Day trips
A hundred and twenty years ago the sand dunes were swallowing Guardamar, so an engineer planted a forest on them. Today the pines, the dunes and the long undeveloped beaches behind them are the wildest stretch of coast within half an hour of the villa.
Between 1900 and 1930 the engineer Francisco Mira planted some 600 hectares of pine, palm and eucalyptus to fix dunes that were burying the town. The result is a shady forest of sandy trails between the N-332 and the beach, with picnic tables, the remains of the dune-planting nursery, and a 10th-century Moorish religious site, the Rábita Califal, excavated among the trees. Trails are flat, signposted and good for bikes.
From south to north: El Moncayo (quiet, chiringuito, some naturist use at the southern end), Playa del Campo (wide, wild, free parking in the forest), Playa Centro (town beach with the promenade and restaurants), then the beaches north of the river towards Elche. All are fine sand with waves rolling in from open sea, lifeguards only at the town beaches in summer. Sunrise walks here are the best on the coast.
Reina Sofía park is a shady garden where peacocks, ducks, squirrels and the odd goose wander free; small children think it is the best thing in Spain. The castle ruin above the town has the view; the Wednesday market and the Sunday Lemon Tree Road market on the Torrevieja road are the shopping. Guardamar red prawns, gambas rojas, are the lunch to order on the seafront.
Guide to Playa de La Mata: the north and south sections, the dunes and Molino del Agua park, the surf school, promenade restaurants, parking and how to get there from Torrevieja and Punta Prima.
Read the guideHow to do Elche from Torrevieja or Orihuela Costa: driving and parking, the UNESCO Palmeral, the Huerto del Cura garden and its Imperial Palm, the Basilica of Santa María and the Misteri, the MAHE museum, free-museum Sundays, the shoe outlets and where to lunch.
Read the guideDay-by-day guide to markets around Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa: the Friday market (location, hours, parking, cash), the Saturday Playa Flamenca market, Cabo Roig, Campoamor, San Pedro and the Sunday Lemon Tree Road market.
Read the guideCheck live availability and book Casa Fragata directly. No payment is taken online, and you get our full guest guide by e-mail the moment you book.