This stretch of Spain's east coast offers two quite different holidays: rocky coves and old towns in the north, and calm warm water further south.
On the northern Costa Blanca, Dénia is a working port town with a castle, a lively old centre and ferries to the Balearic Islands. Jávea (Xàbia) has a charming old town, a long town beach at Arenal and the Montgó mountain behind, with rocky coves for snorkelling. Moraira is a smaller, upmarket resort with sheltered coves and a relaxed feel, good for couples and families.
Further south, the Mar Menor is a large saltwater lagoon with shallow, warm and very calm water, so it is popular with families and with people staying longer. Los Alcázares sits on its shore with a flat promenade ideal for cycling and walking. On the open Mediterranean side, the Costa Cálida has coves and beaches around towns such as Águilas, and inland resorts near Alhama de Murcia and Fuente Álamo are known for golf and quieter, countryside stays.
For the northern Costa Blanca, Alicante-Elche (ALC) is the usual airport, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by road from Dénia, Jávea and Moraira, and Valencia (VLC) is a similar distance from Dénia. For the Mar Menor and the Murcia coast, Región de Murcia International Airport (RMU) is the closest, about 30 minutes from Los Alcázares, and Alicante is about an hour away. A hire car is the easiest way to move between the coves, villages and golf resorts.
The Costa Blanca and Murcia are among the driest and sunniest parts of Spain, with mild winters and hot summers. Summer days often reach 30°C or more, and inland Murcia can be hotter still. April-June and September-October are ideal for beaches and sightseeing, and the Mar Menor is especially warm in late summer. Winter days are pleasantly mild, which is why many visitors stay for several months.
Rice is the signature here. Look for arroz a banda, paella and rice cooked with seafood, and in Dénia the famous gamba roja (red prawn). Sweet-toothed visitors should try turrón from Jijona and Alicante. In Murcia, order the caldero, a rice dish from the Mar Menor, along with zarangollo (a courgette and egg scramble) and the fresh Murcian salad made with tomato and tuna.
Every CasaLinking stay on the Costa Blanca and in Murcia is booked straight with the owner — same real prices, no Airbnb or Booking.com markup.