Guardamar del Segura

Guardamar del Segura sits where the River Segura meets the Mediterranean, 35 km south of Alicante. Its defining feature is the great pine forest planted in the late 19th century to stabilise the dunes — over 800 hectares of *Pinus pinea* shading 11 km of fine white-sand beach, making Guardamar one of the most environmentally protected and least overdeveloped resort towns on the southern Costa Blanca. The Moorish *rábita* (monastic complex) at the river mouth is a national heritage site.

Phoenician, Iberian and Roman settlement at the river mouth; major Moorish *rábita* (10th century) discovered in the dunes. Modern town founded after the 1829 Torrevieja earthquake destroyed the original. The pine forest was planted from 1900 to halt advancing dunes that had buried the old town.

Family-oriented, low-rise beach town with a much greener and quieter feel than its neighbours Torrevieja and La Marina. Long paseos through the pine forest, beach mornings and evening tapas in the historic centre.

• 1.Walk or cycle the pine-forest trails (Reina Sofía park)
• 2.Visit the Moorish Rábita Califal archaeological site
• 3.Climb to the medieval castle viewpoint
• 4.Birdwatch along the Segura river mouth
• 5.Sample *ñoras* and tapas in the historic centre

Famous for *ñoras* (dried sweet red peppers grown in the river delta), *cocas* and rice cooking from the southern Vega Baja tradition.

Mid-range family hotels and aparthotels (Hotel Eden Mar, Parque Mar, Mediterráneo); large stock of holiday rentals in the urbanisations.

Continue exploring the South Costa Blanca.