region in Spain is all about having fun in the sun. Known as the 'White Coast,' the popular holiday hotspot is well known for its wonderful weather, lively party atmosphere and picturesque scenery across many resorts, such as Benidorm, Alicante, Elche and Denia. Costa Blanca has some of the most spacious beaches in the whole of Europe, many boasting clean golden sand, clear sparkling waters, stunning scenery and excellent facilities.
Top picks
With over 100 kilometres of sandy beaches and many having been selected as worthy recipients of the European Blue Flag, it is pretty tricky picking out the best beaches in Costa Blanca. A couple of the finest include El Carabassi near Santa Pola and Les Rotes in the Denia region.
El Carabassi is a wide beach on the coast of Costa Blanca and is a popular choice for families. Its clean fine golden sand makes it stand out from many of the region's shingle alternatives, and its natural scenery is especially eye-catching thanks to its dunes and wetlands. The shallow water levels mean children can have a fun and more importantly, safe - time splashing and swimming in the sea, and due to the slopes on the beach, the levels stay constant for quite a way out even if the seawater temperatures do vary throughout the year.
The wide sandy stretch of El Carabassi covers provides plenty of room for land lovers who simply want to pass the time playing on the sand from football to beach volleyball, bat and ball to Frisbee El Carabassi is a prime spot for families to kick back and have some fun in the sun. Not forgetting the serious art of competitive sandcastle building!
El Carabassi beach is a perfect spot for a picnic; however, it's worth packing up your picnic bag before you head off, as this beach is around seven miles south of Alicante. However, if you do forget your picnic, don't panic El Carabassi beach has plenty of shacks serving snacks, paellas, snacks, ice cream and cold and hot beverages all day long.
Also on the Costa Blanca coast is Les Rotes. This beach comprises five little bays with a stunning backdrop of the nature reserve, Parque Natural del Mongo. Sitting pretty just south of the centre of Denia near the harbour, Les Rotes is ideal for families and for those who want to enjoy rock pooling, scuba diving and snorkelling; there's some fantastic plant and marine life to be seen here. The rocky coves further along the beach are good for sun seekers looking for a bit of privacy; La Cala, the last cove, is a nudist beach.
Another top beach is the Playa del Cura in Torrevieja. Awarded with European Blue Flag status first in 2003, this sandy beach stretches 500 metres in length, although it is narrow in width at just 25 metres. As well as allowing easy access for people with disabilities, other facilities include a regular lifeguard on attendance, water sports (including windsurfing and sailing) and a seafront promenade full of bars and restaurants. Sat right in the heartland of the town, Playa del Cura is the most popular beach in Torrevieja.
Alicante & Benidorm beaches
Based in Alicante, Playa La Albufereta is one of the smaller beaches in the region and is located approximately two miles from the coast of Playa Postiguet. Playa La Albufereta is a white sandy beach and offers water sports with a regular life guard in attendance.
Playa Postiguet is within walking distance from the main Alicante town centre. It is bigger and is visited frequently throughout the year by both holidaymakers and locals. This beach features golden sand, has a good choice of restaurants and beach bars nearby, and is picturesquely fringed by palm trees.
Alicante's longest beach is Playa de San Juan. This beach stretches over a whopping seven kilometres and has excellent facilities such as a large climbing frame for children, watch towers, toilets and water sports activities. Hugely popular during the summer months, this beach becomes a magnet for tourists during the summer season - especially with families thanks to the kids' play area, the wide stretch of sand and the clean waters which make swimming conditions ideal.
In total, Benidorm offers three miles of sandy beaches, and with hot and sunny weather almost a certain guarantee, it's easy to see why Benidorm's coastline is popular with both tourists and locals alike. Water sport activities are a favourite pastime for people holidaying in Benidorm. Parasailing, windsurfing and water skiing are the most common water sports in this region, with Levante Beach, Poniente Beach and Malpas Beach being the best beaches for catching the wind and waves.
Calpe's best beaches
Throughout the whole of Costa Blanca, each and every major town has a beach worthy of a visit - Calpe should definitely be on your list. Many of Calpe's beaches are high quality, and unlike nearby Benidorm, you are more likely to find a spot nice enough and quiet enough to set up camp for the whole day. Indeed, Calpe's beaches - renowned for their cleanliness and excellent facilities are a big factor when it comes to tourists picking Costa Blanca as their chosen holiday destination.
There are two main beaches in Calpe: Playa de la Fossa Levante and Playa del Arenal. Both are good family beaches and feature clean golden sand and a good range of restaurants, bars and shops nearby. Playa del Arenal beach has a gentle slope into the sea, which means it is a great spot to introduce little ones to swimming in the sea. Jet-ski tours are also available, along with motorboats; a lifeguard is present from June till September.
Other great choices include the small but popular Playa Del Cantal Roig near the Calpe Harbour. This beach offers easy access and a host of restaurants, many serving fresh fish and paella during the day. Also, the beautiful Playa del Puerto Blanco is well worth a visit, it has shaded spots and outstanding views of the Rock of Ifach.