Areas and Town Information for Spain
Mediterranean Area
This part of Spain ( from the Costa Brava to the Costa del Sol ) averages 12 hours of sunshine a day in the summer and 6 hours in the winter. The summer months are hot although sea breezes usually prevent temperatures from getting too high. Average maximum temperatures in the summer are 30 - 31ºC and rain is uncommon, certainly during the months from May to September.
Costa Almeria
Situated in the South-East area of the country the Costa Almeria is one of the lesser known Mediterranean coastal areas in Spain. More people each year are discovering the unspoilt beaches, the sun and the natural beauty of this area.
Almeria enjoys a warm and dry Mediterranean climate, with very little rain. Temperatures throughout the year are mild reaching no lower than an average of 11º C in winter, and no more than an average of 25º C in summer.
Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca or White Coast extends along the section of the Mediterranean coast that corresponds to the province of Alicante. The climate in this area is excellent, boasting about 300 days of sunshine throughout the year this means you can enjoy the sea most of the year and sun-bathing is possible even in winter. Within this area along with the historic capital Alicante you will find the resorts of Denia, Javea, Calpe and the major tourist destination of Benidorm.
Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is on the Northern coast of Catalonia, extending some 100 miles along the coast from North of Barcelona through to the province of Girona. Its beautiful stretch of coastline includes deserted coves and abundance of wide sandy beaches. A short drive to the East takes you to the spectacular wooded foot hills of the Pyrenees, with trout-filled streams feeding environmentally protected lakes offering a welcome alternative to the coastal beaches. This region was voted by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators as the best emerging golf destination in 2000 and currently offers nine top-class golf courses and a further eight pitch & put golf courses.
Costa Calida
Located in the province of Murcia , the Costa Calida known as the " Warm Coast " is situated in the South-East of the Iberian Peninsula and sits between the provinces of Almeria to the South and Alicante to the North. This area is sheltered by high mountains and benefits from around 320 sunshine days per year which means temperatures rarely fall below 30°C in the summer and average around 18°C in the winter. The province of Murcia , is famous for its salt lakes, as a result the air is much dryer than in other parts of Spain & Europe. The World Health Organisation has rated this part of Spain as one of the healthiest climates on the planet due to the low humidity levels and mild climate. This coast uniquely has two seas, the Minor Sea ( Mar Menor ) and the Mediterranean. A strip of coastline called La Manga encloses and separates the Minor Sea lagoon from the Mediterranean, connected only by channels or gorges. The Mar Menor is Europe's largest salt water lagoon, the salinity provides buoyancy so it is one of the safest places to swim in the world, it also has an average depth of only four metres which means that it is ideal for children. The mineral-rich waters of the Mar Menor are said to have therapeutic effects, so the area has a significant spa tourism industry.
Costa de la Luz
The Costa De La Luz or " Coast of Light " is on the Southern coast of Spain running between Gibraltar and Portugal . This unspoilt coast faces the Atlantic Ocean and has some of the most beautiful fine white sandy beaches in Spain. The area is ideal for water sports, especially around Tarifa, which is known as one of the best windsurfing locations in Europe. The capital of the Algarve, Faro, although in Portugal, is just 45 minutes away from the town of Ayamonte by car.
The Cost de la Luz is quieter overall than other coasts, however Golfers are spoilt for choice with many excellent courses available close by in both Spain and Portugal.
The huge wet lands of Coto Doñana national park divide the coast in two and attract thousands of birds travelling between Africa and Europe. It is a haven for eagles, turtles and Lynx. The largest City on the Costa de la Luz is Cadiz, which has some of the oldest buildings in Europe and is steeped in history.
Property prices on the Costa de la Luz are still very affordable, however the lack of available building land protects against over-development.
Costa del Azahar
Costa del Azahar meaning coast of orange blossom, is situated on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, close to Valencia. The capital is called Castello de Plana meaning area of plains even though there are more mountainous areas than flat ones! The region is rich in monuments and history, with many areas still untouched by man.
There are four main beaches to the Costa del Azahar, Sud de Benicassim with its fine white sands and artificial piers made of rocks, people can often be seen fishing here .It is a blue flag beach as is Torrenostre with its wide sandy beach and many facilities and calm sea. Nules has an excellent golden beach which runs the length of the town and Morro de Gos is a very long, white sandy beach.
Costa del So East
The Eastern Costa del Sol stretches from Malaga to Nerja, the main towns being Nerja, Torre del Mar, Torrox, Frigiliana and Rincon de la Victoria. A very different feel to the western end, less built up and retaining more of the rural feel of Spain. Once a sleepy fishing village and a favourite tourist resort, Nerja has retained its Andalucian character, particularly in the old quarter with its narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses.
Costa del Sol West
The Western Costa del Sol has 100km of coastline stretching from Malaga to the border with the Cadiz province. Estepona, Marbella, Puerto Banus, Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos are part of this area. There is a wide range of water sports, sailing, golf, tennis and all sorts of tourist attractions and amenities - with more jet skis per capita than anywhere else in Europe.
This stretch of the coast has been a popular area for tourism for many years and consequently has a highly developed infrastructure. It is the most all year round tourist destination in Europe with numerous great beaches.
Costa Dorada
The Costa Dorada ( golden coast ) stretches from Barcelona in the North down to the popular resort of Salou. Consisting of 150 miles of stunning coastline, with sandy beaches sloping gently in to the warm Mediterranean water. There are a few large resorts with Salou and Cambrills being the main tourist centres, and several small fishing villages.
The coastal resorts have a traditional seaside atmosphere and are excellent for families, especially since the recent addition of the Port Aventura theme park. There is also an aqua park, a wide range of water sports and other leisure activities combined with plenty of bars, restaurants and hotels. Costa Dorada's main city is the ancient Roman city of Tarragona which boasts historical ruins and a variety of museums. Then of course there is the vibrant regional capital of Barcelona.
Inland there are many areas of great beauty, unspoilt by man. The Delta del Ebro Nature Park, a nature reserve which is the second largest wetland area in the Western Mediterranean and the Prades and Montsant mountains. There are also many enchanting traditional villages where time stands still. The area also has a selection of golf courses, designed for players of all levels.
Costa Tropical
This is still one of the most under developed coasts in Southern Spain . The Costa starts to the east of Nerja and neighbours the Costa de Almeria to the East. Although not nearly so well known as the neighbouring Costa del Sol to the west, the Costa Tropical of Granada province is particularly picturesque.
The coastline changes from sandy beaches synonymous with the Costa del Sol to steep mountainous headlands producing a glorious combination of secluded bays against a backdrop of amazing mountain scenery. Towns becoming ever more popular with tourists and foreign buyers are La Herradura and Almunecar, both of which have easily accessible beaches and have a variety of water sports on offer.
Access from Granada airport is good, taking about an hour and a half. Motorway connections from Malaga Airport will soon be improved by the extension of the coast motorway due to be completed in 2007. Nearby in a protected cove East of Punta de la Mona is the impressive Marina del Este yacht harbour.
Northern Spain
Areas like San Sebastian, Bibao, La Curuna, these are the wettest areas of Spain due to depressions over the Atlantic. The temperatures in summer are lower than other parts of the country but there are still 8 hours of sunshine a day in the summer months.
The landscape here is green, lush and mountainous with beautiful sandy beaches. The coast meets the Atlantic with tides similar to Northern Europe.
Central Spain and the South Atlantic Area
Summer temperatures in this area can be extremely high and there is usually little rainfall. There are up to 12 hours a day of sunshine in the summer and 5 in the winter. There is often heavy snowfall in the winter over the many mountain ranges.
The Canary Islands
A group of 7 islands and 6 islets of volcanic origin located in the Atlantic Ocean off the North-Western coast of Africa ( Morocco and the Western Sahara ). The islands belong to Spain though they are not part of the European Union, thus avoid the European customs charges. The most well known are the islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuertaventura.
These islands all have their own airports and are well served by international airlines. A natural paradise for lovers of the out door life, particularly water sports and windsurfing. These islands are the perfect destination to escape the cold North European Winter as the climate is warm all year round. Due to the islands geographical location, some 4º from the Tropic of Cancer, the islands climate is subtropical.
The surprising landscape, with high mountains covered by snow very close to the beaches, is an additional attraction. Water temperature varies from 22º C in the summer to 19º C in winter. Temperatures between the seasons vary only some 6º C, the monthly average temperatures are from 18º to 24º C providing ideal bathing conditions all year.
The Balearics
Ibiza
The island of Ibiza is the closest of all the Balearic Islands to mainland Spain and has a 200 km coastline with over 50 white sandy beaches. The stunning coast is topped by green pine forests, quiet villages and olive groves. Ibiza town is one of the best preserved medie val towns in the whole of Europe.
It has an average of 300 days of sunshine each year, with mild winters and hot summers. Ibiza has been the Mediterranean's most celebrated party island for decades, however today Ibiza also has plenty to offer families and older visitors with many attractions, activities and historic points of interest. The island offers excellent sporting facilities such as waterskiing, sailing, diving, windsurfing, snorkelling, golf and tennis. On land sports on offer include hiking, climbing, mountain biking, golf and tennis.
Mallorca
Mallorca boasts more than 305 days of sunshine and miles of coastline with secluded coves that attracts literally millions of visitors to Mallorca year after year. Of the four Balearic islands Mallorca is the largest, approximately 90 miles at it's longest by about 30 miles, the island offers a very diverse and varied landscape.
Along the northern coastline lies the rugged and dramatic cliffs of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range from Andratx to the Cape of Formentor. Inland Mallorca comprises a large interior plain populated by small villages, some famous throughout the world for cultured pearls, glass art production and leather produce.
The scenery is unusually green and fertile with tens of square miles of olive, almond and orange groves. The capital Palma dominates the south west corner of the island, as a result this area is by far the most cosmopolitan region dominated by the resorts around the Bay of Palma.
The east coast by comparison is generally flatter combining a mix of delightful coves and long stretches of white sandy beaches. Mallorca was the pioneer of the early package holiday, as a consequence it has evolved to offer something for everyone. |
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