Santa Pola, where the vibe's chilled and the sea's warm
Set on the idyllic and hugely popular Costa Blanca, this cute little fishing port is a bit more understated than its fast-living neighbors. A Santa Pola vacation rental will give you access to that classic chilled-out Spanish beach vibe. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to enjoy, but the place has also got a real feel of authenticity, thanks to its bustling docks and salt production industry. And as one of the busiest fishing ports in this part of Spain, you can be sure that when you hit the dining spots in the evening, the seafood will be some of the freshest you've ever tasted.
When the Romans got here, it was "Veni, vidi, amavi."
It won't come as any surprise to discover that people have been falling in love with Santa Pola for thousands of years. The place was once a Roman port, and in Parque el Palmeral there's even an excavated Roman villa—an ancient Santa Pola vacation rental, perhaps? Santa Pola's also got its own imposing 16th-century castle, which these days is home to museums of local and natural history. And a firm Santa Pola favorite is the municipal aquarium. It showcases plenty of species from the local area, some of which you may find on your plate in the restaurant later on.
How long since you felt the sand between your toes?
Staying at a Santa Pola vacation rental is all about those fine sand beaches and that lovely clear water. The sea round here is very sheltered and safe for swimming and paddling, with some of the beaches staying shallow a long way out. And Santa Pola is a serious water sports mecca too. Windsurfers love to scoot around on its warm breezes, while scuba divers and snorkelers bob around with the fishes. If you want a real taste of Spain, you're going to want to try and hit town during one of the fiestas, and there are several to choose from each year.
You can leave the umbrella, but don't forget the sunscreen
One glance at the arid landscapes of the Costa Blanca and you'll realise rain isn't going to play a big part in your Santa Pola vacation rental. It does get a bit of rainfall, but it's almost all concentrated in the winter between October and March, and chances are that for most of the summer there won't be a cloud in the sky. The flipside of this is that it can get really hot, though fortunately the coastal location means Santa Pola tends to get some lovely cooling sea breezes, even on the most scorchingly hot days.
Cause da Costa Blanca is vacation paradise
Your Santa Pola vacation rental will put you on one of the most delicious areas of Spain's Mediterranean coast, known as the Costa Blanca. It's a honeypot for vacationers and with good reason, given its sunny, sandy beaches and clear waters. The area's also home to salt marshes, and salt production is a big local industry. Venture inland and you're into the territory of the Spanish sierras—dramatic mountain ranges full of wildlife and adventure. Just off the Santa Pola Cape is the tiny island of Tabarca. Famous for its marine reserve, it's Spain's smallest inhabited island, and there are regular boat excursions from Santa Pola.
Traveling to and around Santa Pola
The nearest airport is in Alicante Intl. Airport (ALC), located 6.2 mi (10 km) from the city center.