An activity-filled summer on the Costa Blanca Norte

An activity-filled summer on the Costa Blanca Norte

Summer is for having the best time ever and for getting the most out of this season. And if you are lucky enough to live on the Costa Blanca, you couldn’t be in a better place. By now there are not many new beaches you haven’t swum on, you have discovered all the little coves on your list and … maybe some of you fancy something just a little bit different. Well, there are a whole host of plans and activities with a difference that you can enjoy on the Costa Blanca Norte and, best of all, they are all really close to Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol!

 

Benissa, el Poble Nou de Benitatxell and Teulada-Moraira: sport and culture in equal measure

Starting with the two places closest to Cumbre del Sol, in Benissa and el Poble Nou de Benitatxell there are all kinds of activities and summer fiestas on the Costa Blanca. For sporty types, North Costa Blanca Padel Club is organising two tournaments this summer from 28 to 31 July and from 26 to 28 August. Be sure to sign up and have a great time practising sport in the open air.

In the same municipal district, el Poble Nou de Benitatxell will be holding its famous “Agost a la Fresca” until 28 August. This includes a full agenda of activities with cinema, literature, talks, family activities, music, dance….. and all just a few kilometres from your home in Cumbre del Sol.

By August, Benissa is reaching the final stage of its Local neighbourhood and Rural district fiestas. An extensive list of activities of all kinds, for every taste and for enjoying one of the loveliest towns of the Costa Blanca. You can check out all the activities by clicking this link.  The town has also been celebrating its Viu L’Estiu (Viva the summer) activities since June, and these will continue until the end of September. We suggest you take a look at the programme and drop by or join in some of the events.
As well as these activities, we recommend one of the guided visits as a top activity. These are held in the district and they take you from the historic town centre to the hermitage of Santa Ana and to the now renowned Ecology Trail. The talks are given in several languages and afterwards you’ll find that you have totally fallen in love with Benissa.

And that’s not all going on around here, in Teulada-Moraira you can try what is surely one of the most original activities on the Costa Blanca. These are the theatrical guided visits. It’s a great way of discovering the place, and an opportunity to visit and enjoy the shopping night, the grand music gala and the moscatell fiesta.

 

Tradition and fiesta in Altea

We couldn’t leave out the dome of the Costa Blanca in this article. All of life is there in Altea, it is the Mediterranean in its purest form, it is all about wanting to return again and again. There are some incredibly varied, enjoyable, cultural and festive activities on offer. Almost every day there is something to do or to discover. From guided tours around key parts of the town to the famous Craft Fair (from July to September) in the Church Square and the celebrated concerts with Música Aboquetanit (7 July – 25 August),  You will be reminded that Altea is the home and source of inspiration for thousands of artists of every kind. One of the high points of all these activities are the popular fiestas of  San Roc and San Lorenzo, with the latter featuring the impressive Castell de l’Olla which lights up the whole bay of Altea.

fuegos artificiales altea

Dénia: where variety is the spice

Dénia is another of those places where summer is really for LIVING LIFE to the full. The town council has organised several activities during the high season for residents and visitors alike aside from enjoying the fabulous and magical beaches of the Costa Blanca.

As is customary, the municipal district is promoting a healthy lifestyle with its Sport on the beach initiative. Up until 31 August, you can practise tai chi, pilates, keep fit, aerobics, kyusho dimak and zumbalee at Marineta Cassiana and Punta del Raset. Not only that, but the town is known for its live music as it is host to the Dénia Jazz Festival, which is held every August.  This year will be its seventh edition and the 2022 bill of events certainly matches the circumstances.
As you can see, culture is a deep seated aspect of the character of this town. As such, another date for taking your friends and family out on a summer’s evening is to Les Bassetes park.  Under the umbrella of Culture in Les Bassetes, the park hosts musical events and film screenings. And while we’re talking about film… don’t forget the series of feature films screened throughout the month of August at the Vora Mar cinema in Punta del Raset!

However, the main summer events in Dénia are the Moros y Cristianos fiestas, which are held in the first half of August. A perfect way of soaking up the town’s history and tradition concentrated in this event.

Fiestas, activities, culture, history… and all really close to Cumbre del Sol! In summer, the Costa Blanca has a whole lot more to offer than you may think. Make sure you take a look at our future blog  posts so that you can keep abreast of everything going on in the most magical coastal region of Spain.

The importance of culture in Costa Blanca Norte

The importance of culture in Costa Blanca Norte

The Costa Blanca is a favourite tourist destination. It is just like an open air museum filled with history, culture and festivities. Aside from its fabulous beaches, there are many places of interest that are worth a visit, and the splendour and cultural heritage of its villages invite you to explore and discover them further.

Romanesque churches, historic neighbourhoods with their Arab architecture, or castles from a bygone age. Fiestas, monuments and tradition which will take you back to remote times as you explore the cultural heritage of the villages in this area. Discover some magical places just a step away from the Mediterranean seashore!

 

Festivals and fun on the Costa Blanca

There’s a festive spirit in the streets of the Costa Blanca’s towns and villages all year round. Participation in these celebrations is always a popular activity. You have probably heard of the night of San Juan or the Moros y Cristianos fiesta. However, first things first, what do you actually know about their origins?

 

Moros y Cristianos

Altea, Denia, Calpe, Villajoyosa or Alcoy are well known for their popular celebrations of the Moros y Cristianos festivities held in honour of the patron saints of these Costa Blanca towns.

As the oldest residents will tell you, faithful to their religious beliefs, thanks to these patron saints, the Christians were able to overcome the Muslims in battle. This historic celebration spans a period of 3 to 5 days and is held in a number of cities and at different times of the year. The highlight of this fiesta is the Desembarco – the disembarkment – which commemorates the arrival of the Moorish troops on the coast and their battle on the beach with the Christian forces determined to reconquer the land. It’s an impressive spectacle!

 

  • Altea Fiestas

Altea is synonymous with festivity. Almost every month there is a fiesta in this municipal district, but it is in summer that the fiestas really come into their own.

Easter Week and Corpus Christi are the main religious events of the year. In February the streets are vibrant with colour as the residents celebrate their famous Carnaval. Meanwhile, Castell de l’Olla celebrates on the Saturday that falls closest to feast of San Lorenzo in Altea. It holds Spain’s biggest fireworks display from the sea. It also celebrates its own Moros y Cristianos fiestas.

 

San Juan Bonfires

When summer comes, this area of the coast attracts worldwide interest. The San Juan Bonfires begin on 19 June, and the ‘Mascletás’, the Proclamation, processions, street parades, firecrackers and bell ringing are all part of the festivities, culminating in the famous bonfire night the ‘Cremà’ (24 June).

 

Fireworks

The culmination of all these festivities and Bonfires is a particularly special event. The celebration takes place every year after the bonfires, held from the 25 to 29 June. Postiguet beach is host to a fireworks contest. The most stunning pyrotechnic displays can be found here on the Costa Blanca.

 

altea costa blanca cultura

 

History and much more on the Costa Blanca

The historic quarters of many of the area’s towns are another major attraction of the Costa Blanca. Neighbourhoods that harbour amazing legends and impressive monuments.

 

Altea church

In the heart of Altea’s historic centre, this church dates from 1607, when it was first built. A stroll around its square and the surrounding area will take you right back to the 16th century. The church has been a mute witness to the passage of time in the town becoming an historic and cultural icon of Altea.

 

Bust of Cervantes

In Dénia, the most famous part of town is known as Explanada de Cervantes, where you can find a bust of the celebrated writer Don Quixote. The story goes that in 1580 when Cervantes was freed from prison he went to the port of Dénia, kissing the actual spot where this monument now stands.

 

The Castle Route

There are over 100 castles on the Costa Blanca. Fortresses that were the strongholds of the ancient Visigoth kings and the most important monarchs in the area. The Castle Route will draw you into a magical cultural experience. There are many such citadels along the route that runs from the mountains down to the sea.

 

Legends, culture and festivities that bear witness to the Costa Blanca’s wealth of mystery, entertainment and fun. Living history alongside the Mediterranean sea. How about choosing it as a place to live?

 

Sundays are for walking and discovering Marina Alta

Sundays are for walking and discovering Marina Alta

Have you heard of synaesthesia? It is a phenomenon where elements of the physical senses are commonly associated with feelings. An example is how Sundays and life in Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol  can be linked. That sense of calm and wellbeing so typical of the last day of the week is comparable to daily life in our villas and apartments.

That’s why Sundays are so special here and that is also why we want you to enjoy them as much as possible. So you can connect with the surrounding nature and discover all its hidden corners. This is the idea behind the Diumenges Marina Alta initiative. Have you heard of it? It’s based on physical activity and hiking and walking in Marina Alta. And the main aim is to connect with nature and the countryside in this beautiful part of the world.

Marina Alta covers 750 km2 of terrain which translates to some unique flora and fauna and stunning countryside. Beauty spots include the Peñón de Ifach, Cabo de San Antonio, Montgó and the Pego-Oliva marshlands.

These landscapes can be explored in depth and in good company as you hike the local trails with Diumenges Marina Alta. Fernando Sendra devised and supervises these routes to promote tourism in the area, and to help you spend a different kind of Sunday. Diumenges Marina Alta also has the support of local councils, including La Vall de Laguar, Orba, Parcent, Benigembla and Poble Nou de Benitatxell, home of Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol. Want to know which are best walks and hiking trails in Marina Alta? We plan to tell you all about them!!

Walking in Altea

Altea and its unique, idyllic setting is ideal for a Sunday walk or hike. Faro de Albir is close by and is one of the most popular destinations for walkers, and the trail you follow along the way is as enjoyable as the final destination. Altea La Vella, Font del Garrofet and the hermitage of Santa Bárbara are other places worth seeing along another of the most frequently trodden paths in Altea. Cap Blanch, Cap Negret… there are innumerable trails in this area of the Costa Blanca with varied levels of difficulty.  It’s up to you to decide!

Walking in Calpe

The most obvious and popular walk in Calpe is clearly the one that ends with a climb up to the Peñon de Ifach. In fact the route to the top is really stunning and you won’t be disappointed by the views. But luckily there is so much more to Calpe than the Peñon de Ifach! The La Mola /Cima de l’Òlta is another of the TOP 3 for hikers in Marina Alta. Are you up for the challenge?

Walking in Denia

Denia is the ideal starting point for a walk in Marina Alta which ends on the highest peak of Montgó. As it is a mountain, the route isn’t exactly one of the easiest to attempt but it is certainly the most fun and the most spectacular. Especially if you have views of the Mediterranean in mind at the end of your trek, and as you can bask in utter peace and tranquillity at this altitude. 

Nevertheless, if you prefer a little less exertion, the Vía Verde de Dénia, along the now disused former FEVE rail track, is a lovely walk among orange trees where you can experience the very best of rural life.  La Cova de l’Aigua or the Racó del Bou are other places you can visit along your Denia walks and trails. 

Walking in Jávea

The sea is clearly the main attraction in this coastal resort when walking in Marina Alta. This is why beaches like Portitxol or Barraca are visited so frequently, as aside from offering sun and sand for a perfect day at the beach, they are the ideal scenario for a coastal trail. The sandy coves of Blanca and Sardinera and Cap Prim might well be places to jot down in your walker’s agenda so that you don’t miss out on a single stretch of this coastline.

Walking in Benissa

There are walks and trails in Marina Alta that begin in Benissa and end in other beautiful villages in the area. What is so great about walking is that you can explore so many different villages and discover their traditions on foot and witness changes at first hand. Senija and Lliber which belong to the district of Vall de Pop are just some of the places in Benissa’s trail pack. Camins de Pedra i Aigua is one of the most iconic and fascinating routes. Along the way you’ll discover the traditional hydraulic architecture of these villages, with their wells, ponds, channels and canals, water wheels, …. something really different!

Upcoming Diumenges Marina Alta

From now until the end of this year, Diumenges Marina Alta has several routes planned. Starting out from Orba and for just 5 euros, on 24 October you can enjoy a walk that passes by the castle of the Atzavares. In November you will be able to sign up to walking in Marina Alta to places such as El Seguili or Parcent. And in December, trails to Font Calenta, Sender del Badall and Les Fonts and the Ruta de la Figuereta.

Does all this make you want to start walking? It is a natural, healthy and simple way of getting to know your surroundings and spending your Sunday in places that can be found in Marina Alta and its villages and nowhere else.

Discover the Costa Blanca’s nautical side

Discover the Costa Blanca’s nautical side

There are around 250 kilometres of coastline joining the Mediterranean Sea to the land in what is known to us all as the Costa Blanca. A unique location, famous for the hours of sunshine enjoyed all year round. And in this unique setting you will find  Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol, a place that, aside from the waves lapping its shores, is surrounded by towns with a wealth of cultural, historic, and gastronomic charms, with plenty of leisure activities as well. The fact is that, in summer, the sea features prominently when it comes to making plans with friends and family.  We suggest a few options here to get you started!

And right there in Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol you have so many water sports on offer that you won’t want to be out of the sea all summer. We are talking about Dreamsea Mediterranean Camp, a place to discover and develop new passions. Have you ever heard of Stand up paddle? This activity lets you paddle off on a surfboard to discover some delightful little Costa Blanca hideaways.

More traditional pastimes include kayaking or snorkelling, activities that Dreamsea Mediterranean Camp also provides, designed to make your summer with us full of new experiences and comforts. We also offer Glamping services. Does that ring a bell? It is a combination of “glamorous and campingSo you can enjoy the very best of nature without sacrificing comfort!

But as we mentioned, aside from Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol, there are plenty more water sports to enjoy! The fact is that if you have always been a fan of films with a seagoing setting, at Moraira some great adventures await. The port has a long list of options for boat rentals and you can choose the one that best suits your style, and spend a lovely day at sea. Plan your route and then pay a visit to this Alicante port. You won’t be disappointed!

If you are more of an adrenaline junkie, there is one activity that will definitely ensure that the freedom of the sea gets right under your skin. Riding the waves has never been easier than with a jet ski. And just a few steps away from Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol you have the best scenario for a trip out to sea. Both Denia and Jávea have an enormous range of options for practising this aquatic sport.  One way of discovering the Mediterranean Sea at top speed!

And under the waves you can dive into the sea depths, with the sea bed unquestionably one of the main tourist attractions on the Costa Blanca. In Javea, scuba diving is their daily bread. Because the subterranean waters here are unique throughout Spain. Why should that be? We would like you to discover that for yourself when you dive down to explore the flora and fauna of the seabed.

High on the list of places for scuba diving on the Costa Blance is the famous Cova dels Arcs. This cave has galleries and passageways along with a subterranean river which can be explored by more experienced divers. Apparently, this cave was submerged some 6,000 years ago when the sea level rose. It is a real historical treasure and an amazingly beautiful discovery for lovers of scuba diving.

As you can see, Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol has infinite number of leisure activities for you to enjoy. But we know that the sea and the water is the biggest attraction in summer and so we hope that we have helped with this round up of activities and places for you to discover in the Costa Blanca where water, and more water! is never in short supply!

Blue flag beaches on the Costa Blanca

Blue flag beaches on the Costa Blanca

This year once again, the Valencian Community led the way with the highest number of blue flag beaches in Spain. In fact, this year three more beaches have been added compared to last year’s list. But why is this flag so important? Is it to do with the environment? Would you like to know which are the best beaches on the Costa Blanca that are flying this blue flag? Keep reading to find out what makes them so special!

What does it mean to see a blue flag flying on a beach?

The blue flag is the highest accolade a beach or sports marina can receive, in recognition of the environmental quality of its waters. To be awarded a flag, these places have to fulfil a number of requirements to meet certain standards. To give you an idea of what it means, it is rather like a restaurant receiving a Michelin star. But do you know the selection criteria that are used? And the characteristics of these beaches?

The most important feature is the quality of the water. In fact, the Costa Blanca blue flag beaches have the cleanest, most limpid crystal clear waters that enable you to see the sea bed at all times. But that’s not all. The blue flag guarantees the cleanliness of the beaches as well. So it insists on proper waste management to preserve the natural environment, and to respect biodiversity, even though many of these places are tourist hot spots. This recognition also ensures that the beaches are safe and accessible for people with reduced mobility. Although, here we should mention that pets are not allowed.

Blue flag beaches on the Costa Blanca

We never tire of telling you that Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol offers so many advantages! One of the main ones, especially now in the summer, is that of having the best beaches on your doorstep. A treat for the senses! And we are not talking about just any old beaches, but some of the very best ones. Both for their surroundings and also for the blue flag flying overhead. Shall we go to the beach then?

You are sure to know this famous little cove already as it is part of Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol: Cala Moraig. It is the ideal spot to freshen up with a dip in the water, for snorkelling or for enjoying some peace and quiet. And just a few kilometres away there is another little beach with enormous charm that belongs to the district of Benissa. Do you know which one it is? Yes, that’s right, its Cala Fustera!

Do you want to enjoy beach and a bit of urban life without straying too far from home? Then we have the perfect towns just on our doorstep: Altea and Denia! Altea has no less than 3 beaches with a blue flag: Cap Blanc, La Roda and L’Espigó. You will also find every type of beach, both sandy and pebbly. There are beaches to suit everyone, but one thing is sure, once you get there you won’t want to go home.

When you are in Denia you can choose from among 6 beaches with a blue flag. Els Molinis beach is ideal for water sports or for a beach volley ball game with friends. If you’re planning a family day out at the seaside your best bet is Les Marines. It has everything you need with all kind of services. For example: If you are looking for comfort above anything else, you can rent a hammock and a sunshade there.

Now we have told you some of the best blue flag beaches on the Costa Blanca you know what you need to do, right? Get out your swimming costume or bikini and head for one of the beaches we mentioned and have a great day. If you want to find some of the lesser known corners of the Costa Blanca, make sure that you read our blog and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.