Camping in Alicante: Costa Blanca, coves and Mediterranean mountains
The province of Alicante is home to some of the most popular campsites on the Spanish Mediterranean, and the reason is simple: the Costa Blanca offers a combination of fine sandy beaches, coves of clear water and a climate that makes it possible to go camping practically all year round. From the broad beaches of Guardamar del Segura and Santa Pola to the more secluded coves of Jávea, Moraira and Calpe, the Alicante coastline presents a variety that satisfies both campers who want lively surroundings and services and those who prefer quieter settings.
The Peñón de Ifach, in Calpe, is the most recognisable symbol of the Costa Blanca. This limestone monolith jutting into the sea is part of a natural park and offers an ascent route with incomparable views over the Gulf of Valencia and the mountains that make up the Marina Alta district. The area of Dénia and Cabo de San Antonio, which marks the southern end of the Montgó Natural Park, adds to its beaches the chance to spot marine wildlife and take excursions to the Portitxol islands. Further south, the bay of Altea and the pebble beaches of Benidorm contrast with the quiet atmosphere of the surrounding area, where the coves of Finestrat and the Cala de la Fustera offer corners of calm just a few kilometres away.
The interior of Alicante surprises those who expect only beaches. The Serra d'Aitana, with a summit rising above fifteen hundred metres, dominates the districts of the Marina and the Hoya de Alcoi and offers hiking and mountain biking routes with sea views on clear days. Guadalest, a castle village perched on a rocky needle with its turquoise reservoir at its foot, is one of the most photographed places in the Valencian interior. The Comtat district and the Sierra de Mariola, between Alcoi and Bocairent, hold springs, ravines, fields of wild lavender and the chance to discover a vernacular dry-stone architecture that has barely changed in centuries.
For campers travelling as a family, Alicante offers a network of campsites by the sea with full facilities: pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, bungalows and glamping options that make it possible to stay without your own equipment. The closeness between coast and mountains lets you combine a swim in the Mediterranean in the morning with a hike in the afternoon on the same trip. Outside the summer months, visitor numbers fall markedly and the campsites open in spring and autumn mainly welcome European tourists in motorhomes who appreciate the climate and the tranquillity of a coast that regains its relaxed pace out of season.
Gastronomy is another of the great attractions: arroz a banda, the red prawn of Dénia, Jijona nougat and Alicante nougat, the artisan ice creams of the Crevillent area and the wines of the Marina Alta or the Vinalopó district are products of recognised quality that can be found in the local markets of any village in the province. Visiting Alicante by camping means discovering a region where good weather, the sea and produce-led cooking come together almost all year round.
