Jávea and environs

Originally, Jávea was a fishing village that has grown into a charming sea-side resort and tourist destination on the Costa Blanca in Spain. Jávea is situated about half-way along the Costa Blanca, between Calpe and Denia. The little town still retains its traditional Mediterranean ambiance. A holiday home in this area in the perfect spot for a holiday in the sun and because the climate is mild, Jávea is a very suitable place for spending the winter too.

The oldest part of Jávea, which is a real must-see, is not immediately on the water but about a kilometre land inwards. Re-live Spanish history and sample its culture as you wander along the ancient narrow streets to the church or the museum. You will notice very little mass tourism here although the town has some lovely buildings, including the Church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Anna’s Chapel. If you want to visit Jávea’s old town centre, please remember that it can be difficult to find a parking space.

Duanes del Mar, the harbour, is composed of two parts: the marina and the fishing harbour. The fishing boats land their daily catch here in the morning, then the fish is taken to the fish auction or the “mercado”, the covered market, where you can buy this lovely fresh fish.

Jávea’s entire coastline is about three kilometres in length. The most prominent beach is Playa del Arenal (Platja de l’Arenal). This lovely sandy beach is bordered by a pedestrian boulevard with plenty of restaurants, sidewalk cafés and little shops. This fantastic beach has been awarded “Blue-Flag recognition” which means that it complies with the high standards of cleanliness and safety set for bathing. There are parasols and sun beds available for hire on the beach.

A pebble beach, La Grava, is to the north of Jávea. Just like bustling Arenal, this smaller beach has its own pedestrian boulevard with friendly sidewalk cafés. Despite being smaller, La Grava is not as full as Arenal beach. Playa Muntanyar, a beach which features large pebbles and rocky areas alternately, is located between these two other beaches. You will find a number of informal beach cafés with amazing views of the sea in this peaceful part of Jávea.

There are also beautiful wildlife areas close to the area, including the mountain Montgó, a peak of 753 metres with gorgeous views of the entire region. The mountain also partly the reason that Jávea is quite sheltered from the wind and bad weather.

On a clear day, you can see Ibiza,
which is 90 kilometres away.