Discover the secret buying spots of inland Costa Blanca

Not everyone buying a home in Spain needs to be close to the sea – a short drive away is good enough for many.

Away from the beach resorts of the Costas, life in the rustic interior is more traditional, less crowded and slower paced. It’s usually cheaper than the coastal hot spots too. The towns and villages of inland Costa Blanca are no exception, with some real gems catering for expats who crave ‘real Spain’. We pick eight favourites – four in the south and four in the north of the Costa Blanca.

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Costa Blanca South

Hondon Valley

Nestled in the Sierra de Crevillente mountains, 45 minutes inland of Alicante city, the Hondon Valley is a fertile plain of vineyards peppered with olive and almond groves. Life there centres around the two neighbouring villages of Hondon de los Frailes and Hondon de las Nieves. Both are ancient farming communities with pretty town squares and good basic amenities, including friendly restaurants, markets and clinics. Hondon de los Frailes even has an expat supermarket. For a smaller, quieter village there is nearby La Canalosa.

Expat interest in Hondon has grown in recent years, drawn by the affordable new-build homes and rustic resale villas. The surrounding landscape makes the valley popular for outdoorsy types, including mountain bikers and walkers. The nearest large town is 25 minutes’ drive at Elche and the closest Costa Blanca beaches include Santa Pola and La Marina are around 40 minutes away.

Pinoso

Further into Alicante’s interior beyond the Hondon Valley is Pinoso (or ‘El Pinos’), named after the pine forests on the surrounding mountainsides. Despite being 60 kilometres from the Costa Blanca coast, the town has been on foreigners’ radar for some years now and has a small expat community. Elche, the nearest large town, is 40-45 minutes’ away and Alicante Airport 45 minutes.

More than a farming village, Pinoso is a major producer of marble, salt and wine, which means it can afford excellent amenities for year-round living. These include schools, a sports centre and 24-hour medical centre. That’s not to say the town doesn’t retain its traditional charm. There is a weekly market every Saturday and the old centre, with its famous clock tower, has a good choice of bars and local restaurants. Property options range from traditional homes with the centre to modern townhouses and new-build villas.

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La Romana

Views of vineyards and fruit groves stretching towards mountains greet you at the end of every road in La Romana. It’s a large agricultural village near the Hondon Valley, popular for its pretty tree-lined streets and easy access to picturesque countryside. There are lots of trails for walking and cycling, as well as horse-riding stables, close-by.

Besides bars and restaurants, amenities include an English supermarket. The Saturday market, selling local produce and groceries, is a highlight of the week – the village makes its own wine! There is a large sports centre on the edge of the village, which includes a pool, tennis and indoor gym. Alicante Airport and the closest Costa Blanca beach at Arenals del Sol are both 35 minutes’ drive. New and off-plan villas are popular in La Romana, but the local area also has a few cave homes for the more adventurous buyer!

Bigastro

A scenic 25 minutes inland of Torrevieja but still with easy access to the beaches of Orihuela Costa is the colourful town of Bigastro. Already on the expat map, its old centre with its winding streets and squares was built on the profits of textiles and citrus production. In recent years Bigastro has seen the arrival of foreign homeowners, who prefer its rural location to the busier beach resorts down the road. Already with established small residential areas with modern properties, including apartments and villas, it has a growing expat community.

Bigastro has excellent amenities, including a range of large supermarkets, schools and sports facilities. Outside the town, residents have easy access to the nature areas and trails of the La Pedrera, with its reservoir, and La Loma Ancha. There are also half a dozen golf courses within 15-20 minutes. Airports at Alicante Airport and Murcia (Corvera) are 45 minutes away.

Costa Blanca North

Jalon and Orba Valleys

The jewel in the crown of inland Costa Blanca, the neighbouring Jalon and Orba Valleys are 20-25 minutes inland between the coastal spots of Denia and Calpe. The former is famous for its almond groves and annual carpet of pink blossom. Its main town Jalon (or ‘Xalo’), set beside the Gorgos river near the Sierra de Bernia and the Sierra del Forner mountains, is popular with expats. It has excellent amenities, a riverside prom and is known for its traditional wine bodegas, flea market and festivals. Other desirable villages in the valley include Lliber, Parcent and Murla.

Orange groves are the main feature of the Orba Valley. The hub there is Orba, known for handicrafts like pottery and leathercraft. The town has plenty of amenities, from banks and large supermarkets to leisure and sports facilities, which support its expat population. Other villages in the valley include Pedreguer, Benidoleig and Tormos.

Around Orba and Jalon, homes range from character houses, rustic villas on large plots, traditional fincas with land and modern villas on small urbanisations that have sprung up around the main towns. Alicante Airport is around an hour away, Valencia Airport 75 minutes.

Gata de Gorgos

Just 15 minutes inland of the popular resorts of Javea and Denia, Gata de Gorgos is a favourite with expats who want Spanish charm with easy access to the beach and tourist amenities. Golf is nearby at La Sella and the region’s largest shopping mall, Portal de la Marina is less than 10 minutes away.

Oozing artisan tradition, this small friendly town is a centre for wicker and basketware made from local palm, making it ideal for kitting out your new home. It is also known for its guitars and Moscatel grapes. Perhaps the local craftsmen are inspired by its stunning location beside the Gorgos river and beneath Montgo mountain and natural park area. Property options include modern developments on the edge of the village, or older, more central apartments and townhomes within a walk from the pretty plaza.

Castalla

Half an hour north of Alicante is medieval Castalla, complete with beautifully preserved old town, 12th Century hilltop castle and authentic Spanish lifestyle. This whitewashed town sits in a valley beneath the Sierra Maigmo mountains, which means incredible views and easy access to plenty of trails and outdoorsy activities.

A small town, it has the full range of amenities for year-round living. Its local restaurants are well-known locally. For property, the southern fringes of town have a small selection of new homes. Or five minutes into the countryside towards Alicante are a couple of modern urbanisations, popular with foreigner owners. Another world from the coastal resorts, Castalla is still only 35 minutes’ drive from beaches in Alicante, such as Sant Juan and El Campello. The airport is half an hour away.

Sax

Like Castalla, Sax is a charming historic town overlooked by a striking medieval castle and located just 40 minutes inland of Alicante city and the beach. It has an established shoe and leather production industry, which has kept it economically strong over the years. The maze-like old town – which includes Roman ruins, is a major attraction and complements the full range of modern-day amenities that cater for year-round living. Being in the Vinalopo Valley, there is wonderful countryside and olive groves on its doorstep.

Unsurprisingly, Sax already has a small expat community. Rustic fincas and villas are popular in the countryside around Sax, but it traditional townhouses and apartments considered good value within the town.

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