Area Guides.
Spain really does have something for everyone and one of your first decisions will be to decide on which area is the best fit for you. Here are our guides to some of the most popluar areas to consider....
Playa Flamenca
Playa Flamenca is a small beach resort on the Mediterranean coastline and forms part the Orihuela Costa region. Popular with second-home owners and tourists alike, Playa Flamenca traces its origins as far back as 1972 when Flemish investors created the Blue Flag beach resort from what was at the time little more than a barren rocky area overlooking the Mediterranean sea. In the years since, the surrounding areas have also developed and evolved and Playa Flamenca is now connected to a number of popular neighbouring resorts including La Zenia, Villamartin, Punta Prima and Los Altos.
Early development was confined to the relatively small area on the beachside of the national N332 coastal road, with construction of the inland side of the N332 commencing in the late 80’s. This later development represents some 90% of the total size of Playa Flamenca which still only covers an area of some 2½ square kilometres. This seemingly small footprint belies it’s popularity however, with Playa Flamenca being a favoured location for people of all nationalities looking to buy a holiday home in Spain. Whilst the superb climate and easy accessibility go some way to explaining this popularity, the abundance of local amenities, fantastic sandy beaches and proximity to the regions largest shopping mall are just a few of the other compelling attractions. There are a number of commercial centres throughout the area offering plentiful bars and restaurants as well as numerous entertainment options, including the huge outdoor go-kart centre and the municipal sports complex offering a gym, indoor heated pool, football pitches and tennis courts. The area is also famous for its Saturday market, which is one of the largest in the region and offers everything from fresh local produce to ornate handmade traditional leather goods.
How to get there
Easily accessible and well served by flights from all of the major European airports, travelling down from Alicante airport takes only 45 minutes, whilst the new Corvera International Airport in Murcia is even closer at only 40 minutes drive from the centre of Orihuela Costa. And with UK flights starting from less than a tenner each way, a long weekend in the sun is often cheaper than catching a taxi into your local town centre.
Things to do
The Paseo Maritimo promenade runs along the coastline and past Playa Flamenca’s three superb beaches, the Cala Mosca, Cala las Estacas and Cala Cabo Penas with the first two of those being adorned with the renowned Blue Flag award. These beautiful white sandy stretches of beach form adjoining crescent coves, complete with a traditional chiringuitos (beach bar) and lifeguards in the high season. Whilst these can often become particularly busy during the high season, the Cala Cabo Penas is somewhat secluded and is accessible only by a rocky path – as a result it’s worth seeking out in the busy season as a quieter alternative. Playa Flamenca is bordered to the south by the resort of La Zenia, home to the La Zenia Boulevard, the largest shopping mall in the Alicante region, with the Villamartin urbanisation located to the west and a large undeveloped natural area running to the neighbouring beach resort of Punta Prima.
Weather
Blessed with a climate that the World Health Organisation declare to be one of the very healthiest in the world, the area is noted as having ‘as near perfect an environment as it is possible to obtain’ – high praise indeed! Year-round sunshine and low humidity are a perfect combination and with the Costa Blanca enjoying an average annual temperature of 19o, highs of 40o+ and more than 3000 hours of sunshine over 320+ days, few other regions can compete. Water temperatures average 25o even in the autumn meaning you can take a dip in the Med well into late October whilst daytime temperatures often still reach well into the 20’s throughout December making this the perfect spot to escape the British winter!
A quick video tour of Playa Flamenca
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