La Nucia · Costa Blanca
Things to do in La Nucia & on the Costa Blanca
A short, opinionated guide written by the hosts at Casa Mi Pajobe. Beaches, hikes, day trips, food and family activities, all within an easy drive of the villa.
La Nucia, our home village
La Nucia is a quiet hillside town just inland from Benidorm. It keeps a relaxed Spanish feel, small plazas, family bakeries, and a busy Sunday market, while still being a 10-minute drive from the coast. Most guests use it as a calm base and head out to the beaches, mountains or day-trip towns from here.
Mercadillo de La Nucia (Sunday market)
One of the largest weekly markets on the Costa Blanca. Local produce, olives, cheese, leather and clothes. Get there before 11:00 to avoid the heat and crowds.
Plaça Major & old town
The restored old square has cafés and tapas bars under the church. Nice for a slow evening drink after a beach day.
Captivador & Favara reservoirs
Short walks and runs around the local reservoirs with views over the Sierra Helada. Quiet at sunrise.
Beaches near La Nucia
All the main Costa Blanca beaches are within a 15-35 minute drive. The closest are in Benidorm and Altea; quieter coves sit just north towards Calpe.
Playa de Levante, Benidorm
The famous long Blue-Flag beach. Soft sand, lifeguards, plenty of chiringuitos. Best for families and easy access. ~15 min by car.
Playa de Poniente, Benidorm
Quieter than Levante, with the modern palm-lined promenade designed by Carlos Ferrater. Great for an evening walk.
Cala Mascarat & Cala Advocat (Altea/Calpe)
Small pebble coves with clear water, better for snorkelling than sandcastles. Bring water shoes.
Playa de l'Albir
Pebble beach backed by a flat promenade, framed by the Serra Gelada natural park. Walk on to the Faro del Albir lighthouse (see below).
Hiking & nature
The Serra Gelada natural park and the inland mountains around Guadalest offer dozens of marked trails, from a flat 45-minute lighthouse walk to a full-day summit.
Faro del Albir lighthouse walk
2.5 km each way on a paved coastal track inside the natural park. Easy with kids, stunning cliff views. Free, open daily.
Serra Gelada ridge
Tougher 8-12 km loop along the ridge between Albir and Benidorm. Go early, almost no shade. Sunrise from the cross is unforgettable.
Ponoig (the 'Sleeping Lion')
Iconic limestone peak visible from the villa. The full ascent is a scramble (experienced hikers only); the lower trails are family-friendly.
Day trips from La Nucia
Almost everything on this list is within an hour's drive. Pick one or two per week, Costa Blanca holidays are better when you don't try to do it all.
Guadalest (30 min)
Tiny castle village dramatically perched above a turquoise reservoir. Go mid-week before lunch; park below and walk up.
Altea old town (15 min)
Whitewashed houses, the blue-domed church, and dozens of small galleries and restaurants. Especially nice at sunset.
Calpe & the Peñón de Ifach (25 min)
Sheer rock rising 332 m straight out of the sea. The hike to the top takes about 2 hours; book a slot in summer.
Alicante city (45 min)
Santa Bárbara castle, the Explanada promenade, and great tapas in the El Barrio quarter. Easy by car or by tram from Benidorm.
Algar Waterfalls (20 min)
Cold, clear pools in a short river canyon. Perfect on a 35 °C day. Small entrance fee, parking on site.
Terra Mítica & Aqualandia (15 min)
The big Benidorm theme parks. Aqualandia is the better bet on a hot day; Terra Mítica is a full-day historical theme park.
Food & drink
Costa Blanca cooking is rice-led: the original arroz a banda, arroz del senyoret and traditional Valencian paella all come from this region. A few favourites within easy reach:
Sunday paella in Altea or Albir
Most beachfront restaurants serve a proper midday paella on Sundays, order one for the whole table and plan a slow afternoon.
La Nucia tapas crawl
Walk from the Plaça Major through the back streets, small bars serve a tapa with every drink. Cash helps.
Bodegas & local wine
The inland Marina Alta produces excellent Moscatel and red blends. Several small bodegas around Xaló run weekend tastings.
With kids
The villa's private pool covers most rainy-day-but-actually-sunny moments, but when you want to leave the gate:
Mundomar (Benidorm)
Smaller, calmer marine park, dolphins, sea lions, exotic birds. Better for younger children than the bigger parks.
Terra Natura
Zoo + water park combo on the edge of Benidorm. The water park is included with the zoo ticket in summer.
Karting Finestrat
Outdoor karting track with junior karts. 10 minutes from the villa.
Practical tips
A few things we tell every guest before they arrive:
Rent a car
La Nucia is hilly and public transport is limited. Most guests pick a small car up at Alicante (ALC) airport, about 50 minutes away.
Best months
May, June, September and early October give you swimming weather without the August heat. July-August is hot (32-35 °C) but the villa is fully shaded and air-conditioned.
Supermarkets
Mercadona and Consum in La Nucia for the weekly shop; the Sunday market for fresh produce.
Sun & wind
UV is strong even in spring. Hats and reef-safe sunscreen recommended, especially for the lighthouse and Peñón walks.