Discover them in this tour from South to North along the coastline of the Costa Blanca.
I propose a fascinating journey to discover the best coves in the province of Alicante: those that have remained in a state as natural as possible, outside of urbanization and alterations.
Coves of crystalline waters, with oceanic posidonia seabed and rich in marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Natural paradises that we must preserve at all costs.
From Pilar de la Horadada, in the south, to Denia, in the north, the Costa Blanca has a fantastic and varied coastline where we can find from wide sandy beaches to small secluded coves sheltered by imposing cliffs.
It is precisely this type of coves, usually the most authentic and best preserved, that we are going to discover in today’s article. Will you join me to know the best coves in Alicante? Let’s start!
No te pierdas... 👇
The Best Coves in Alicante
Nota: en esta selección he primado las calas que presentan un entorno lo más natural posible. No deja de ser una selección personal y subjetiva. ¡Gracias por ayudarnos a protegerlas!
1. Mosca cove, Orihuela Costa
Undeveloped area with protected species. Naturist and dog coves.
The area between Cala de la Mosca and Punta Prima is the only undeveloped land on the Orihuela coastline. For that reason alone, we are obliged to preserve it. But in this area we also find endangered species of flora and fauna protected by law, such as the Jarilla de Cabeza de Gato, a small plant, or the unique gastropod Tudorella mauretanica.
As can be seen in the aerial photograph, this is an area with posidonia meadow and, therefore, rich in marine biodiversity and ideal for snorkeling.
2. Ferris Cove and Torrevieja Coves
Undeveloped area, ideal for walking and snorkeling.
The beautiful Cala Ferris, with crystal clear waters and those palm trees that make you dream of the Caribbean, is one of the few “virgin” redoubts of the coast of Torrevieja. A fantastic place to snorkel and dive in its posidonia meadow, but also to take a relaxing walk along the sea…
The truth is that Torrevieja has a wide variety of beaches and coves: from the widest beaches of fine sand, such as Playa de la Mata, to small rocky coves, such as Cala del Moro or Cala de la Higuera. I encourage you to discover more in my article about Torrevieja:
3. Coves and beaches on the island of Tabarca
Declared a Marine Reserve, it offers coves and beaches with crystalline waters.
The crystalline waters surrounding Tabarca Island were declared a Marine Reserve in 1986, becoming the first protected area of its kind in Spain. Along its almost two kilometers long, this former pirate refuge allows us to swim and snorkel in some of the cleanest and most biodiverse waters of the Costa Blanca, with seabeds full of posidonia oceanica and rich in marine fauna. In Tabarca we find sandy beaches and rocky coves, which one do you choose?
4. Coves of Cabo de la Huerta (Alicante)
Ideal environment for walking, jogging, snorkeling... Naturist area.
Between Albufereta Beach and San Juan Beach, the Cabo de la Huerta de Alicante is a natural area of great environmental, cultural and scenic importance. A small stretch of undeveloped coastline (only partly) where we find the Cala Cantalars, Cala Palmera and other coves.
At the end of the cape, overlooking the most emblematic mountains of Alicante, the Cabo de la Huerta lighthouse watches the horizon, which is currently threatened by a project for the construction of a restaurant. From LinkAlicante we advocate a public use as an interpretation center, as already happens in other lighthouses in the province.
More information in our article dedicated to the coves of Cabo de la Huerta:
5. Los Baños de la Reina and Illeta dels Banyets (El Campello)
El municipio de El Campello cuenta con más de 15 calas y playas repartidas a lo largo de sus 23 kilómetros de litoral. Las hay para todos los gustos: playas urbanas de arena con bandera azul, pequeñas calas, playas caninas… Y luego está esta: los Baños de la Reina, en el extremo de la pequeña península de la Illeta dels Banyets. Un lugar excepcional. Porque alberga un importante yacimiento arqueológico del que forman parte las antiguas balsas de una piscifactoría romana.
6. La Cala del Xarco (La Vila Joiosa)
Cala del Xarco is a beautiful bowling beach, about 350 meters long, dominated by a watchtower of the sixteenth century. A beach that is preserved in a practically natural state, where we find two distinct areas: the western part is a canine beach, while the eastern part is frequented by fishermen, nature photographers and lovers of quiet beaches.
Unfortunately, this year 2021 the Xarco Cove is threatened by a redevelopment project that could seriously alter its natural environment.
7. Bol Nou beach (La Vila Joiosa)
Located slightly south of the town, Playa del Bol Nou (or Bon Nou) is a beautiful cove flanked and protected by cliffs. In spite of the fact that in the last years some constructions have appeared in the surroundings, we can undoubtedly mention this cove as one of the most beautiful of the Costa Blanca. And the fact is that La Vila Joiosa, along with Xàbia, possibly has one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline along the Costa Blanca.
8. El Racó del Conill (La Vila Joiosa)
It can be visited on a hiking route. Beach of naturist tradition.
Villajoyosa
La Vila Joiosa, a town of fishermen, colorful houses and handmade chocolates, has one of the few remaining areas of the coast of the province of Alicante that are still in a natural state. We are talking about the stretch between Playa del Torres and Cala de Finestrat, an area of small cliffs and beautiful coves with crystal clear waters among which stands out the cove of Racó del Conill (naturist tradition, by the way).
Personally, I recommend visiting this area by taking the beautiful and simple hiking route that will also allow us to see the Torre d’Aguiló, one of the defensive constructions of the sixteenth century that were built to protect the coast from pirate attacks.
9. Almadrava and Ti Ximo, the coves of Benidorm.
In the middle of a natural park. The first naturist. Ideal for snorkeling.
At the most natural end of Benidorm, in the limits of the Natural Park of the Serra Gelada, we find two small coves of great beauty, with fine sand and rocky bed, ideal for snorkeling: Cala de l’Almadrava and Cala del Ti Ximo.
Two coves that we recommend visiting on foot (parking nearby is complicated), combining your visit with the hiking route of the Torre de les Caletes or Punta del Cavall, a route suitable for baby stroller, wheelchair and, of course, ideal to do with children.
And if you like alternative plans away from the crowds, then you will love this kayak tour in Benidorm.
10. La Caleta de l'Amerador (l'Albir - l'Alfàs del Pi)
Difficult access, ideal for snorkeling.
We stayed in the Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada, but this time at its northern end. Very close to the point where the l’Albir lighthouse route begins, we find this beautiful cove overlooking the Penyal d’Ifac and the Bay of Altea.
Despite being within the limits of the natural park, both this cove and the nearby Cala del Metge are subject to strong urban pressure, with large villas with swimming pools that have been built on the very edge of the protected area. Access to this rocky cove is somewhat complicated, so I do not recommend coming loaded with an umbrella or similar, but with appropriate footwear.
11. Barra Grande cove (Altea)
Difficult access, ideal for snorkeling
Cala de la Barra Grande is located in the northern part of the municipality of Altea, within the maritime area of the Serra Gelada Natural Park. Protected by the Punta del Mascarat, this tiny cove of bowls is of naturist tradition and measures just 50 meters wide. Its access is somewhat complicated, as it is on a path with a steep slope. The beginning of this path starts in the nearby urbanizations, which have practically privatized access to this cove, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful on the coast of Alicante.
12. La Cala del Racó del Corb (Altea-Calp)
Difficult access, ideal for snorkeling and climbing / psicobloc.
On our way north, we reach the Morro de Toix, the extension towards the sea of the Serra de Bèrnia, natural border between the Marina Baixa and Alta. An area of abrupt geology that has given rise to such fascinating corners as the Mascarat Canyon or the Racó del Corb Cove, located in the shelter of the enormous vertical walls of Toix.
This is a cove of difficult access, so do not come loaded with cooler, umbrella and other belongings. The best thing to do is to change them for booties, goggles, snorkel and fins, to immerse yourself in the underwater beauty of these protected waters, within the Natural Park of Serra Gelada, right on the border between Altea and Calpe.
13. El Racó Cove (Calpe)
Playa urbana ideal para snorkel.
La Cala El Racó es una pequeña playa de grava, cantos rodados y algo de arena, que se sitúa a los pies del imponente Peñón de Ifach, en la turística población de Calpe.
Aunque se trata de una playa urbana que cuenta con todos los servicios, también es cierto que sus aguas cristalinas constituyen uno de los mejores lugares para practicar snorkel en Alicante, hecho que por si solo la hace merecedora de figurar en este listado. No olvidemos, además, que el Peñón de Ifach es un Parque Natural de gran valor ambiental y cultural, y desde esta cala podemos disfrutar de la vista de esta icónica roca de más de 300 metros de altura.
14. Las Calas de Benissa
Different coves that we can visit through a coastal path.
The coast of Benissa offers several coves of great beauty. There is something for all tastes and colors. From Playa la Fustera, with fine sand and all amenities, to other rocky coves, more wild and secluded, such as Cala de la Llobella.
As if that were not enough, something I love about the Benissa coastline, in the north of the province, is that we can connect these coves thanks to the ecological path of Benissa, a linear itinerary of easy difficulty, ideal for combining hiking with swimming in the sea.
15. El Portet de Moraira
Preciosa playa semi-urbana ideal para disfrutar en familia.
¿Te gustan las calas bonitas, en un entorno natural de gran belleza, pero sin renunciar a las comodidades de una playa urbana? ¿Vienes en familia y quieres que tus hijos/as disfruten en un entorno seguro? ¿Te gusta practicar actividades como snorkel, kayak o paddle surf? Si has respondido afirmativamente a algunas (o todas) de estas preguntas, entonces El Portet de Moraira es tu playa ideal en Alicante. El color azul turquesa de las aguas de esta pequeña bahía protegida por la península del Cap d’Or no te dejará indiferente!
16. Cala del Moraig (Benitatxell)
Cove with limited capacity in high season. Start / end of hiking route.
Poble Nou de Benitatxell can boast some of the most beautiful coves on the Costa Blanca. Among them, the Cala del Moraig is the best known and most accessible. A beautiful gravel beach guarded by imposing cliffs and surrounded by geological wonders, such as the Cova dels Arcs or the Moraig Fault.
This is a cove that in recent years has become more and more popular, to the point that, since 2020, the capacity is limited and we must reserve our place through an application. It will have been worth the wait, though…
17. Portitxol Cove or Barraca Cove (Xàbia)
One of the most popular coves in Xàbia. High occupancy in summer.
This tour of the most beautiful and best preserved coves in the province of Alicante (in my humble opinion) takes us to the beautiful town of Jávea / Xàbia, the place that conquered the painter Joaquín Sorolla, who fell madly in love with its Mediterranean light. The truth is that he had every reason to…
From Cabo de Sant Antoni to Cala Granadella, Javea offers some of the most beautiful and famous coves of the Costa Blanca. Among all of them, Cala Barraca or Portitxol has been gaining popularity in recent years, largely thanks to its fishermen’s houses with blue doors, a phenomenon in the social network instagram.
If you are going to spend the day in Jávea, in addition to its coves, I recommend that you do not miss the route of the 15 viewpoints and visit the old town, you will be amazed!
18. La Granadella (Xàbia)
Beautiful cove of gravel and boulders. High occupancy in summer.
We could not miss in this selection of the best coves in the province of Alicante what is possibly the most famous cove of the Costa Blanca. Scenery of Hollywood movies and awarded by different media as one of the ten best beaches in Spain in the last years, the beach is one of the best in the world. Granadella Cove is a beautiful cove of gravel and turquoise waters, flanked by radiant green cliffs (now that they have recovered from the fire of 2016), with blue flag, all services and several restaurants.
During the summer months, access by car is closed once the parking spaces are full (something that usually happens early), but this is not a major problem since there is a shuttle bus service. Starting in the summer of 2022, it is planned to begin charging for parking.
If you want to enjoy this beautiful cove and its crystalline waters to the fullest, then I recommend you book this Granadella kayak tourwhere you will discover incredible places to which you will be able to only accessible by seaThe area is also known for its caves and hidden coves, which can be reached by kayak. You can also do this excursion in paddle surf, the fashionable sport.
If you prefer land plans, then the Route of the viewpoints of Jávea is your best option to discover the best views of the coast of Jávea.
Finally, don’t miss the article with the best things to see and do in Jávea.
⭐️ Bonus: La Cova Tallada (Jávea)
Lugar de acceso difícil por tierra, posible llegar en ruta en kayak.
La Cova Tallada no es una cala: se trata de un paisaje rocoso al pie de los acantilados de la Reserva Marina del Cabo de San Antonio.
Esta antigua cantera de piedra tosca es hoy en día un lugar increíble en cuya visita puedes combinar el snorkel, la espeleología y la historia. Debido a la gran atracción que despierta, tiene aforo limitado. Por eso es necesario realizar una reserva previa antes de visitarla.
El acceso por tierra requiere superar una corta pero difícil ruta de senderismo. También es posible acceder realizando una excursión guiada en kayak desde Les Rotes (Dénia) o con el tuyo propio si lo tienes.
Te cuento todos los detalles en el artículo sobre la Cova Tallada, uno de los lugares más fascinantes de Alicante.
⭐️ Bonus: En Caló (Jávea)
Preciosa cala recóndita, solo accesible por mar.
En Caló es una minúscula y preciosa cala de Jávea, escondida al pie de los impresionantes acantilados, cerca de la popular Cala Granadella. Conocida por algunos medios como la “cala secreta” de Jávea, la única forma de acceder a esta playa de belleza exótica que recuerda a países del sudeste asiático es por mar: preferiblemente en kayak o paddle surf. En este artículo sobre En Caló te cuento cómo llegar y te recomiendo una excursión que puedes reservar para conocer esta maravilla natural de Xàbia.
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