The Costa Almeria is as varied as any of the Spanish Coasts. The coast is completely unspoilt. To the east of Almeria we find the rugged and desolate coast of the Cabo del Gato-Nijar natural park. This is an arid desert landscape and the annual rainfall here is less than 200mm. It is sparsely populated, few villages and a very low population density. Visitors feel a sense of exploration here as many of the coves can only be reached on foot. This area is particularly popular with nature lovers and back-packers. The most popular coastal village is San José
West of Almeria is the highly developed tourist resorts of Roquetas de Mar and Aqua Dulce. These have all the facilities of any modern resort to support the package holiday market.
At the north of the Costa de Almeria is the naturist beaches of Vera, a number of new complexes are being constructed here. A little further south is Mojacar which successfully combines the popular beach holiday with the hillside white village that tourist love to explore.
On the East Coast of Spain, the Costa Blanca, or ‘white coast' is part of the Valencia region, and runs alongside the Mediterranean sea. The Costa Blanca was one of Europe's first holiday destinations and is still visited by around 5 million holidaymakers every year.
The beaches of the Costa Blanca are some of the best in Europe and many have Blue Flags for cleanliness, even though they are often busy and overcrowded. The well known resorts of Benidorm, Alicante and Torrevieja are popular with young groups after wild nightlife and fun-packed days. Watersports are available in high season, there are clubs and pubs galore, and a day out to Terramitica theme park is a must.
Away from the main resorts, inland or on the coast, there is a different side to the Costa Blanca. North of Benidorm lies the jagged mountain range of the Sierras, and the rural village of Gudalest with its castle built into the rock is well worth a visit. To the South, land is mainly very barren, but don't miss the beautiful palm forests at Elche, or the stunning town of Murcia.
The Costa Brava has become on of Europe's most popular holiday destinations in recent years and lies in North-east Spain adjacent to the French border. Served by Girona and Reus airports, the area features beautiful, long, sandy beaches, hidden coves and open bays. Unfortunately parts of the area have become rather over-developed as huge numbers of people stay here every year, but travel away from the larger resorts and you will find small, traditional fishing ports, medieval villages and fine local cuisine.
This really is a holiday destination with something for everyone. Sports enthusiasts can choose from horse-riding, canyoning, mountain biking, hiking and more, and for the nature lover there are many national parks and fascinating marine life. Those taking children should not miss a day trip to Port Aventura theme park, or one of the waterparks or funfairs nearby.
Many of the beaches here including Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar and Blanes have received Blue Flag awards for cleanliness. The Costa Brava caters for all ages and all types of holidaymakers and has a lovely summer climate. Flight time from the UK is approximately 2 hours – look out for great prices from low cost airlines such as Ryanair.
The Costa de la Luz is a pretty area in the South of Spain that is becoming more and more popular with UK holidaymakers, and is served by nearby Jerez, Seville and Faro airports. Blue Flag awards were given to the beaches of Punta Umbria, Islantilla and Isla Cristina in 2000 acknowledging their cleanliness, and the area is well known for being unspoiled, unlike some of the bigger Spanish tourist destinations.
There are no big developments in the Costa de la Luz, most resorts have low-key nightlife and a small number of restaurants and bars for evening entertainment. This is a popular destination amongst families and couples.
The provincial capital is Huelva, which is only 25km from the Portuguese border and is well worth a visit. Day trips to Seville can be booked in resort, and country walks are a firm favourite with visitors here. The climate is slightly milder than other parts of Spain due to the strong Atlantic breeze, and this means perfect conditions for windsurfing and surfboarders.
The Costa Del Sol is one of Spain's most popular holiday destinations and Malaga airport is only around 2½ hours flight time from the UK. Known for it's sun, sea and sand, this area of Andalusia is ideal for those wanting to get away to good beaches, hot weather and relaxed evenings.
Stretching from San Pedro in the West, to Nerja in the East, the Costa del Sol offers a fantastic choice of resorts from fun filled, busy and bustling Torremolinos, to picturesque and calm Nerja, to upmarket and modern Puerto Banus. The beaches of the Costa del Sol are shallow and sandy and perfect for children, and watersports facilities are excellent.
There are endless possibilities for excursions and day trips which can be booked in resort. Gibraltar is within driving distance, the caves at Nerja should not be missed and numerous Flamenco shows at hotels and bars. Don't forget to sample the local Andalusian cuisine at one of the traditional Spanish restaurants.
The Costa Dorada is over 150km long and runs South from Barcelona along the Mediterranean coast. This is one of the most popular regions of Spain and it is easy to see why. The Costa Dorada has entertainment, rocky coves perfect for diving and snorkelling, ancient monuments, fantastic beaches and even a theme park – Port Aventura. This is the perfect area for a family holiday.
The ‘golden coast' is still being developed and now has a number of large resorts such as Salou, which is geared completely towards tourism, and offers long, sandy beaches and a good nightlife. Cambrils is quite the opposite – a small, traditional fishing village with a handful of bars and restaurants around the port.
There is always plenty to do here. Hire a car and visit the Ebre Delta natural park, take a boat trip along the river or see the flamingos. Couples and families alike will enjoy wine-tasting in the Penedes region.
The coast of the province of Granada, recently given the name of Costa Tropical, is one of the less developed areas of the Spanish Mediterranean. This fact, its climate and the proximity of Granada, the Sierra Nevada and La Alpujarra make it highly attractive to those wishing to avoid the high-rise Med.
