Jump into Costa Blanca Spain with both feet, and each one will land on something fun, strange, or heartwarming. Walk around the alleys of Altea to get your senses going. Colors pop out of whitewashed buildings, and flowerpots hang like jewelry. Try a café solo while locals talk in the shade. You will want time to slow down.
Step onto the sun-drenched beaches of Benidorm, where waves crash against bronze bodies and tacky umbrellas. Don't worry about the busy schedules of the city. Here, it's a race between your tan lines getting darker and your ice cream melting. Get some fresh air in clear turquoise seas. If you don't like the feel of sand between your toes, try paragliding over the seaside. You might think the horizon bends because it goes on and on.
Are you hungry? Give in. At a seaside chiringuito, you may eat a warm pan of paella. The saffron, the rice that was simmering, and the salty smell of the sea breeze. No one will judge you if you lick your lips. Walk around the Mercado Central, your nose twitching at the smell of citrus, new bread, and ham. Don't go to chain eateries. Believe in old tiles, crooked signs, and people in sweaters with elbow patches.
Want something old? The castle in Alicante is on top of Mount Benacantil, where it looks down on everything. Take the pathways that go up and down. Avoid the rude birds. When you get up there, look down at the tangle of terracotta roofs. Take a picture. Laugh at your shirt that's wet with sweat; everyone else is also.
Nature here yells. The Peñón de Ifach sticks out of the sea like a stage prop. It's a three-bottle-of-water kind of day to hike. The views will take your breath away. If you don't want to climb, just lay on the sand below and let the wind blow away your troubles.
Nights slowly bloom. In the historic part of Villajoyosa, candy-colored houses shine under string lights. Get a glass of wine from the area. Listen to a guitarist play nearby and tap your toes. Say cheers to strangers. Why not?
Every town on the Costa Blanca is like a distinct character in a play. The cove beaches in Jávea have hidden spots for introverts, and the promenade in Calpe calls out to walkers with the promise of ice cream and wobbling bikes. Sign up for a boat excursion and go below the surface if you want to dive into the unknown. Schools of fish swim by quickly, looking around and being scared.
Costa Blanca is more than simply a postcard-perfect resort. It's a mix of bold, calm, sweet, and a little silly moments. All you have to do is let the place take you away.