Costa Blanca

Area Information

Important Links

Compass West - Rowland Edwards site with lots of information on trad climbing areas most of which aren't included in the guidebook.
Costa Blanca Climbing - Adrian Bates's excellent site with general info and tips.

When to Go

Costa Blanca map The optimum time to visit is November through to April. The summer months, May to October, are very hot but and you will probably have to confine your climbing activities to the morning and evening. You may be lucky to get periods of cooler weather, but chances are it will be up in the 30s or higher and seeking shade will be the only real option.

The winter months can have periods of cold and wet weather (the Gota Fria is the local name for the occasional periods of very heavy rain that fill all the rivers and can even deposit snow on the high summits) but more often than not it will be wonderfully sunny and settled with cold nights and fresh days.

Flights

Alicante has an international airport with regular flights from all over Europe. The whole area is a massively popular holiday destination and the cost of flights can reflect this. The key to finding the real bargains is to be flexible, avoid school holidays and book early. If Alicante is not an option it is worth considering trying Murcia which has become increasingly popular, or Valencia. Information on charter flights is available from travel agents, newspapers and the following web sites:

A more popular option, especially if you want to have flexible arriving and leaving times, is one of the many low-cost airlines now available. Alicante is served by EasyJet who fly from Bristol, Liverpool, Gatwick, Stansted, East Midlands, Newcastle and Luton; BMIBaby who fly from Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands, Cardiff and Teeside; Jet2 who operate from Leeds/Bradford and Manchester. Murcia is served by BMIBaby from Manchester and East Midlands; Jet2 from Leeds/Bradford and Manchester and RyanAir from Dublin, East Midlands, Glasgow, Liverpool, Luton and Stansted.

Where to Stay

Accommodation - Extensive list of accommodation contacts.

Car Hire

[Del Forat (5+) at Foradà on the Costa Blanca, 8 kb]

Although the Costa Blanca is a good area to go if you are on a limited budget and don’t want to hire a car, having your own transport is definitely preferable. Car hire is best arranged from the UK and the cost for the standard ‘Group A’ car starts at £80 per week. There are hire car companies at the airports and in the resorts but their prices may be higher than the pre-booked option, and there is the associated hassle of long queues at the booking office when you arrive.
Try any of the following companies:

Without a Car - If you are carless the best option is Sella, where there is loads of climbing, a refuge and some basic camping. Calpe is also a possibility with the Peñon, Toix and Olta within bus/walking distance. There is a regular train service up and down the coast from Alicante to Valencia and there are local bus services.

Climbing Shops

El Refugio - Dedicated climbing shop in the centre of Alicante with a wide range of climbing gear and all the local guidebooks.

Zero 95 - A general sport shop with about 10% of the space given over to climbing. They sell all the basics plus a selection of guidebooks.
www.Zero95.com

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