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About 5kms
South of Benidorm just over the headland at the end of the
Poniente promenade is the small tourist resort of La Cala de
Finestrat. The resort is built around a blue flag sandy bay,
here the sand gently slopes into the sea, making it ideal
for children. Wade 20 yards out and the sea is still only
three or four feet deep. Looking out from the beach which
is lined with cliffs along the right hand side, gives an
uninterrupted view onto the med. Around the bay there are
Spanish and English restaurants and bars. La Cala is fairly
small but there are a few hotels and plenty of
apartments to rent. Within the next couple of years, a
new hotel which will be the largest seafront hotel in the world,
should be finished. The hotel which was started about six
years ago was beset by problems from the start. A bad
accident killed three workers and the construction work was
halted while an investigation was carried out. It transpired
that the hotel was eleven floors higher than shown on the plans.
A ruling was made that eleven floors should be demolished. This
didn't happen and after three years of inactivity, a compromise
seems to have been reached. One floor has been removed and
other alterations made. The work has restarted but is very
sporadic and it seems that permission to carry on until
completion, has not yet been granted. Most residents just
want it finished or completely demolished. In the past five
years a new development has been built. On what was scrubland,
there are now apartment blocks stretching back to the main road
into Benidorm and an attractive boulevard lined with trees.
Along the boulevard bars and restaurants have started to open.
This will continue to develop when most of the apartment blocks
have been completed. At the time of writing (Feb 2008) the
development is around 80% complete. The final part of the
new development is a large water park with a hotel shops and
restaurants. This is due to start very soon and will
probably be finished within the next three years. In June,
La Cala is home to the festival of St Juan. This is well
worth visiting, families gather on the beach with picnics and
barbeques. The whole place is absolutely throbbing with
people and the atmosphere is fantastic,
check it out here.
Close to midnight everybody gathers at the water's edge ready to
wade into the sea at the stroke of twelve. This is
supposed to bring good luck. The night ends with an
amazing firework display which lights up the bay. Below is one
of the shots taken from our webcam on the night of the St Juan
festival

THINGS TO DO
IN AND AROUND LA CALA
MARINA
CENTRE
Being so close
to Benidorm, as you may expect, there isn't any shortage of
things to do in and around La Cala. La Cala de Finestrat
is within walking distance of the La Marina shopping centre
which contains some top name shops like Zara and Mango, plus a
six screen cinema complex and bowling alley, as well as
bars restaurants and a small kiddies play area. The centre
is open until late at night when it comes alive. If you
don't fancy the walk, for 1.20 euros you can catch the number 12
bus which stops outside the opticians as it comes down the hill
into La Cala. Don't confuse it with the number 12 going
out of La Cala which stops on the opposite side of the road near
the small Chinese restaurant.
GOLF
Recently, a
number of new golf courses have opened in the area, including
two which are part of the Real de Faula hotel development near
Terra Mitica. There is an excellent 9 hole course
(described as pitch and putt) on the new road into Benidorm.
This is open to anybody but you have to hire shoes, clubs etc so
it will end up costing around 30 euros. To get there by
car, drive up to the main road and turn right at the lights.
Turn right at the next lights past Mercadona and take the first
road on the left which passes the Bali hotel. Turn left at
the junction and go straight ahead through the lights and follow
the road until you come to the roundabout. Go straight on
at the roundabout (i.e. second exit) this is a new dual
carriageway which goes into Benidorm. The golf is situated
down a road on the left, you'll see the signs saying pitch an
putt.
La Cala and
Benidorm cater for most people and apart from the beaches, bars
and restaurants, there is a vast amount of entertainment on
offer, from Safari excursions, boat trips, theme parks,
water parks, golf etc etc. Excursions get sold out and wasting
your valuable holiday time trying to book when you arrive is not
a good idea.
Apartrent have
teamed up with Isango who we believe are the best online
excursion agents available, to provide you with a comprehensive
list of activities.
WHY BOOK ONLINE?
There are a
number of advantages in pre booking online. Price is one good
reason. Isango are confident that they offer the cheapest
prices you'll find, even at the destination. To back this
up, they offer a double the difference refund if you find the
same product cheaper within three days of booking. Another good
reason for pre booking online, is the peace of mind to be gained
knowing that your ticket is already reserved and not having to
worry booking when you arrive. Tours do sell out so why
take the chance? and anyway, do you really want to spend your
valuable holiday time hunting around for excursions to book?
What better way to surprise somebody than with an excursion
gift, easily achievable with online booking but very difficult
trying to sneak off when on holiday to try and book something in
secret. There's also the convenience of browsing through
the activities from your armchair.
TERRA MITICA

26 EUROS
PER PERSON
In the hills just outside Benidorm is a
fantastic new theme park called Terra Mitica. This is now one of
Benidorm's major tourist attractions. The designers of
Terra Mitica have pulled out all the stops and created a
fantastic day out for the whole family. As well as the rides,
there are themed areas with bars and restaurants and a great
show, all included in the ticket price of only 30 euros.
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
AQUALANDIA

25 EUROS PER PERSON
The well established Aqualandia water park
just outside Benidorm makes a welcome respite from the searing
summer temperatures. New rides are added regularly, making
it one of Benidorm's most frequented attractions. The park
has rides suited to all ages including some pretty hair raising
slides for the brave. You can spend a whole day in Aqualandia
for 25 euros.
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
JEEP TOUR

55 EUROS PER PERSON
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Set out on a jeep excursion
into the countryside of Costa Blanca and take in the beauty
of its mountains, valleys, picturesque villages and forests.
Take a refreshing swim in the deep blue pools of the Algar
waterfalls or walk along the banks of the river and take
pictures of water cascading down fern fringed pools.
Discover the true beauty of Spain as you spend an exciting
day in the magnificent countryside of Costa Blanca and take
home some great photographs of your Spanish excursion. |
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
HORSE
RIDING NEAR BENIDORM
25 EUROS PER PERSON
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Enjoy a pleasant riding
experience in the beautiful Sierra Helada mountain region on
this horse riding tour in Benidorm. In fact, the rugged
terrain offers the perfect opportunity to take in the fresh
mountain air and enjoy the beautiful scenery! Beginners need
not fear as the rides are very easy and not strenuous. A
horse ride here will make your Costa Blanca excursion truly
memorable! |
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
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ALICANTE SIGHTSEEING TOUR

PICURE BY Magic]=)'s
39 euros per person
Set out on a
sightseeing excursion in Alicante and explore the pretty
Elche gardens and the castle of Santa Barbara. At the
gardens of Elche, look out for some rare specimens of date
palms, a variety of cacti placed around pools filled with
aquatic plants and the imperial palm tree with seven
branches. Enjoy breathtaking views of the bay of
Alicante from the imposing Santa Barbara Castle perched
high on Mount Benacantil. Marvel at the modern Spanish
sculptures housed in this 9th century fortress built by
the Moors and look out for the oldest remains in the
castle dating back to the 11th and 13th centuries.
With a trip to the Santa Barbara Castle offering splendid
views of Alicante and the Elche gardens, your Spanish
excursion will be truly memorable!
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE
BOOK ONLINE
"TOUCH
OF SPAIN" EXCURSION

32.90
EUROS PER PERSON
Set out on a sightseeing
excursion from Benidorm and explore the erstwhile fishing
port of Moraira, the wine region of Teulada and other
attractions. At Moraira, enjoy stunning views of the
famous rock of Calpe and its bustling coastline. Calpe
sits close to the Rock of Ifach on a hill rising up from
the last spurs of the Sierra Bernia. Stroll down its
beautiful seafront promenade and see remains of an ancient
fish salting factory from Roman times. You could try out
some local shellfish specialties at one of the restaurant
terraces. Don’t miss out a trip to the quaint
Spanish town of Gata de Gorgos, famous for its basket and
cane ware made out of palm. Visit its guitar factory, to
enter inside you will have to ring the bell on a
nondescript wall and a staff member will answer your call.
Browse the factory and see guitars being made manually.
MORE
INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
BENIDORM PALACE
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27 EUROS PER PERSON
One thing's for sure, you wont be stuck for
entertainment when you visit Benidorm. One of
the best venues, is the Benidorm Palace.
For only 40 euros each, the Benidorm Palace offers
world class entertainers which can include
magicians, singers, acrobats, comedians etc.
To give you an indication of the scale of the show,
when we went a while ago, a magician made a full
size helicopter disappear. Included in the
entrance fee is an excellent three course meal with
wine. The Benidorm Palace is at the Rincon end
of Benidorm on the road out to Albir.
MORE
INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
TERRA NATURA THEME PARK

23 EUROS PER PERSON
Get an
insight into the culture, tradition, landscape,
flora and fauna of the different continents at the
Terra Natura theme park. Explore the Mediterranean
forest for its flora and fauna, see the Greek ruins
or meet local villagers and learn about their
customs and folklore in the Europe section of the
park.
Try out some exotic Indian delicacies at a
restaurant in the Asia section. A chapter from a
Jules Verne novel comes alive in the Pangea section.
You will see rivers of lava, huge rock formations
and insects like spiders, giant ants, dragonflies
and other primitive creatures also.
The America section gives you a glimpse into the
fascinating world of the Mayas and their mythology.
You also have a chance to see sharks and other
marine species in the Terra Natura park. A trip to
the Terra Natura theme park is a must-do for every
visitor to Benidorm.
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK
ONLINE
MOUNTAIN BIKING

34 EUROS PER PERSON
Try
something different on this trip to Benidorm. It's
downhill all the way at a nice steady pace as you
ride a bicycle down a mountain slope while taking in
the breathtaking scenery! Enjoy the lovely
countryside and feel that wonderful sense of freedom
as you breathe the sweet scent of the lemon and
orange groves on your downhill biking adventure!
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK
ONLINE
MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS SHOW BENIDORM

42.50 EUROS PER PERSON
This is one of the most popular
shows in Benidorm. It features medieval
knights fighting for the hand of the lady. The
crowd can join the fun by supporting one of the
teams, green or red and after copious amounts of
alcohol have been consumed, a riotous time is had by
all. Price includes menu of soup, chicken,
roast pork and plenty drink. Fancy it?
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK
ONLINE
MUNDOMAR

22 EUROS PER PERSON
A great treat for the younger
kids is Mundomar, right next to Aqualandia.
Here they can see a range of animals including
dolphins, sea lions, parrots and penguins. The
climax of the visit is the brilliant dolphin show.
Entrance is 22 euros.
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BARS AND
RESTAURANTS IN LA CALA DE FINESTRAT

OLE SOLE MIO
Ole Sole Mio
as the name implies is an Italian restaurant. It has
seating inside and out. The food ranges from a large
variety of pasta dishes to fillet steak and shoulder of lamb.
There are also a few fish dishes including sea bass (Lubina)
Swordfish (Emperador) and Sea Bream (Dorada) The shoulder
of lamb is slow cooked and tender. The fillet steaks can
vary from excellent to okay, probably 80% excellent. The
seafood spaghetti ( Spaghetti Marinara) is always good as are
most of the pasta dishes. If you're going for one of the more
expensive dishes, splash out on a decent bottle of wine (Rioja
Campo Viejo is a good choice for red at about 11 euros and
for the white, try Frascatti which is about the same price) the
house wine can be a bit acidic. Try the bruschetta as a
starter. The price of the meal will obviously be reflected in
what you choose. If you choose one of the higher priced
dishes, with a decent bottle of wine expect to pay about 60
euros for two but a pasta dish with house wine more like 30
euros.
EL ARENAL
Recently given
a makeover, El Arenal is a Spanish restaurant with a varied
menu. A lot of seafood dishes but also the usual chicken,
steak etc. Fairly basic but seems quite popular.

UPSTAIRS BAR
(STEPS NEXT TO HOTEL LA CALA)
This bar
caters mostly for younger people but before it gets too late in
the evening, try it, if only for the amazing sea view from the
huge balcony window. This is La Cala's nearest equivalent
of a club, it has quite an intimate atmosphere but isn't over
the top. There are flat screen TV's, dimly lit nooks and
crannies and some decent background music. Don't
expect to pay the same prices as the other bars.
PETER'S
Nice family
run restaurant. The food is excellent value for money with
meal of the day including wine costing only 9 euros. Always had
decent food here, the staff are friendly and helpful. Both
Peter's and Cala Fin are in desperate need of a makeover.
Their current state does not give potential customers confidence
that the food will be any good, which is a pity.

MARINA BAR
This is the
expat bar, where everybody knows everyone and can always find
somebody to chat to. Opened about five years ago by two
brothers Antonio and Pepe it has been incredibly successful.
It is one of the only bars which succeeds in catering to
every nationality and is very popular with the
locals and foreign tourists. Much of the Marina's success
has been achieved by the friendliness of Pepe , Antonio and the
waiters, plus the excellent speed of service. The
food is mostly snacks but all cooked fresh on a large griddle.
This is the most popular bar in the bay and on hot summer
evenings, its difficult to find a place. A word of
warning, if you have a few drinks at the Marina, you will
probably get a free one when you come to pay the bill, bear that
in mind when you think you've had enough.
BARS AND
RESTAURANTS IN LA CALA DE FINESTRAT

OLD SHIP
The Old Ship
was La Cala's only pub a couple of years ago but it now
has competition from Molly Malone's and the Bay View. The
Old Ship is always popular with British holidaymakers, they have
regular entertainment including quizzes and bingo. The
full English breakfast is a favourite. There are number of
small screen TV's showing English premiere league via satellite

BAY VIEW
This, recently
replaced "Changes" and to my knowledge has continued in much the
same way. Open for coffee in the mornings and a full menu
at lunch time and in the evening. The food is based on a
standard "English" menu, steak and chips etc. Large screen
TV showing English premiere league football via satellite.

MOLLY MALONES
This took over
from the Spanish Zarzuella restaurant in 2007. The owners
run a successful bar in Benidorm and there is no reason why this
shouldn't be as popular. A large wooden decked patio area
gets the sun most of the day, the food is good down to earth
British with occasional Indian, Italian and Irish dishes.
If you fancy a cold Guinness, being an Irish pub, this should be
the place. Large screen TV showing most of the English
premiere league games on satellite in high definition.

PUIG CAMPAÑA
A Spanish
restaurant spacialising mostly in seafood. Some
really good dishes well presented and excellent wine. Very
popular with the Spanish but the waiters speak decent English.
A bit pricey but if you enjoy seafood, worth splashing out for a
special meal. Excellent wine choice and the waiters seem
to know which wine goes best with the food. Expect to
spend around 60 or 70 euros for a meal for two.
CALA FIN
Large outdoor
eating area, Spanish but catering for the tourist. Very
reasonably priced. Varying reports, some people saying the food
was great but others not very impressed. I haven't tried
this one so I can't give a personal opinion. Expect to pay
around 20 euros for two people with wine.
BA or SMALL BAR
This little
bar is always immaculate. There are about 5 tables on a
narrow pavement facing the beach. To make as much of the
space as possible the tables are very close together, so a great
place to start up a conversation with the other customers.
Inside there are about six tables including one by the window
which looks out onto the bay. The beer is served in iced
glasses by very friendly staff. Not much in the way
of food but the burgers are excellent.

KALA KALA
This bar stays
open late and is frequented mostly by Spanish customers.
There is a large plasma screen inside usually showing a
Spanish music channel. A lot of money has been spent
over the last few years and the decor is modern and to a high
standard. In the summer months most customers sit outside.
My only criticism of this bar is the service which is always
very slow.
OUTSIDE THE BAY
Outside the
bay area there are lots of new bars lining the boulevard
catering mostly for Spanish visitors. There are also bars
owned by other nationalities. At the top of the boulevard
if you feel like a bit of a hike, there is a very chic
bar/nightclub with a large fenced off garden area and an outside
bar. The best beer is the draught Galician served from
huge copper vats at the Romanian owned bar just around the first
corner as you walk up the boulevard. Turn right and walk
down to the next corner, you can't miss the huge copper barrels
in the window. Every drink is accompanied by a tapas, great
value. Walking from the bay to the main road at the top
you pass a small Chinese restaurant which never seem very busy
and a bit further around the corner on the opposite side
of the road a large new English owned restaurant called Deja Vue
2, formerly Bizzie Izzy's the food here is supposed to be good
but I haven't tried it yet. There are a few more bars and
snack bars before you arrive at another Irish pub called
Shenanigans, again showing football on a large screen.
Keep walking up and you come to "Good Vibrations" on the right
hand side. With a bit of imagination, this place could have huge
potential as a restaurant. It has a large courtyard which
could be developed into something special using vine trellises
candles soft music and up market food but at the moment it
belongs to the same category as many of the other bars.
Summing up,
the food served in the bars and restaurants in La Cala caters
mostly for the tourist. To go more up market, you need to
go nearer to the Poniente promenade where there are some pretty
exclusive restaurants with prices to match.
THE WEATHER
The weather in
this part of the Costa Blanca is usually warm and sunny but it
can rain and when it does, the water runs down the mountains to
the sea following its natural path. This can lead to some quite
spectacular scenes as you can see by
clicking here. Being
the Mediterranean, the sea is usually calm and flat but there
are exceptions and believe it or not we sometimes have surfers
in the bay,
check it out here
BEST WITH HEADPHONES
MORE THINGS
TO DO
CATARMARAN
CRUISE

50 EUROS PER
PERSON
A catamaran cruise in the
Mediterranean is a great way to explore the beauty of the Costa
Blanca coastline. Sail to the island of Tabarca, deemed a marine
reserve and enjoy the quiet beauty of the landscape. Go
snorkeling in the sparkling blue waters and watch schools of
fish swim past you or take a refreshing swim.
Savour a freshly prepared seafood lunch onboard and sit back to
enjoy the splendid view of the island and the surrounding
scenery. With a catamaran cruise offering endless photographic
opportunities and an opportunity to enjoy water activities, your
excursion in Spain will be memorable.
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
TOUR OF THE CITY OF VALENCIA

34.90 EUROS PER PERSON
Take a tour of Valencia and get a flavour of the city’s Moorish
past with a leisurely saunter down the Old Quarter lined with
museums, churches, colourful cafes and restaurants. Look out for
an eclectic blend of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque
architectures at the Valencia Cathedral. The cathedral is said
to be the current location of the Holy Grail. You could also
shop for souvenirs in this area. On this historical and
sightseeing excursion in Spain, don’t miss out on the Arts and
Science centre which is a top tourist attraction in Spain.
Popularly referred to as ‘city within a city’, it is regarded as
one of the most exciting and imaginative millennium projects
celebrating the arrival of the 21st century. With a trip to the
fascinating city of Arts and Science and the colourful Old
Quarter, your Valencia city tour will be truly memorable!
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
SIGHTSEEING AND NATURE TOUR

34.90 EUROS PER PERSON
A nature and sightseeing tour of Benidorm is a great way to
explore the natural pools of the Algar falls and the white
Spanish village of Guadalest. Take a refreshing swim in the deep
blue pools of the Algar waterfalls or trek along the banks of
the river and take pictures of water cascading down fern fringed
pools. The picturesque mountain village of Guadalest is not to
be missed on this tour! Nestled on a high mountain ridge, it is
one of the most spectacular villages in Spain. A dip in
the calm pools of the Algar waterfalls and a trip to the scenic
Guadalest village will make your nature and sightseeing
excursion in Spain a memorable one.
MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE
CLICK HERE FOR APARTMENTS TO RENT IN LA
CALA AND BENIDORM
If you would like to asK anything about La
Cala, please click here
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