The Costa Blanca South region forms part of the province of Alicante. It runs from the City of Alicante itself all the way down to Pilar de la Horadada at the southern end covering 65km’s of stunning coastline.
This magnificent coast has something for everyone. From larger towns with vibrant atmospheres to traditional quaint fishing villages. Inland, you can enjoy a calmer way of life while enjoying the stunning scenery on offer.
The Southern Costa Blanca has become increasingly popular with expats including those buying a holiday home in Spain or moving permanently. It is also a popular tourist destination. In the southern area of the Costa Blanca the beautiful mountains are further from the shore exposing large expanses of flat land. This means it is the perfect area for building to take place. You will never be short of choice when looking for places to buy in Spain on the Costa Blanca and in particular, on the Costa Blanca South.
Climate
Perhaps one of the biggest appeals of the Southern Costa Blanca is the Mediterranean climate it has to offer. With an astonishing 320 days of sunshine every year, it doesn’t get much better. For many people the most important thing when looking for places to buy in Spain is that they will be welcomed with sun and you can guarantee that this will be the case on the Costa Blanca South. Look forward to lazy beach days, barbeques, walks surrounded by stunning scenery and of course a refreshing dip in the pool.
Beaches
The 65km’s of coastline on the Costa Blanca South really does have something for everyone. Whether you prefer a bustling tourist destination, a quaint fishing village on the beach or a sandy secluded cove, you will certainly find what you are looking for here.
In particular, the Orihuela Costa is very popular due to its endless stunning sandy beaches. Most carry blue flag status meaning they are safe and clean with good facilities. The Orihuela Costa runs south from the city of Torrevieja. A few of the popular beaches on the Orihuela Costa include La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Playa Flamenca and Punta Prima to name a few.
A variety of water sports are enjoyed by many along the coast here as well as in the nearby Mar Menor. Whether you are a water sports enthusiast, an interested beginner or just looking for a bit of fun this is the place for you.
In terms of places to buy in Spain, if you are looking for a property on or near the beach you will certainly find it on the Southern Costa Blanca.
Nature
The area has much to offer and is not only home to some beautiful sandy beaches but the area also boasts the biggest salt flats in Europe, which are bursting with nature. These two lagoons; Laguna de la Mata and Salina de San Miguel are pink and blue in colour and are now officially nature reserves. They are home to an impressive 250 species of birds alone including their famous pink flamingos.
As well as these spectacular lagoons you will find so much more on the Southern Costa Blanca. Elche, a town close to the city of Alicante is often referred to as Spain’s ‘palm tree city’. You will of course find an abundance of sandy beaches many of which are popular for snorkelling. Inland you will find large areas of beautiful orange and lemon groves and large green areas.
Health
Yes…health. This may seem like an odd one. However, not only do the Torrevieja salt lakes offer a stunning nature reserve to enjoy but the iodine emitted into the atmosphere by the salt lakes along with the microclimate here has huge health benefits. In fact, the World Health Organisation has declared the area as one of the healthiest to live in the world!
The health benefits offered attract visitors from all over the world. Many medical conditions such as heart problems, skin problems, arthritis and even bronchial conditions and illnesses are said to benefit.
This can be a big attraction to those looking at different places to buy in Spain, particularly those looking to retire to Spain.
As well as being the healthiest place to live, the Spanish healthcare system is also rated one of the best in the world. For more information check out our article ‘A Guide to Healthcare in Spain for Expats‘.
Airports
Travelling to and from your property in Spain is an easy and stress free experience from the Costa Blanca South with two brilliant airports to choose from. Alicante Airport is to the north and Murcia International Airport is to the south. Both offer excellent parking facilities meaning there really is nothing to worry about.
Both airports have budget airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair operating, offering cheap and convenient flights to the UK as well as other European countries. Flight times to the UK are between two and three hours depending on where you are travelling to.
This means it is possible to make short trips whether you are buying a holiday home in Spain or a permanent home. It also means your family and friends can join you in the sun with ease.
Golf
The Costa Blanca South and the surrounding area has become a very popular destination for those wanting to purchase a property in Spain as a base to play golf as well as for golfing holidays. This is due to the huge amount of golf courses on offer here including old and new, small and large. You will even find world famous championship golf courses.
Some of the Southern Costa Blanca courses available include Campoamor, La Finca, Las Ramblas, Los Colinas, Vistabella and Villamartin to name a few. Villamartin Golf Course has become one of the most recognised golf courses on the Costa Blanca.
When looking at places to buy in Spain on the Costa Blanca South, wherever you are you will always have several options within a short distance to choose from.
Culture
The culture on the Costa Blanca South is rather varied. You will of course find very traditional Spanish towns filled with traditional Spanish culture with beautiful plazas to enjoy. For example, Benijofar is said to be ‘The Pearl’ of the Costa Blanca and offers a lovely traditional and authentic feel. You will also find towns which are said to have a more westernised or ‘English’ feel such as La Zenia. This is something to consider when looking at different places to buy in Spain.
If you enjoy a day out to take in the local culture then you will not be short of something to do. Torrevieja itself has an interesting history. Torrevieja translates to ‘Torre Vieja’ which means ‘Old Tower’. Torrevieja was once a tiny fishing village. Remains of the historical Roman docks are situated alongside the old watch tower of La Mata. This tower along with the other ancient watch tower, El Moro, was used as lookouts for pirates in the middle ages.
The Southern Costa Blanca is also home to the town Elche which is home to La Calahorra, a 7th century fortress. Elche is also a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Costa Blanca South is also only a short drive away from both the Cities of Murcia and Cartagena. Cartagena has many monuments, museums and architectural treasures from bygone days and in a stunning location. This town was a strategic fortified Mediterranean port for more than two thousand years. Murcia too is full of beautiful architecture and another fantastic cultural day out.
Shopping
In terms of shopping you will find everything you need nearby on the Southern Costa Blanca. Whether this is within walking or driving distance of course depends on where you decide to buy your new property in Spain.
Most towns will have at least a selection of small privately owned shops and most also hold a weekly market selling most necessities such as fresh produce, clothing and so on. You are also never far from a Mercadona which is the Spanish equivalent of larger supermarkets such as Tesco or Morrisons.
If you want a larger shopping centre then the Costa Blanca South is home to the famous La Zenia Boulevard boasting over 150 shops covering 161,000m2 including local Spanish brands and global brands. You will also find shopping centres such as Torre Marina Mall and Habaneras Shopping Centre on offer in Torrevieja along with any other shops you may need.
Bars and Restaurants
You will find bars and restaurants within walking distance of most towns and property developments on the Southern Costa Blanca and many, many more just a short drive away.
Whether you prefer a 5 star meal overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, an Irish bar, a Chinese restaurant or a traditional Spanish tapas bar you will always have plenty to choose from.
You will find a massive variety of cuisines and will of course in particular find some of the best seafood around.
If you prefer a night out on the town then Torrevieja not only has a huge selection of bars and restaurants but also a fantastic nightlife including clubs.
Amenities
As with shopping, the amenities you have available within walking distance will of course depend on where you decide to purchase your property in Spain. However, with smaller towns you will generally find that your neighbouring towns are able to fill in many gaps. If there is still something missing then you are never more than a short drive from larger towns such as Torrevieja which will have everything you could need.
Property
In terms of property as we have mentioned above, the Southern Costa Blanca offers large expanses of flat land perfect for building to take place. In particular in the last few years since the global economic crisis, with the Spanish property market booming once again numerous amounts of new property developments have been and continue to be built.
You will find different types of properties including villas, townhouses and apartments. If you were to look up ‘apartments for sale in Spain’ or ‘villas for sale in Spain’ you will come across hundreds of properties available on the Costa Blanca South. You will also find that there is something available here for all budgets. At Movehappy we have properties available starting from less than €100,000 right up to over €3,000,000.
You may also have heard about repossessed property in Spain. Read our guide, Repossessed Property in Spain – Is it Really That Good?, where we discuss the pros and cons of both repossessed properties and new build properties in Spain.
We hope our guide to the Costa Blanca South has been helpful. If you have any other questions please let us know. We specialise in new build properties on the Costa Blanca South and Costa Calida and all of our properties come complete with our Movehappy package saving you up to €18,000. With a complete after sales service there is simply no easier way to purchase your new dream home in Spain.
If you have any questions about the Southern Costa Blanca or anything else at all please do not hesitate to contact us here at Movehappy.
Please also see the news section of our website which is full of handy guides and useful information about buying property in Spain.
