Welcome to Guardamar de Segura
Contents
Guardamar del Segura has become a prominent beach vacation destination due to its golden sandy beaches that reach as far as the eye can see, crystal-clear oceans, a gorgeous harbor with a fish market and restaurants, and its position near two lovely pink and blue salt lakes.
Guardamar de Segura (often referred to as Guardamar) is a tiny town located around 30 kilometers south of Alicante. The town’s name is derived from its river, the traditional source of its prosperity, and its previously fertile and fruitful orchards. It is one of the few larger towns on the Costa Blanca that has so far avoided widespread tourism. The statistic is astounding, particularly given that Guardamar (population 15,000) boasts a variety of kilometer-long sandy beaches and is approximately 20 kilometers from Alicante’s main tourist airport. Guardamar is well-known in Spain, owing to its tough past. Previously, the area was often ravaged by shifting dunes. A sophisticated marina is located at the river’s mouth. Guardamar del Segura, in addition to its outstanding natural beaches, includes some extremely well-equipped urban neighborhoods with all the facilities you will want.
Guardamar Points of Interest
The gorgeous beaches are the first stop for most travelers. In and near Guardamar, there are several beautiful sandy beaches stretching for around 12 kilometers. As a result, there is plenty of room for everyone throughout the summer. Even the little town’s central beach is lovely.
To halt the movement of dunes, which had previously caused severe harm in Guardamar de Segura, intensive reforestation of broad areas of municipal land began some 100 years ago. In particular, pine trees, as well as palm trees and cactus, were planted in a kilometer-long region north of the center. This rampart is now a big natural park with hiking paths, and it is maybe the greenest place on the Costa Blanca. A entirely other universe is just a few minutes’ walk from Guardamar’s center. The historic castle may be visited from Guardamar de Segura. From up there, you can see the pine trees, the beautiful beaches, and the hamlet itself.
Guardamar’s modest town center has a big plaza where the church and town hall were erected. The town’s tourist information is just a few meters away from the sea. You can obtain thorough and helpful answers to your inquiries regarding this site right here. There, you may get a decent city map (for free) as well as a useful information leaflet about Guardamar de Segura. A tiny exhibit documenting the villagers’ struggle against the shifting dunes may be found at the tourist information center.
The restaurants in Guardamar’s center provide superb, high-quality seafood meals at moderate costs. Guardamar’s traditional paellas are very popular (about 10-12 Euro per person). Good taverns may be located right on the promenade in the heart of the city. Those who have the option of choosing the day of their visit should go on Wednesday (market day of Guardamar). Food and inexpensive clothing may be purchased at the large weekly market.
Arriving in Guardamar
Guardamar del Segura is a municipality that has been able to capitalize on the natural obstacles that have befallen it throughout its history. With a population of 9.326 people and a location at the mouth of the Segura River, the town has long played an important role as a river guardian.
Most visitors to Guardamar arrive by air at Alicante’s International Airport “El Altet,” which is situated south of the city. Guardamar del Segura is about a 30-minute drive away on the N332, the route that goes all the way down the Costa Blanca. During the day, buses run every hour to Alicante and Torrevieja. Buses to other destinations such as Murcia, Cartagena, and Elche are less regular. There are also long-distance buses to Madrid, Spain’s capital, many times every day. By driving, use the Alicante-Cartagena coastal route, which passes through Guardamar. Guardamar is a wonderful day excursion from the major Costa Blanca tourist destinations, accessible by rental car or public transport.
Driving towards Guardamar del Segura, you will be surrounded by natural beauty areas that are out of the ordinary. Guardamar is in an ideal location for nature enthusiasts, with the sea, magnificent beaches, appealing salt lakes, dunes, and pine trees offering a stunning environment complemented by the wonderful aroma of pine.
As you pass into Santa Pola, you will see salt lakes on both sides of the road, as well as big white salt hills. With over 700,000 tonnes of salt produced each year, this is a significant sector for Santa Pola and Torrevieja.
As you travel towards Guardamar and the marina, you will pass beside the Segura river, which originates in the province of Jaen and flows through Murcia before reaching the sea at Guardamar. The river used to be highly dirty, but it has now been cleaned up. The river has since re-emerged to play an important role in the local agricultural business, as well as providing a habitat for fish, eels, and otters.
Locals possess small boats that float along the Segura’s riverbanks for sailing or fishing. Its riverfront location explains why Guardamar is known as the “Guardian of the Sea” (In Spanish guardar is to guard, and mar is sea).
Marina Guardamar
Guardamar’s marina, yacht club, and dunes are located at the river’s mouth. It’s a beautiful stroll, so leave your vehicle here and walk down to the marina. Make a round around the marina, passing through the dunes where there is a wooden boardwalk that leads you back to your vehicle via the trees and colorful flowers. It takes around 20 minutes at a leisurely pace and is great for the whole family.
The marina is quite modest, with a mix of small motor boats, fishing boats, and bigger yachts. There is also a restaurant and a fish market here, where you can buy the freshest local fish and shellfish. Guardamar is an excellent location for water activities like as sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and jet skiing. Snorkeling is very popular in the shallow seas.
Guardamar Dunes
These dunes were deliberately designed to act as a barrier between the beach and the lakes, preventing sand from flowing inland and jeopardizing salt production. The dunes, in addition to being an essential natural element, have contributed to the attractiveness of the coastline, notably the section from Pinet beach, near the Santa Pola salt lakes, up to the Segura river. You may take a lengthier round stroll across the full 6.2kms of dunes, which is still an easy family walk.
Today, the region is known as “Dunas de Guardamar,” and it has been designated as a Natural Area of Interest. The Reina Sofia Park is a beautiful spot to wander and observe the nature, surrounded by local vegetation and animals. With lakes, waterfalls, and pathways, the park is wonderfully manicured.
Beaches of Guardamar
But the best is yet to come, since Guardamar’s most valuable asset is its stunning, golden beaches. The sand is quite soft, making it ideal for sunbathing or playing with children. Guardamar del Segura offers some of the best beaches on the Costa Blanca, but it’s also big enough to accommodate all tourists. Guardamar’s 11 kilometers of coastline is set against a natural landscape of dunes. The many beaches each have their own set of features, and they are all well worth visiting.
Guardamar has eight beaches totaling about 14 kilometers in length. Guardamar’s beaches include Los Tusales (the naturist beach), Los Viveros, De la Babilnia, Playa Centro, La Roqueta, El Moncayo, Playa del Campo, and Les Ortigues. The good quality sand, the length, and the backdrop of dunes planted with pines, eucalyptus, and palm trees are the only things they all have in common.
Guardamar’s 14-kilometer shoreline has beautiful sandy beaches. The most popular beaches are Centro and Roqueta, although others, such as Moncayo and Los Tusales near the mouth of the Segura River, are less populated.
Some of the beaches in Guardamar del Segura have been granted the Blue Flag. This is a European Union award given to beaches, marinas, and parklands that maintain a high quality in environmental concerns such as clean water and sand, as well as services such as bathrooms, disability access, and so on.
Centro Playa. Guardamar del Segura
This beach has beautiful sand and is situated in Guardamar del Segura. It was given the blue flag in 2001.
Los Tusales Beach
This sandy beach is less popular than the others and is located at the mouth of the Segura River.
Del Campo Beach
This pristine beach with dunes and pine trees lies approximately 6 kilometers south of Guardamar, in the direction of Torrevieja.
Playa de los Vivers
This beach received the blue flag award in 2001 and 2003.
Les Ortigues Beach
This lovely beach with dunes and pine trees is situated south of Guardamar del Segura on the way to Torrevieja. It is near to the urbanisations of Pinomar and Urbasol.
Playa Moncayo
These excellent sandy beaches, like the Playa De Los Tusales, are at the mouth of the Segura River.
Guardamar’s eleven kilometers of dunes and sandy beaches let visitors to select between remote locations and more popular beaches. Guardamar is connected to La Marina in the north by another 5 kilometers of dunes. To the south is La Mata, a stretch of swampy ground that stretches all the way to Torrevieja.
Guardamar del Segura’s development has been gradual and environmentally conscious. The development of a sports marina at the mouth of the Segura River has brought a new attraction to this exclusive region.
