It has been an incredibly testing year for everyone and the more people I speak to, it is abundantly clear that we are all just plain exhausted by the sheer monotony and feeling of GROUNDHOG DAY.

I was lucky enough to be able to escape last week to a beautiful beach town close to Valencia, working around the restrictions and road blocks of course, and I wanted to share it with anyone who is looking to get away, even if it’s just in our minds for now. I also hope that this article will reinforce what a wonderful part of the world this is and inspire you to join us or that you will at least add these places to your bucket list, giving you something to look forward to.

Half term during lockdown

My daughters go the French school here in Valencia and so last week they were off for yet another Semana Blanca (half term) amidst Covid and ever-strict regulations.

What does one do with kids off school when all parks (and pretty much everything else) are closed? Luckily, I work from home and have flexible hours and so I decided to take them out of Valencia for a change of scenery and head to the coast, Javea to be exact.

Just driving through the countryside lined with the almond, citrus and olive trees in bloom to get there was incredibly picturesque and was such a delight for lockdown-tired eyes.

Sweet Sweet Javea

If you’ve never been, Javea is just over an hour’s drive from Valencia and is a stunning and popular seaside and market town for both Spanish locals and foreigners alike. In fact, half of its resident population and over two-thirds of its annual visitors are foreigners, predominantly from the UK and the rest of Europe.

Javea itself is a large bay with pebble beaches, it also has a sandy beach Playa del Arenal and a lovely port, all set against a mountainous backdrop. It is situated on the most eastern point of the Mediterranean Coast and on a clear day, you can see right across to the island of Ibiza.

The Atmosphere 

Until 1st March, as in Valencia, restaurants are closed except for takeaway and all commerce except supermarkets and pharmacies close at 6pm. I was surprised as I had expected it to be emptier than it was, however, there was just the right amount of people for a bit of atmosphere without fear of coming into close contact with others.

It felt very peaceful and comforting watching people sitting in pairs along the water enjoying their takeout aperitivo while soaking up the sun and fresh sea air. The children’s parks on Arenals beach were also open which was a bonus so that I myself could enjoy my own aperitivo.

Evenings were spent walking along the beach and around the port, enjoying the skies as the sun was setting. One thing that I really enjoy about Javea are the pink, purple and sometimes red skies.

Surrounding Beaches

Close to Javea, there are some stunning and secluded beaches and coves which are next to impossible to get to during summer as they’re just so packed and so, now really is the right time to visit if you can.

La Grandella

La Granadella is a spectacular little cala at the end of a very winding road just twenty minutes away. La Bandideta, a small chiringito (beach bar) is also open for takeaway which was very handy and Covid compliant. The day we went there, a young couple were swimming and two friends were lying on the rocks enjoying the sun and chatting way. We painted pebbles and collected shells, it really was quite idyllic.

 Cala Portixol

Cala Portixol is another charming and secluded pebble beach just fifteen minutes from Javea. Unfortunately, Cala Bandida, one of my favourite beach restaurants with incredible sea views is closed for the season and so we decided to take the short hike up to the Creu (Cross) de Portixol for some breathtaking views of the Ila del Portixol. The girls complained a little on the way up but we made it and they both agreed that the adventure was worth it.

 Cala de la Fustera

Cala de la Fustera is a small but breathtaking, white sandy beach with stunning vegetation all around. It’s a little further afield but still only thirty minutes away by car. There are also some lovely coastal paths to explore and take in the views.

The Montgo Valley on Horseback

What a better way to round off the trip than a horse ride in the countryside? The Centro Hipico of Javea is a quaint equestrian school situated right in the heart of the Montgo Valley, just ten minutes outside of Javea. I used to horse ride when I was younger and so it brought back nice memories. We went out for an hour-long hack amongst the almond and orange groves. The teachers each spoke various different languages and were absolutely wonderful with my daughters. I highly recommend this as a morning or afternoon activity, especially with children.

I expected the week to feel quite sad and Javea empty but despite the situation, it turned out to be a wonderfully relaxing week and was a welcome break from the monotony of what has been a very long year, in and out of lockdown and various restrictions. What’s more, simply by not having to think about working around these restrictions in a city and entertaining the children gave my mind the respite that it needed.