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PADDLING IN
JAVEA COSTA BLANCA
WORDS & PHOTOS : ANDY BURROWS
JAVEA IS SITUATED ON THE MOST EASTERLY POINT OF THE SPANISH MAINLAND . IT LIES ALMOST HALFWAY ALONG THE COSTA BLANCA COASTLINE BETWEEN VALENCIA AND ALICANTE .
The iconic and imposing Montgo mountain is an impressive backdrop to a town whose history dates back to Roman times . Once famed for the export of raisins , the town is now primarily a popular tourist location , although it does support a very active fishing fleet .
Javea comprises three main settlements : the Port , the Arenal , and the Old Town . The Old Town lies about 2 km inland and is known for its Church , regular market , closeknit streets , and tapas bars .
The Port has a marina , an amazingly unique church ( built in the 1950s out of reinforced concrete in the style of a fishing boat ), and a string of seafront bars overlooking the La Grava beach . The Arenal is the more recently developed area , with boutique bars
and restaurants , a sandy beach , and countless coffee shops .
With the exception of two buildings , there are no high-rise buildings along the entire settlement area . This is rare for a Spanish coastal town , where cramming , narrow streets and high rises are the norm . This gives a feeling of space , amplified by the visible backdrop of mountains and forests . People come on holiday and live here in equal measure because it is an extraordinary place . But it is somewhere probably best visited outside the Spanish summer holidays when a mesmerising influx of people severely tests its magic .
What very few people who visit Javea realise is that it is a truly fantastic place to paddle . It ' s unique for so many reasons .