Holiday information on Jávea, Dénia and Surroundings

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Jávea Xábia Costa Blanca Spain

General

Jávea, or Xàbia in the Valencian language is located on the Costa Blanca, in the Comunidad Valenciana en the province Alicante. Jávea consists of three parts: the old town, the port and the Arenal.

In the old town, we can still find the typical Spanish narrow streets and beautiful old facades. Here is the town hall, church, post office, several shops and here is also a weekly market held on Thursdays.

The port area is more modern and here you can find as well several shops and restaurants. Additionally, you can go for a nice walk along the seaside, have some food or drinks and of course visit the harbour and the fish auction.

The Arenal is the tourist area of Jávea, here is also the sandy beach and a lovely boulevard with shops, restaurants and bars a lots of atmosphere. During the day you can go to the beach and for a swim in the sea. Afterwards for some food at one of the restaurants or for a drink or cocktail on one of the terraces overlooking the sea. Especially in the summer, you can sit or dance here until the early hours.

The old town of Javea The port area of Javea The Arenal sandy beach of Javea

Some facts and figures about Jávea

  • Jávea is a stretched out area between two capes, Cabo San Antonio and Cabo La Nao and has an surface of 68.59 km2.
  • It is located 96 km from the airport of Alicante and 120 km from Valencia airport.
  • Jávea has 27.681 inhabitants (2015) of which 53.1% of foreign nationality, in particular British and German.
  • The population doubles and in the summer it multiplies itself even to more or less 150.000 due to the number of tourists, the main economic sector nowadays.
  • The inhabitants of Jávea speak Valencian and Spanish.

Did you know?

  • There live 85 different nationalities in Jávea?
  • The Cabo La Nao the most easterly point of this part of Spain is?
  • That the tennis player David Ferrer comes from Jávea?
  • The the two capes protect Jávea and provide a unique microclimate?
  • The climate in this area by the WHO, World Health Organization, has been declared as one of the healthiest in the world?
  • Jávea is known for that it is very green despite the fact that there is little rain? This is because Jávea has a lot of underground water. In addition, there is an underground river called "Moraig" which comes from the mountains of Pedreguer and which one can see the origin of in the cave "La cueva de la calavera" (the cave of the skull) in Benidoleig.
  • Perhaps the name Xábia descended from all this underground water, namely from the Arabic word "Xábiga" which means something like "pozo al aljibe" to the many rainwater wells that were here.

Jávea, although it's small, has more than then supermarkets, in the summer many of them are also open on Sunday.

Keep in mind that in Spain and therefore also in Jávea, they hold siesta and many shops and organizations are closed from about 13.30h till 16/16.30h. Most restaurants and supermarkets however stay open all day.

Typical Jávea

Montgo Javea
Montgo

Jávea is known for the mountain "Montgo", a 753 meter high cliff which can be seen from many places in the village. From the side the mountain looks like an elephant with a long trunk that runs into the sea. Around it there is a beautiful nature park where you can walk or cycle. The more daring and experienced hiker can even climb to the top, from where you have beautiful views of the surroundings.

The beaches and bays

Jávea has besides the sandy beach El Arenal, a beautiful rocky coastline with many small coves and bays. The beaches here are of pebbles or rocks and crystal clear water. Visit La Granadella, Ambolo, El Porticholl or La Barraca and enjoy a dip in the fresh water, the beautiful surroundings and the amazing views. From north to south there are the following beaches, bays and inlets: La Cova Talla, La Cala de Pope, La Cala de Tangó, La Grava, En Benisero, El Primer Montañar, El Arenal which is the only sandy beach of Javea, El Segundo Montañar, La Cala Blanca, La Segunda Caleta, La Cala del Francés, La Cala Sardinera, La Barraca, La playa de Ambolo and finally, La Granadella, chosen as the best beach of Spain in 2012.

Porticholl Javea La Barraca Javea La Granadella Javea


The chiringuitos

In summer between Jávea Port and the Arenal there are several chiringuitos, small wooden beach bars along the coast where you with a drink and the cool breezes can enjoy the sea view. In most chiringuitos you can also grab a snack and they are open late into the evening for a cocktail.

Chiringuito Javea Tinto de verano in a chiringuito of Javea Cocktails in Javea
Las fiestas

Of course also in Javea, just like other places on the Costa Blanca, they celebrate parties like Reyes, Semana Santa and Moros y Cristianos but the typical "fiestas del pueblo", village festivals of Jávea are San Juan in June with the "Fogueres" (not to be confused with las Fallas even though they look alike) and as their main activities the parades through the streets and flowers offering, and the festivities of Virgen de Loreto in the last week of August to 8 September with the Bous a la Mar (bulls at the sea).

Cycling and hiking trails

Jávea is very green and offers beautiful natural sites like the Montgo Natural Park mentioned before. There are several hiking and cycling routes which are marked with signs and markers.

The routes and more information about Jávea are available in multiple languages at the towns tourist offices (Oficina de Turismo) on the Arenal, in the port Pl. Admirante Bastarreche 11 and in the village on the square next to the church Plaza de la Iglesia 4.

Cycling and hiking trails Javea

“Must sees” in Jávea

Los Miradores

One of the highlights of Jávea is its coastline with beautiful panoramic scenery. Therefore when you're in Jávea you "must" visit the "Miradores", 15 ifferent viewpoints (miradores) offered by Jávea's coastline and where you can admire the magnificent scenery.

The route starts at the Cabo San Antonio with "Cap de Sant Antoni" and "Els Molins" which offer views over the whole bay of Jávea. Then there are successively towards the Cabo de la Nao: Punta de l'Arenal, Séquia de La Noria, Cala Blanca, Caletes, Creu del Portitxol, L'Illa, La Falzia, Cap Negre, Cap de la Nau, Les Pesqueres, Ambolo, Castell de la Granadella and Granadella. From these viewpoints you every time have another magnificent view over Jávea, the sea, the valley, the bay or, for example on the island Porticholl. On a clear day you can even see Ibiza.

The coastline of Javea
Los Molinos – The windmills

“Los Molinos” (Els Molins in Valencian) is one of these viewpoints, located at La Plana and so named because of the 11 (ruins of) windmills that stand here from the late 18th century and early 19th century and these originally were for grinding grain, the main local product at that time. The mills are well visible from the village and the harbour.

Churches

The churches of Jávea are also worth a visit. In the old village on the square La Plaza de la Iglesia is the church "Iglesia de San Bartolomé" dated from the XVI century, with next to it the original town hall. In the port there is a church called "Nuestra Señora de Loreto" or "Parroquia del Mar", a modern church, but comes from a church built in the port area in the same time as the church in the village. The church has a distinctive shape of the keel of a boat.

Iglesia de San Bartolomé Javea
Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Loreto Javea

Furthermore there is Jávea the archaeological and ethnographic museum Soler Blasco and La Casa del Cable. This last one was built in 1860 to house a elegraph station which linked the mainland with the island of Ibiza through submarine cables. Today, the rooms are used for exhibitions.

To do in Jávea

Besides sun, sea and beaches Jávea offers for active holidaymakers also very much choice. There are of course many water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, diving, snorkelling, kayaking, water skiing or flyboard, one can rent a pedal boat or a boat or go jet skiing.
For sports enthusiasts there are volleyball nets on the beach, tennis courts and several gyms.
Furthermore, Jávea has a beautiful nature where you can walk, go cycling, mountain biking, rock climbing and there are several hiking and biking trails, either with or without a guide.

Diving in Javea

For those who like to play golf can come to Jávea and, because of the pleasant climate, play almost all year round on the 9-hole golf course of Jávea or one of the many courses in the area, such as the beautiful 27 hole golf course of La Sella.

To eat and drink

For dinner and drinks there is a variety of restaurants and bars on the boulevard El Arenal, here you can find something for everyone. There are several restaurants that offer both meat and fish dishes as well as pizzas, pastas or burgers. One can eat in a Spanish, Italian, Mexican or Sushi restaurant. Also tapas and paellas are in several restaurants on the Arenal on the menu.

In the "Puerto", the harbour area of Jávea there are many nice and cosy restaurants, the fish dishes are particularly recommended here. Many restaurants offer fresh fish on the menu, right out of the sea.

Wandering through the narrow streets of the old town you will find nice restaurants and typical Spanish bars where you can eat tapas or that offering a complete daily menu of three courses for little money. The Spanish like to eat the so called "menu del día" at lunchtime.

Restaurants in the old town of Javea

A day out

If you want to go for a day trip there are many things to do in the area. How about a visit to the beautiful city of Valencia? With its wonderful old centre, ancient buildings, Plaza de Toros, cathedral and terraces with delicious tapas or paella.

In Valencia is also the Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias, buildings with modern shapes and architecture. In one of these buildings is the Oceanografico, the largest aquarium complex in Europe with 40.000 animals belonging to 500 species.

There are also several zoos, for example in Benidorm  there areTerra Natura and Mundomar and in Valencia the beautiful Bioparc.

For true water fun, you can spend a day at Aqualandia with 15 different large water attractions for different ages and adrenaline levels.

Terranatura Benidorm

And for the little ones...

There are in Jávea several playgrounds, climbing frames and slides on the Arenal beach and the Pinosol park with a playground and pic nic.

In summer there is a small funfair near the Arenal and a tourist train that runs from the Arenal to the harbour. This last one is fun for young and old, to take a ride along the coast.

Touristic train Javea Arenal

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