The Costa Blanca is the coastline that stretches 170 miles along Spain's east coast centred on Alicante and running from Valencia in the north to La Manga in the south. It is famous for the resort of Benidorm which has a reputation for being a unique family resort. The countryside at the north end of the Costa Blanca is attractively mountainous and rocky. All the resorts have plenty to offer for tourists and have a wide selection of accommodation both near the beach and rising up the hillside.

The area is well serviced by Alicante airport. Alicante is a holiday resort in itself and offers a wonderful city with great shopping. Just south of the airport lies the resort of Torrevieja with its sandy beach and lively market, several golf courses and wonderful accommodation. Near Cartegena is the well known sports and golf complex of La Manga.

Inland from the beaches lies one of Spain's most fertile areas, well known for the citrus trees that supply fruit worldwide, almond trees that blanket the ground with rich blossom and date palms in massive forests.

The Costa Blanca is one of those resorts where everyone can find their place in the sun, from cosmopolitan towns where life goes on 24 hours a day to sleepy little villages where the peace and tranquillity is unique.

Fiestas, traditions and more
The best known traditional dances on the Costa Blanca are the Jota Valenciana and the Jota Murciana. These can be performed either solo or in pairs and although the partners do not actually make contact with each other, the movements are both vigorous and gracious. The dancers are accompanied by musicians playing guitars or other instruments introduced to the area by the Moors. Flamenco is also popular here.

When it comes to fiestas and festivals, there are so many on the Costa Blanca, you are bound to see one wherever you are, whatever time of year. As with the rest of Spain, one of the most important events is the Semana Santa or Easter Week. These deeply religious celebrations are somewhat overwhelming.

Sports and recreation
Much of a holiday on the Costa Blanca will be spent on one of the wonderful beaches and there are hundreds of miles of them. Most of the major resorts have facilities for water sports such as skiing, boating, jet-skiing etc and several have diving and snorkelling available. Skuba-diving has taken off in a big way on the Costa Blanca. Wind surfing is one of Spain's fastest growing sports and on this coast it is popular. See also fishing.