THINGS TO DO ON THE ORIHUELA COSTA It's certainly feeling much more spring-like over the past week, and it is at this time of year that thoughts inevitably turn to summer holidays later this year.
Recently we published our favourite entertainment destinations a little farther afield on the Costa Blanca, but you don't have to travel far to find fun here in Spain, and there's plenty going on right here.
So we thought this would be the perfect time to highlight our favourite things to do on the Orihuela Costa this summer.
Stand-up paddleboarding, Playa de Cabo Roig
Looking for a different way to stay fit and connect with nature? Try a stand-up paddleboard class with Sun Sea Adventures at Playa de Cabo Roig.
The adventures and watersports team offers starter classes for beginners, SUP yoga for those people who really want to improve their balance and core muscle strength, and SUP tours for the more experienced paddlers.
This activity is suitable for all the family, and it's a relaxing and fun way to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean sea and see the locale from an entirely different perspective.
Orihuela Costa things to do, Playa de Cabo Roig
You can easily while away a summer's day on Cabo Roig's stunning beach. One of the finest you'll find in any Mediterranean resort, Playa de La Caleta is an unspoiled strip of white sand 287m long and 43m deep.
Accessed by a walkway that meanders down the cliff wall and surrounded by Mediterranean trees that nod to the historic 16th-century watchtower that's overseen the cove for more than 400 years.
The beach provides a small bar and lifeguard services during high season, and a coastal path runs around the coastline connecting with Cala Capitán and La Zenia beaches to the north.
Orihuela Costa tourist train, Orihuela Costa
The Orihuela Costa tourist train was an instant hit with both locals and tourists on its introduction last year.
Fresh from a winter spent operating a tourist route around the city of Orihuela somewhat inland from La Zenia, the train will return this summer to provide local transport services along the Orihuela Costa coastline.
The train offers a super-fun way to see the sights and experience the sounds of the region, and scheduled stops include Playa Flamenca beach, La Zenia beach, Zenia Boulevard shopping centre, the port and beaches of Campoamor, and the renowned Cabo Roig strip.
Live music summer nights, Villamartin Plaza
Villamartin Plaza's summer entertainments schedule is legendary, attracting international artists from all four corners of the world.
And for the summer season, they've pulled out all the stops to provide more than four months of world-class entertainment throughout the summer. With local acts performing alongside famous musicians, the Plaza provides nightly entertainment three days a week during the holiday season.
British soft-rock royalty icon and global vocal superstar, Leo Sayer, closed out last year's sessions, and Villamartin Plaza promises another star-studded year of fabulous live music.
Jetski hire, Puerto Deportivo de Cabo Roig
Cabo Roig's marina is one of the most sought-after locations for a private mooring in the entire Iberian peninsula, but it's the sporting facilities that draw the crowds year-round.
The marina is one of just a handful of locations on the entire Costa Blanca where eager thrill-seekers can hire a jetski without having to present a hefty deposit alongside a “Moto Nautica A” – the Spanish equivalent of the RYA´s personal watercraft proficiency course.
The venue offers the latest Sea-Doo performance PWCs, and hire costs start from €80 for half an hour. That might sound a little pricey, but the cost includes a fully trained instructor who will follow on a separate jet ski to ensure your safety through the challenging inshore waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Playa Flamenca street market, Playa Flamenca
Playa Flamenca's street market is steeped in tradition and offers a chance to experience some authentic Spanish culture in a modern urban environment. It's certainly one of our favourite things to do on the Orihuela Costa.
Every Saturday morning you’ll find locals of all nationalities buying regional fresh produce to create meals at home for the forthcoming week, often stopping for a bite to eat and a drink at one of the market´s restaurants or café-bars.
The street market sells everything you might need from fresh fruit and vegetables, textiles and clothing, a rich variety of homewares, and Spanish made goods that make perfect gifts to take back home for family or friends.
Go-Karts Orihuela Costa, Playa Flamenca
But if markets don't satisfy your desire for a faster pace of Spanish life Go-Karts Orihuela Costa has something to supercharge your holiday.
The venue offers a multitude of activities, two different racing tracks, and racing karts and quad-bikes in a variety of riding styles and levels of performance. Children aged 10 years or over are welcome to participate in races held on the championship track.
The championship racing track is a twisting network of asphalt with high-speed straights and tightly spiralled hairpins with a capacity for up to 26 drivers at any one time, complemented by a digital scoreboard and viewing bridge.
Bicycle hire on the beaches, La Zenia
It's actually possible to cycle for countless miles along the Mediterranean coastline, and the local area has one of the longest off-road dedicated cycle lanes in Spain.
It's one of our favourite things to do on the Orihuela Costa, and it's cheap, safe and family-friendly too. It is a great way to explore the coastal area and stop by hidden beaches and coves that you might not have otherwise found.
No bike? No problem. I Love Bike in La Zenia specialises in hiring out bikes for all sizes and ages. Hire a bike for a day or a week with budget prices and a choice of different styles of bicycle. For the adventurous, they even offer tandem bikes too!
Playa de La Glea, Campoamor beach
Campoamor is home to three beautiful beaches on the Orihuela Costa – Cala de Campoamor, Barranco Rubio, and Playa de la Glea, with each beach offering perfectly manicured golden sands, safe warm swimming waters, and Blue Flag standards of cleanliness.
The northern end of the Playa de la Glea offers a spectacular elevated walkway that hugs the vibrant red cliff face and provides a natural thoroughfare directly connecting to Aguamarina beach and its curvaceous promenade.
The simply huge size of the beach, its relative proximity to local amenities, and essential services like a Chiringuito beach bar and a lifeguard service throughout the summer months make it a firm favourite location for savvy holidaymakers and sunseekers.
Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.
Photo credit: LaZenia.com
