Polop de la Marina is often described as one of the most beautiful villages on the Costa Blanca and is also believed to be one of the first places in Spain, and therefore Europe, where people settled. It is in the Marina Baja area of the Alicante province a few kilometres inland and siting at the base of a mountain, with the Guadalest River on its borders. About 5,000 people live there, enjoying a quieter more rural life away from the busier Marina Baja coast with its resorts such as Benidorm. Polop has a long and important history, that you can explore at your leisure if you choose to move here. Attractions in the town include the medieval walls, the Church of San Pedro (c1720), the castle and the fountains with their 220 waterspouts. Alicante City and the airport are about an hours drive away while Benidorm is just a 20 minute drive if you fancy a complete contrast. As with almost all Spanish towns with a population of more than a thousand or so, there is a lively programme of fiestas and other events which the local town hall or tourist office will be happy to give you more information about. There is a choice of bars and restaurants, and many people say the best advice for newcomers is to simply keep an eye out for where the locals are eating. 

The Marina Baixa (or Baja) contains some of the Costa Blanca’s best known resorts, including Benidorm, Calpe and Altea. However, most of the region is inland and many people move here for a quiet rural life with good connection to Alicante airport and the coast. As well as its well-known night-life, the area around Benidorm is very friendly family with a number of theme parks and nature parks as well some wonderful beaches, some of them surprisingly quiet, especially out of the summer season. The climate is of course why many people move here with over 300 days of sunshine a year and temperature that rarely drop below double figures even in the winter. There are several golf courses for players of all levels and to suit most budgets.

The Marina Alta and the Marina Baixa sit next to each other on the northern Costa Blanca, although in many ways they are very contrasting. Both of course are renowned for their beaches and if you want somewhere with plenty to do close to the sands then Denia, Calpe, Javea and Benidorm are the biggest resorts. There are marinas of all sizes dotted up and down the coast and plenty of opportunity for maritime activities from yacht hire to inshore snorkelling. If you want to find a quiet spot to just stretch out in the sun there are plenty of these as well including La Cala, Cala Moraig and Javea’s Granadella. If golf is your thing you are never far from a course, from nine hole pitch and putts to championship standard clubs. Most towns have at least one tennis club (usually clay court) as well as facilities for football, basketball, swimming and other major sports.

There are a cluster of theme parks and nature parks around Benidorm, including Terra Mitica (Spain’s third largest theme park) and Terra Natura. The waterfalls at Callosa d’en Sarria are a great spot to cool down in the summer and make a change from being by the beach for all the family. If shopping is your thing there are large “Centro Commercials” located near Benidorm in the Marina Baixa and Ondara in the Marina Alta. All coastal resorts have a good selection of places to eat but if you fancy a gastronomic treat then Denia has the Valencian Communities only Michelin three starred restaurant, “Quique Dacosta”. Just outside of the area are the regions two large cities, Valencia to the north and Alicante to the south. Both have a huge choice of shops, places to eat and a wide range of sites and culture to see. If you go inland in the Marina Alta or Baixa you are very soon in excellent hiking, mountain biking, climbing and nature watching territory, proving what an area of contrasts this part of Spain is.