Building a garden, one plant at a time

Explore Javea, the heartbeat of the Costa Blanca

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:11:47 GMT

Explore Javea / Xabia in Spain

Javea Port

Javea port is located below the old town and well worth a visit to enjoy many shops, restaurants and tapas bars as well as the crystal clear waters of the pebble beach alongside the promenade lined with palm trees. Enjoy excellent seafood restaurants and fantastic harbour and sea views.

Located at the north end of the promenade, Javea’s marina still functions as a fishing port with the fishing fleet arriving back in port at least once a day and yachts moored in the same vicinity. It's also home to Javea Nautical Club, which hosts a multitude of activities and competitions within the world of sailing, fishing and rowing.

The Old Town of Javea

Away from the coast, a short drive from the villa is the historic centre of Xàbia, which originates from the Medieval period, spanning over seven centuries. Today the Old Town of Javea features an impressive church and townhouses line gorgeous narrow cobbled streets, blending whitewashed walls, arched doorways and gothic windows with the local golden “tosca” sandstone. The streets are lit up with fairy lights in the evening, perfect for a romantic stroll.

There are two underground car parks, one at the top of town and one at the bottom. Discover the best of the Old Town of Javea with a walk through the narrow streets visiting the many historic sights and a fabulous selection of restaurants and bars. Click here to find out more.

Arenal Beach

La Playa del Arenal in Jávea is a beautiful sandy beach, 12 minutes drive from the villa, or a 15-minute walk from Javea Port. It's a popular spot with a large pedestrianised promenade that's perfect for families with a lovely holiday vibe. A variety of seafront restaurants and beach bars line the shore. The beach stretches for 480 meters, featuring shallow waters and sand, making it a major tourist hub and a favorite for swimmers and paddle boarders.

There are play areas for children, sports facilities including soccer goals, volleyball nets, and gymnastics equipment, as well as sunbeds and parasols for rent. At night, the beach area comes alive with a diverse nightlife scene, including clubs, restaurants, bars, and a night market with street artists, providing a vibrant atmosphere for all to enjoy.

The Montgó Massif

Our villa is situated in the foothills of The Montgó Massif, an impressive 750 meter peak. It offers a diverse range of attractions and activities, including hiking along well-marked trails with breathtaking views of Javea and Denia, birdwatching and nature observation, rock climbing opportunities, and designated areas for picnicking. You won’t need any specialist climbing equipment, just a good pair of trail shoes and a camera to capture the impressive views!

The park also provides educational experiences about the local environment, geology, and wildlife. With its cultural and historical significance, the Montgó Massif is an interesting place to explore, and it's a prime spot for ecotourism, allowing visitors to appreciate the natural beauty and ecological importance of this protected area. Whether you're seeking adventure or a peaceful day in nature, the Montgó has something for everyone.

Costa Blanca Markets: A Cultural Experience

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 05:25:38 GMT

Costa Blanca Markets: A Cultural Experience

Every town on the Costa Blanca has a market day (or more) of the week. If you're visiting or living in the area, be sure to check out one of these markets for a taste of Spanish culture.

Here is a list of some of the most popular markets, along with their respective market days:

Denia: Monday

Altea: Tuesday

Benidorm, Teulada and Calpe (Rastro): Wednesday

Javea: Thursday

Villajoyosa: Thursday

Moraira: Friday

Benissa: Saturday

Albir and Benidorm and Jalon: Sunday

For the most up to date information about each market, including how to get there by public transportation and nearby parking facilities, please use Google Maps.

At the local markets in Costa Blanca, you can find a wide variety of fresh produce, seafood, meat, dairy products, olives, nuts, eggs, clothes, shoes, belts, handbags, kitchen utensils, carpets, paintings, and other products. You can also find a good selection of handmade leather goods, gifts and unique gadgets.

Spending the day at a market on the Costa Blanca is a great way to experience Spanish culture and find some unique souvenirs. It's also a great way to take a break from the beach and spend some time with the family.

Top Tips for visiting a Costa Blanca market:

Arrive early to get the best selection of fresh produce.
Bring cash. Many vendors do not accept credit cards.
Be prepared to haggle.
Don't be afraid to try new things. There are many unique and delicious foods to sample at the markets.
Take your time and enjoy the experience. The markets are a great place to people-watch and soak up the atmosphere.

Explore all markets here: https://thecostablancaguide.com/local-markets

Eating out in the local area (Javea and Denia)

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 18:40:39 GMT

Our top picks of restaurants in the local area

Here's a small selection of some of our favourite restaurants. We value our guests' opinions, if you would like a recommendation added to the list please contact us!

The Old Town, Javea

Arenal Beach, Javea

The Port, Javea

Drinks and food on the seafront between the Port and Arenal

La Siesta

Denia

Beach Chiringuito – Summer lunch time only nice food a small inflatable water park in the sea
Escondida
Restaurante Teneré – lunch time on the less crowded beach
Movida Dénia ask for a table in the square
Basta! Lovely location

Local to the villa

Others

Terra Jávea Restaurante
Chinese - CASA LILI JAVEA
Indian - Buddha Palace ask to sit in back courtyard

Further a field in Moraira

Restaurante Vista Ifach ifferent source.

Building a garden, one plant at a time

Sat, 28 May 2022 21:39:45 GMT

A unique perspective with over 1,400 plants to enjoy!

The gardens at Sunset Villa were hewn out of a near barren hillside in 2021. Set on the side of The Montgo mountains the original gardens were only thinly covering the rocky granite surface of the mountain below.

With the aid of a local designer and garden company we have changed the outlook from a tired abandoned landscape to one of beauty, with plants and colours abundant in all their glory.

The original garden had been left to seed and so the reformation required months of digging to remove the hard baked soil and random piles of rocks. We used mechanical diggers to strip the landscape of tired shrubs, numerous weeds, and dead trees. The process took 6 months and we disposed of no less than 12 industrial skip loads of debris.

Despite heavy rain changing the landscape into an almost impossible mass of mud we cleared the site and set about cutting steps into the hillside. To improve the drainage, we built small walls. 14 trucks brought new soft soil to spread over the garden and a watering system was installed to deal with the hot, dry summers.

Pergolas were erected, artificial lawns of varying quality were laid for both pleasure and sport and an artificial grass tennis court was installed over the original broken concrete base.

The planting of over 12 full size trees craned into the garden along with 16 very large and heavy Mediterranean shrubs and fruit trees were the basis of our design. Finally, 1,400 smaller plants were put into the flowerbeds to complete the overall look.

Now, month by month we are witnessing the garden's ability to adapt to its new inhabitants. Some plants have settled in well, but regretfully as expected, a few have suffered and some have even died, but the vast majority are thriving very well.

We hope you enjoy walking amongst the flora and fauna of our garden and will find time to linger and appreciate the diversity of the plants and the insects that are now returning to inhabit it. The gardens are lit up at night and are a unique attraction for all those that love gardening.